Described herein are fuel modifiers for natural gas reciprocating engines, while recognizing the application of the inventions herein may be applied more broadly, to other natural gas-based engine systems. The fuel modifiers are primarily free-radical initiators, and the presence of this fuel modifier allows the engine operator to operate the engine under leaner conditions because, while employing the same ignition energy, more free-radicals are formed, thus overcoming the problems associated with dilution of the pool of free-radicals in the flame.

The present invention discloses a homogenous cerium (Ce) catalyst composition comprising Ce(IV) complex alone, or Ce(IV) complex in a mixture with Ce(III) complex, that can significantly improve both LPG and soot combustion, resulting in higher flame temperatures, faster heating, reduced cooking time and reduced fuel consumption. The cerium(III) complex is cerium(III) 2-ethylhexanoate and the cerium(IV) complex is aqua(2-N-(2-hydroxyethylimino)-4-pentanoate) dinitrocerium(IV) [Ce(L1)(H.sub.2O)(NO.sub.3).sub.2], wherein L1 is 2-N-(2-hydroxyethylimino)-4-pentanone.

The present invention relates to a liquid comprising methane and a tracer, and to a slush of liquid and solids comprising methane and a tracer. The invention especially relates to LNG comprising a tracer. The LNG may comprise, in addition to the tracer, an odorant and a carrier for the odorant. The odorant is ethyl acrylate and/or ethyl mercaptan. The carrier for the odorant is propane, n-butane, iso-butane, or a mixture of two or more thereof. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing such a liquid or slush by liquefying a gas comprising methane and a tracer. The invention also relates to a process in which a tracer is added to a methane comprising liquid or slush.

The inventive technology includes methods and apparatus for the generation and application of segregated catalytic additives for the pre-combustion treatment of carbonaceous fuel and/or feedstocks. The application of such segregated additives results in the reduction of environmentally harmful emissions during combustion as well as gasification processes. Specifically, pre-combustion treatment of carbonaceous materials with the inventive additives results in the reduction of NOx and/or mercury emissions by least 20% and 40% respectively.

The present invention generally relates to one or more compositions and methods for inhibiting the formation of gas hydrate agglomerates in a fluid using a fluorine-containing agent and an anti-agglomerant. The fluid may be contained, for example, in an oil or gas pipeline or refinery.

A method for producing a fuel composition, including the following steps: providing special gas containing combustible substances; reforming a first part of the special gas by producing synthesis gas; producing dimethyl ether from the synthesis gas by producing a reaction mixture containing a dimethyl ether; separating methanol from the reaction mixture and producing a methanol-reduced dimethyl ether mixture; and bringing together a second part of the special gas with the methanol reduced dimethyl ether mixture in order to obtain the fuel composition.

Methods and systems for fuel treatment are provided. An example method includes generating structurally altered gas molecules from water. The structurally altered gas molecules have a higher probability of attraction of electrons into areas adjunct to the structurally altered gas molecules than molecules of the water. The method further includes infusing the structurally altered gas molecules into a fuel to modify properties of the fuel, thereby increasing fuel burning efficiency.

The coal-derived solid hydrocarbon particles are discrete particles of coal-derived carbonaceous matter having a particle size less than about 10 m that are substantially free of inherent or entrained mineral matter. The particles of have an average particle size in the range from 1 m to 8 m. The particles of coal-derived carbonaceous matter are milled to a size approximately the same as a size of coal-derived mineral matter inherent in the coal source to release inherent coal-derived mineral matter particles such that the particles of carbonaceous matter and the particles of mineral matter are discrete and separable solid particles. Following separation, less than 1.5 wt. % discrete coal-derived mineral matter particles are associated with the discrete particles of coal-derived carbonaceous matter. Particles of coal-derived solid hydrocarbon matter are blended with a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon fuel to form a two-phase hydrocarbon fuel feedstock.

A gaseous combustible fuel includes a gaseous hydrocarbon fuel feedstock and solid fuel particles suspended in the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel feedstock. The solid fuel particles have a sufficiently small particle size so that they remain suspended during transportation. The hydrocarbon fuel feedstock may include natural gas, ethane, propane, butane, and gaseous derivatives and mixtures thereof. The solid fuel particles may include coal-derived solid carbonaceous matter. Other examples of solid fuel particles include biomass, refined bioproducts, and combustible polymer particles. The gaseous combustible fuel has an energy density at atmospheric pressure which is at least 25% greater than the volumetric energy density of the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel feedstock. Improvements in volumetric energy density of 50%, 100%, and even 500% are disclosed. The gaseous combustible fuel may be pressurized to a pressure in the range from 2 to 100 atmospheres.

This invention generally refers to a new generation of fuel additives which can provide catalytic action to improve the combustion process of fossil fuels and to a catalyst among others containing an iron compound combined with an over-based magnesium compound with molecular size particles inside the combustion chamber. Such fuel additive catalysts are particularly useful for fuel oil combustion, natural gas combustion, stationary gas turbines, natural gas-fired reciprocating engines, diesel engines, gasoline engines and all stationary dual-fuel engines.