Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
This invention relates to improving the combustion
of a fuel oil in engines.
Diesel fuel cils are currently employed for the
propulsion of vehicles; in particular, automotive vehicles
(cars and trucks) railroad engines, and ships. As a result
of the current energy problems, there is a need to improve
the combustion efficiency of such fuels.
In accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a combustion improving addi-
tive for a diesel fuel oil employed for the propulsion ofvehicles and ships which is comprised of an oil soluble or
dispersible calcium compound and an oil soluble or dispers-
ible iron compound in an amount effective to improve the
combustion of a diesel fuel oil.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an improved fuel which is a die-
sel fuel oil for the propulsion of vehicles or ships having
calcium and iron dissolved or dispersed therein in an amount
effective to improve the combustion efficiency of such
diesel fuel oil.
The fuel oil soluble or dispersible calcium compound
may be any one of a wide variety of compounds which are
soluble or dispersible in the diesel fuel oil. As represen-
tative examples of suitable organic and inor~anic calcium
compounds which are soluble or dispersible in the diesel
fuel oil, there may be men-tioned:
Calcium Sulfonate
Calcium Naphthenate
Calcium Carboxylate
Calcium Carbonate
Calcium ~Iydroxide
The fuel oil soluble or dlspersible iron compound
may be any one of a wide variety of compounds which are
soluble or dispersible in the diesel fuel oil. As repre-
sentative examples of suitable organic and inorganic
iron compounds which are soluble or dispersible in the
diesel fuel oil, there may be mentioned:
Iron ~lapthenate
Ferrocene
Iron Oxide
The selection of a combination of oil soluble or
dispersible calcium and iron compounds for a particular
diesel fuel oil is deemed to be within the scope of those
skilled in the art from the teachings herein. The pre-
ferred combination is represented by calcium sulfonate
and iron naphthenate.
Applicant has found that the use of a combination
of the iron and calcium compound provides an unexpected
improvement in combustion efficiency of a diesel fuel oil
employed for the propulsion of vehicles, or ships which
could not be achieved by using one of the compounds in
the absence of the other. Such improved combustion effi-
ciency is evidenced by improved fuel mileage and/or
improved engine cleanliness and/or improved smoke supp-
ression ar.d/or improved engine efficiency.
The fuèl additive includes the iron and calcium
compounds in effective combustion improving amounts. In
general, the ratio of calcium to iron is fromO.01:1 to 100:1,
and preferably 1:1 to 10:1 (weight basis). The selection
of an optimum ratio for any particular application is
deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the
art from the teachings herein.
The fuel additive is preferably employed as a
S liquid additive comprised of the iron and calcium com-
pound dissolved in an oil which is soluble in the diesel
fuel oil. Any one of a wide variety of oils may be em-
ployed, and as representative examples of such oils there
may be mentioned: light diesel oil, process oils,
naphthenic oils.
Applicant has found that the use of such additives
improves the combustion efficiency of the diesel fuel oil
as evidenced by reduced smoke emission and/or increased
fuel mileage and/or improved engine cleanliness (reduced
engine desposits) and/or improved engine efficiency. In
addition, the iron and calcium combustion product (iron
and calcium oxide) are relatively innocuous in the engine
exhaust. As a resutl, improved combustion is obtained
with the use of an addltive which will not adversely
affect the environment.
The additive is added to the diesel fuel oil to pro-
vide a combustion improvement amount of iron and calcium
dissolved or dispersed in the diesel fuel oil. In general,
improved combustion efficiency is obtained by e~ploying at
least 5 ppm of the iron and at least 5 ppm of the calcium
in the diesel fuel oil (weight basis). In most cases, the
calcium and iron are employed in amounts of at least 50 ppm
~8~
and at least 5 ppm, respectively. The calciur~ and iron
are generally not added in an amount in exccss of 100 ppm
and 100 ppm, respectively, in that no added beneficial
effect is obtained by increasing the amount of addi-tive.
The selection of optimum amounts of the additlve is
deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the
art from the teachings herein.
The additive may also include other components which
may be normally added to a diesel fuel oil. As represen-
tative examples of such materials, there may be mentioned:dispersants and emulsifiers.
Although the additive may be employed for any one
of a wide variety of diesel fuel oils, the additive is
particularly suited for a light diesel ~uel oil for high
speed engines (operating at over 550 rpm), such as in an
automotive or railroad engine.
The present invention will be further described
with respect to the following examples; however, the
scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby:
EXAMPLE 1
A mixture was prepared by blending an oil soluble
calcium compound (calcium sulfonate) and an oil soluhle
iron compound (iron napthenate) at a weig~t ratio of
8:1 respectively. The mixture was diluted with diesel
oil to produce an additive containing 4.8% calcium and
0.6% iron. The additive was submitted to an independent
s
research laboratory ~or smoke suppression testing. The
format of the evaluation follows:
1. The testin~ was performed with a Caterpillar
lY73 test engine. The base fuel was Howell
hydrocarbons Cat l-G2. A Bosch ~FAI~J-68A
Smoke Meter was used to measure smoke density.
2. Two hour run on base fuel (Cat l-G2) - All
engine operating conditions were maintained
with continuous monitoring of engine exhaust
smoke to establish a base line smoke level.
3. Two hour run on base fuel + additive blended
at 600:1 - (1 part of additive to 600 parts of
base fuel by volume) With all engine operating
conditions maintained constant as with the base
fuel run, the fuel was switched to a 600:1 blend.
Engine exhaust smoke continuously monitored.
4. Two hour run on base fuel ~ additive blended
at 400:1 - (1 part of additive to 400 parts
of base fuel by volume) With all engine
operating conditions maintained constant as
with the base fuel run, the fuel was switched
to a 400:1 blend. Engine exhaust smoke was
continuously monitored.
* Trade~arks
~i .
ME~SU~ED E~IIAUST SMOKE l,EVELS
Run No.2 Run No.3
Run No. 1 Base ~ Additive
Measurement Base Fuel 600:1 400:1
1 2.4 1.6
2 2.4 1.7 1.7
3 2.4 1.6 1.7
4 2.3 1.4 1.5
2.4 1.6 1.5
6 2.4 1.6 1.7
7 2.3 1.9
8 2.6 1.6
g 2.4 1.5 1,5
2.5 1.5 1.6
15 x = 2.41 x = 1.60 x = 1.60
~ = 0.083 ~ = 0.141 ~= 0.093
The data indicate a 34% reduction in the smoke
level using the additive.
EX~MPLE 2
An additive was prepared by blending an oi]
soluble calcium compound and an oil soluble iron com-
pound in diesel oil as in Example 1. The additive con-
tained 4.8% calcium and 0.6% iron by weight. The addi-
' tive was evaluated on a fleet of trucks at a dosage rate
of 1 part additive to 1000 parts fuel by volume. The
additive was evaluated for a total of 15 consecutive
months. The truck engines were Cummins 270 and Cummins
290. Mileage per gallon of fuel consumcd data were
recorded on a daily basis. An average of 4.3, improvement
-- 6 --
in mileage per gallon of fuel consumed was recorded.
Additionally, after 12 months of additive use,
one truck was taken out-of-service and the engine over-
hauled and inspected. There were not an~ deposits on the
S internals of the engine.
E~A~.PLE 3
An additive was prepared by blending an oil
soluble calcium compound and an oil soluble iron com-
pound in diesel oil as in Example 1. The additive con-
tained 4.8~ calcium and 0.6~ iron by weight. The addi-
tive was evaluated on a fleet of trucks at a dosage
rate of 1 part additive to 1000 parts fuel by volume.
The additive was evaluated for 10 consecutive months.
Mileage per gallon of fuel consumed data were recorded for
each trip. The truck engines were Caterpillar 325. An
average of 11.0~ improvement in mileage per gallon of
fuel consumed was recorded.
Numerous modifications and variations of the
present invention are possible in light of the above
teachings and, therefore, within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practised otherwise than as
particularly described.
