Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
DESCRIPTION
LOW POLLUTION LIQUID FUEL AND MANUFACTURING
METHOD OF THE SAME
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an improved low
pollution liquid fuel capable of obtaining an efficiency and
an output similar to or higher than those of conventional
gasoline without the need of changing the structure or the
material of existing internal combustion gasoline engines
and remarkably reducing the concentrations of carbon
monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon in exhaust gases as compared
with those of conventional gasoline and to a method of
manufacturing the liquid fuel.
BACKGROUND ART
As a recent countermeasure to the environment problems,
more serious attention has been paid to the problem of the
environmental pollution caused by the exhaust gases from
automobiles. There have been available, as a low pollution
liquid fuel, fuels containing naphtha mixed with methanol
and other alcohols such as "GAIAX (trade name)", which has
been available from the applicant. The fuel can greatly
reduce the concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) and
1
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases from the automobiles and
can be used in place of conventional gasoline.
The fuels which contain naphtha mixed with methanol
and other alcohol such as ~~GAIAX (trade name)" have a
sufficient effect for reducing the concentrations of carbon
monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases from the
automobiles. However, the fuels have a problem in that since
they contain methanol having large polarity in the component
thereof, when they are used for a long period of time, a
fuel supply rubber pipe, which an accessory of internal
combustion engines is swollen and fuel pressure is changed
and otherwise the fuel pipe is broken due to the reduction
of the strength thereof.
Further, a problem is also arisen in that the rubber
hoses, packings and the like used in the gas supply machines
in gas stations are swollen and the life thereof is greatly
reduced similarly, which is a large obstacle for the
widespread use of the novel fuels.
An object of the present invention, which was made in
view of the above problems, is to provide a low pollution
liquid fuel, which does not cause problems such as the swell
and damage of a fuel supply hose and the reduction of life
thereof and is more excellent in practical utility and a
method of manufacturing the fuel.
_ . _. _ __~ __ . _ , _.-.__m..~._FA~ 'z __
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above object, a low pollution liquid
fuel of the present invention includes 10 - 50 volt of at
least two kinds of aliphatic monohydric alcohols having the
number of hydrocarbons of 2 - 11, 40 - 60 vol% of at least
one kind of saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons and 10 -
30 vol% of at least one kind of ethers having two chain
hydrocarbon groups whose number of carbon atoms is 6 or less.
According to the above feature, since methanol whose
number of carbon atoms is 1 is not contained in the
resulting fuel, the problem of the swell and damage of a
fuel pipe and a fuel supply hose caused by the methanol
having a large polarity and the reduction of life thereof
can be solved, whereby a low pollution liquid fuel excellent
in practical utility can be obtained.
It is preferable in the low pollution liquid fuel of
the present invention that the volume percentage of the
alcohols is 1/2 or more that of the saturated or unsaturated
hydrocarbons.
With this arrangement, the contents of COx, HxCy, SOx,
NOx, etc. contained in the exhaust gases of automobiles can
be suppressed to low levels.
In the low pollution liquid fuel of the present
invention, it is preferable that at least one kind of the
aliphatic monohydric alcohols is nonstraight-chain alcohol.
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CA 02342824 2001-03-02
With this arrangement, not only a higher octane value
can be obtained as compared with a case in which straight-
chain alcohol having the same number of carbon atoms but
also the separation of alcohol components from other primary
fuels can be prevented by the use of the nonstraight-chain
alcohol.
In the low pollution liquid fuel of the present
invention, it is preferable that the nonstraight-chain
alcohol is isopropyl alcohol or isobutyl alcohol.
With this arrangement, the low pollution liquid fuel
having excellent characteristics can be obtained by the use
of isopropyl alcohol or isobutyl alcohol which is a
nonstraight-chain alcohol having a relatively small number
of carbon atoms.
In the low pollution liquid fuel of the present
invention, it is preferable that the ethers are at least one
kind of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTHE), tertiary amyl
methyl ether (TAME) and dibutyl ether.
With this arrangement, the octane value of the
resulting fuel can be improved by a small blended amount,
whereby the price of the fuel can be suppressed to a low
level.
In the low pollution liquid fuel of the present
invention, it is preferable that the saturated or
unsaturated hydrocarbons are light duty naphtha or gasoline
4
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
containing aromatic hydrocarbon components in the content of
1% or less.
With this arrangement, since the light duty naphtha,
which is relatively stable chemically and from which
aromatic hydrocarbon components which are liable to be
imperfectly combusted are removed, are used, not only COx
and HxCy in exhaust gases can be still more reduced but also
it can be prevented that benzene, toluene, xylene, etc. as
the harmful aromatic hydrocarbon components are discharged
together with the exhaust gases as they are.
A method of manufacturing a low pollution liquid fuel
of the present invention includes the step of mixing 10 - 50
vol% of at least two kinds of aliphatic monohydric alcohols
having the number of hydrocarbons of 2 - 11, 40 - 60 vol% of
at least one kind of saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons
and 10 - 30 vol% of at least one kind of ethers having two
chain hydrocarbon groups whose number of carbon atoms is 6
or less.
According to the feature, the respective blended
primary fuels can be effectively mixed without being
separated from each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a flowchart showing a method of
manufacturing a fuel for internal combustion engine
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the
ratio of alcohol and petroleum components in a liquid fuel
and the concentrations of the polluted gases contained in
exhaust gases.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Fig. 1 is a flowchart showing a method of
manufacturing a fuel for internal combustion engine
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
fuel for internal combustion engine of the present invention
mainly includes at least two kinds of aliphatic monohydric
alcohols, straight-chain hydrocarbons, and single ether or
mixed ethers. After these primary fuels are measured in
predetermined volume percentages, first, the single ether or
the mixed ethers whose polarity is smaller than that of the
aliphatic monohydric alcohols are charged into and mixed
with light duty naphtha which is straight-chain hydrocarbon
having a relatively large volume and has the smallest
polarity, and then the aliphatic monohydric alcohols are
charged thereinto and mixed therewith, whereby the low
pollution fuel of the present invention is prepared.
At the time, since at least the two kinds of the
aliphatic monohydric alcohols exist, it is preferable to
gradually charge them in the sequence from alcohol having a
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CA 02342824 2001-03-02
larger number of carbon atoms which has a smaller polarity
to alcohol having a smaller number of carbon atoms.
While it is preferable to sequentially blend the
primary fuels whose magnitudes of polarities are near to
each other as described above because the separation of the
primary fuels can be prevented thereby and they can be
effectively blended, the present invention is not limited
thereto. Further, while the ethers and alcohols are
sequentially charged into and blended with the light duty
naphtha which has the low polarity, the ethers and the light
duty naphtha may be sequentially charged into the alcohol
having a high polarity on the contrary.
Blend examples of the fuel for internal combustion
engine made by the above manufacturing method will be shown
below.
<Blend example 1>
A blend example 1 contains 25 vol% of isobutyl alcohol
(IBA) as one of aliphatic monohydric alcohols, 10 vol% of
isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as the other thereof, 20 vol% of
methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as mixed ethers and 45
vol% of light duty naphtha as the straight-chain
hydrocarbons.
<Blend example 2>
A blend example 2 contains 25 vol% of butyl alcohol as
one of aliphatic monohydric alcohols, 10 vol% of isopropyl
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CA 02342824 2001-03-02
alcohol (IPA) as the other thereof, 20 vol% of methyl
tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as mixed ethers and 45 vol% of
light duty naphtha as the straight-chain hydrocarbons.
<Hlend example 3>
A blend example 3 contains 25 vol% of isobutyl alcohol
(IHA) as one of aliphatic monohydric alcohols, 10 vol% of
isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as the other thereof, 20 vol% of
dibutyl ether as mixed ethers and 45 vol% of light duty
naphtha as the straight-chain hydrocarbons.
<Blend example 4>
A blend example 4 contains 25 vol% of butyl alcohol as
one of aliphatic monohydric alcohols, 10 vol% of isopropyl
alcohol (IPA) as the other thereof, 20 vol% of dibutyl ether
as mixed ethers and 45 vol% of light duty naphtha as the
straight-chain hydrocarbons.
<Blend example 5>
A blend example 5 contains 25 vol% of isobutyl alcohol
(IHA) as one of aliphatic monohydric alcohols, 10 vol% of
isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as the other thereof, 20 vol% of
tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME) as mixed ethers and 45
vol% of light duty naphtha as the straight-chain
hydrocarbons.
<Hlend example 6>
A blend example 6 contains 25 vol% of butyl alcohol as
one of aliphatic monohydric alcohols, 10 vol% of isopropyl
8
.. .._ _.__~..~..~.~_.... _.._.~.~~.~ _...._
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
alcohol (IPA) as the other thereof, 20 vol% of tertiary amyl
methyl ether (TAME) as mixed ethers and 45 vol% of light
duty naphtha as the straight-chain hydrocarbons.
<Comparative example>
A comparative example contains 43 vol% of methyl
alcohol as one of conventional alcohol fuels, 5 vol% of
isobutyl alcohol (IBA) as the other thereof, 4 vol% of
methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as mixed ethers and 48
vol% of light duty naphtha as the straight-chain
hydrocarbons.
Note that the light duty naphtha referred to here is
light duty naphtha which is refined so that the content of
each of aromatic hydrocarbons such as B (benzene), T
(toluene), X (xylene), etc. is made 1% or less in the
distillation of crude oil (atmospheric distillation). The
use of the light duty naphtha is preferable because it can
prevent that the concentrations of CO and HC in exhaust
gases are increased due to the imperfect combustion of the
aromatic hydrocarbons which are relatively stable chemically
and the harmful aromatic hydrocarbons such as H (benzene), T
(toluene), X (xylene), etc. themselves are discharged into
exhaust gases. However, the present invention is not
limited thereto.
Further, straight-chain saturated or unsaturated
hydrocarbons whose number of carbon atoms is 9 or less may
4
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
be used in place of all or a part of the light duty naphtha
from the view point of the volatility of the naphtha and the
increase of the concentrations of CO and HC in exhaust gases
caused by the residuals thereof.
The aliphatic monohydric alcohols have a carbon number
of at least 2 because methyl alcohol is removed therefrom.
When the upper limit of the carbon number of the aliphatic
monohydric alcohols is 12 or more, the initial distilling
point of alcohol is increased as well as the specific weight
thereof is made large and accordingly a resulting liquid
fuel has a lowered igniting capability and is liable to
reduce the starting property of an engine as well as the
specific weight of a resulting fuel is made larger than a
specific weight regulated as gasoline. Thus, the carbon
number of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols must be set to
11 or less.
Further, nonstraight-chain monohydric (primary)
alcohol is preferably employed as at least one kind of the
aliphatic monohydric alcohols because its polarity is lower
than that of straight-chain alcohol and the blending
property thereof with hydrocarbon components and ethers can
be improved thereby. However, the present invention is not
limited thereto and these alcohols may be suitably combined
from the view point of price, volatility and the like.
Furthermore, it is preferable to use nonstraight-chain
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
aliphatic monohydric alcohols such as IPA, IBA, etc.
because the octane value obtained thereby can be properly
set to an internal combustion engine. However, the present
invention is not limited thereto.
Further, it is preferable to use, as the above ether,
ether having two chain hydrocarbon groups whose number of
carbon atoms is 6 or less from the view point of the
volatility and price thereof. In particular, it is
preferable to use the above methyl tertiary butyl ether
(MTBE), dibutyl ether, and tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME)
because the octane value of a resulting fuel can be improved
by a small additive amount of them. However, the present
invention is not limited to the MTHE, dibutyl ether, and
TAME, and the kinds and the like of ethers to be used may be
suitably selected based on the kinds and the like of
alcohols which will be used.
Furthermore, the blend ratios shown in the above blend
examples 1 - 6 are not limited thereto, and the respective
compositions have the ranges of blend ratios in which
similar excellent characteristics can be obtained. The
ranges will be shown below.
Composition system of blend example ly
The composition system of the blend example 1 is in
the range of IBA; 5 - 30 vol%, IPA; 5 - 30 vo~, MTBE; 10 -
35 vol%, and light duty naphtha or gasoline; 45 - 60 volt.
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Composition system of blend example 2}
The composition system of the blend example 2 is in
the range of butyl alcohol; 5 - 30 vol%, IPA; 5 - 30 vol%,
MTBE; 10 - 35 vol%, and light duty naphtha or gasoline; 45 -
60 vol%.
Composition system of blend example 3}
The composition system of the blend example 3 is in
the range of IBA; 5 - 30 vol%, IPA; 5 - 30 vol%, butyl
ether; 10 - 35 vol%, and light duty naphtha or gasoline; 45
- 60 vol%.
Composition system of blend example 4}
The composition system of the blend example 4 is in
the range of butyl alcohol; 5 - 30 vol%, IPA; 5 - 30 vol%,
dibutyl ether; 10 - 35 vol%, and light duty naphtha or
gasoline; 45 - 60 vol%.
Composition system of blend example 5}
The composition system of the blend example 5 is in
the range of IBA; 5 - 30 vol%, IPA; 5 - 30 vol%, TAME; IO -
35 vol%, and light duty naphtha or gasoline; 45 - 60 vol%.
Composition system of blend example 6}
The composition system of the blend example 6 is in
the range of butyl alcohol; 5 - 30 vol%, IPA; 5 - 30 vol%,
TAME; 10 - 35 vol%, and Light duty naphtha or gasoline; 45 -
60 vol%.
A more preferable ratio in the above compositions is
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in the range of monohydric alcohol components . ether
components . petroleum components such as hydrocarbons and
light duty naphtha or gasoline and the like = 3 . 2 . 5 -
3 . 1 . 6 in vol% or 2 . 2 . 6 - 3 . 1 . 6 in volt .
When the volume percentage of the monohydric alcohol
components is made less than 1/2 that of the hydrocarbons
and the petroleum components such as the light duty naphtha,
gasoline or the like as shown in Fig. 2, the contents of COx,
HxCy, SOx, NOx, etc. in exhaust gases are increased. Thus,
it is preferable to make the volume percentage of the
monohydric alcohol components to 1/2 or more that of the
hydrocarbons and the petroleum components such as the light
duty naphtha, gasoline or the like.
Further, when the contents of MTHE, dibutyl ether and
TAME are excessively increased, the octane value of the
liquid fuel is made higher than that of ordinary gasoline,
which is unsuitable.
Next, the liquid fuels of the blend examples 1 - 6,
conventional gasoline and the conventional alternative fuel
containing methyl alcohol as the blend example 7 were tested
in a metal and a rubber used in existing automobile parts
and in a metal and a rubber used in a gas supply machine
main body for the comparison of the capabilities thereof.
The result of the test is shown in Tables 1 and 2.
Table 1
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Table 2
As can be seen from Tables 1 and 2, the swell of
rubber and the deterioration of mechanical strength and
characteristics thereof are admitted in the conventional
alternative fuel containing methyl alcohol as the blend
example 7 as described above. However, it can be found that
the blend example 1 of the present invention is by no means
inferior to the gasoline as to the swell of rubber and the
deterioration of mechanical strength and characteristics
thereof. Accordingly, it can be said that the low pollution
liquid fuel of the present invention can be stored in the
facilities of existing gas stations and used for existing
gasoline-driven automobiles as it is as well as it can be
arbitrarily mixed with gasoline for use. Further,
characteristics similar to those of the blend example 1 can
be obtained by the blend examples 2 - 6 which are not shown
in Tables 1 and 2.
Next, the concentrations of the polluted gases
contained in the exhaust gases of the embodiment 1, those of
the comparative example and those of gasoline were compared
with each other. The result of comparison is as shown below.
Note that used in the comparison was an automobile of 2000
cc which satisfied the regulations for CO, HC, and NOx
values stipulated by the articles 30 and 31 of Safety
Standard of Japanese Automobile Inspection System.
14
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
Table 3
As can be seen from Table 3, any of the exhaust gas
values (Cox, HxCy, and NOx) in the embodiment is low. In
particular, it can be understood that the HxCy and COx
values of the liquid fuel of the present invention
(embodiment 1) are remarkably lower than those of the
conventional liquid fuel (comparative example) using
methanol.
Therefore, the liquid fuels of the present invention
could reduce the amounts of COx and HxCy exhausted when they
were combusted and further could reduce the NOx value by
about 10%. In addition, since no sulfur is contained in the
components of the low pollution liquid fuel of the present
invention, SOx is not exhausted at all, and thus the fuel
can be used as a low pollution fuel capable of reducing the
effect thereof on the atmospheric pollution.
Further, the use of low pollution fuel of the present
invention does not require that a conventional gasoline
engine is provide with a special device, that some parts
thereof is converted and that some parts thereof is replaced.
Further, it is possible to mix the low pollution fuel of the
present invention with conventional gasoline for use.
While the present invention has been described with
reference to the above embodiment, the present invention is
1~
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
by no means limited thereto and it goes without saying that
various modifications and additions can be made within the
range which does not depart from the gist of the invention.
That is, other primary fuels and additives (including metal
and the like) may be arbitrarily added within the range in
which the characteristics of the fuels for internal
combustion engine of the present invention are not greatly
modified, and it is needless to say that these fuels are
also included in the scope of the present invention.
L
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
Table 1
Result of corrosion test of metal
Chemicals Ins t' & t t'
pec ion es inq Institute,
,Tapan
Metal piece Blend example 1 (not
containing methanol)
Rate of change of mass(%)Outside
appearance
Copper t0 Corrosion notadmitted
Solder 10.02 Corrosion notadmitted
Brass t0 Corrosion notadmitted
Steel t0 Corrosion notadmitted
Cast iron 10.02 Corrosion notadmitted
Aluminum cast t0 Corrosion notadmitted
Metal piece Comparative example (containing
methanol)
Rate of change of mass(%)Outside
appearance
Copper t0 Corrosion notadmitted
Solder 10.02 Corrosion notadmitted
Brass 10.01 Corrosion notadmitted
Steel 10.02 Corrosion notadmitted
Cast iron 10.02 Corrosion notadmitted
Aluminum cast t0 Corrosion notadmitted
Metal piece Regular gasoline
Rate of change of mass(%)Outside
appearance
Copper t0 Corrosion notadmitted
Solder 10.02 Corrosion notadmitted
Brass t0 Corrosion notadmitted
Steel t0 Corrosion notadmitted
Cast iron 10.02 Corrosion notadmitted
Aluminum cast 10.01 Corrosion aotadmitted
CA 02342824 2001-03-02
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CA 02342824 2001-03-02
Table 3
Comparison of amour+~ ~f
- _- ~~a~unueL gases
'
_ CO a 8C value NOx value
Blend example 1 1.13 ppm 0.08 1800-2,000
Comparative example 7.45 ppm ppm ppm
Gasoline 43.25 ppm 0.23 1900-2,100
ppm ppm
2.75 2000-2,200
ppm ppm
