ENHANCED FUEL AND METHOD OF PRODUCING ENHANCED FUEL FOR OPERATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Abstract

An enhanced fuel, a method of producing such enhanced fuel, and method of using such enhanced fuel for operating internal combustion engine. The fuel includes a mixture of at least one alcohol, water and ammonium nitrate (AN) as a cetane enhancer. The water is included in a quantity which renders the ammonium nitrate dissolved in the at least one alcohol. The fuel further contains dimethylether as an ignition-improver additive, at least one lubricity agent and at least one anti-corrosion agent.

Claims

1. A fuel for use in internal combustion engines, wherein the fuel includes a mixture of at least one alcohol, water and ammonium nitrate (AN) as a cetane enhancer, wherein water is included in a quantity which renders the ammonium nitrate dissolved in the at least one alcohol, wherein the at least one alcohol includes methanol.

2. The fuel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the AN and water solution is mixed in alcohol to allow the AN/alcohol ratio in be in a range of 0.5% to 20% by weight with respect tot he aclohol, wherein the AN is included in a concentration having a range of 1% to 5% by weight with respect to the alcohol.

3-5. (canceled)

6. The fuel as claimed in claim 1, the fuel further contains polyethylene glycol dinitrate (PEGDN), wherein the PEGDN is included in a concentration in a range of 5% to 10% by weight with respect to alcohol.

7. (canceled)

8. The fuel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel further contains at least one ignition-improver additive, at least one lubricity agent and at least one anti-corrosion agent, wherein the ignition-improver additive is at least one of dimethylether (DME), diethyl ether or methyl ethyl ether, wherein the DME is included in a concentration in a range of 0.1% to 3% by weight with respect to the alcohol.

9-11. (canceled)

12. The fuel as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lubricity agent is at least one of polyethylene glycol, synthetic esters, and fatty acids, wherein the anti-corrosion agent contains organic amines.

13. (canceled)

14. A method of producing a fuel, wherein the method includes: (i) Mixing at least one alcohol, dimethylether (DME) and Ammonium Nitrate (AN); and (ii) During mixing in (i), adding water in a quantity which renders the AN dissolved in the at least one alcohol, wherein the at least one alcohol includes methanol.

15. (canceled)

16. The method as claimed in claims 14, wherein the AN is included in a concentration having a range of 0.5% to 10% by weight with respect to the alcohol, wherein the AN in included in a concentration having a range of 1% to 5% by weight with respect to the alcohol.

17. (canceled)

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the DME is included in a concentration in a range of 0.1% to 5% by weight with respect to the alcohol, wherein the DME is included in a concentration in a range of 0.1% to 3% by weight with respect to the alcohol.

19. (canceled)

20. The method as claimed in claim 14, further includes adding at least one lubricity agent and at least one anti-corrosion agent, wherein the anti-corrosion agent includes organic amines.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lubricity agent is at least one of polyethylene glycol, synthetic esters, and fatty acids.

22. (canceled)

23. The method as claimed in claim 20, further includes adding polyethylene glycol dinitrate (PEGDN), wherein the PEGDN is included in a concentration in a range of 5% to 10% by weight with respect to alcohol.

24. (canceled)

25. A method of using a fuel for operating an internal combustion engine, wherein the combustion engine including one or more combustion chambers having reciprocating and/or rotating elements therein which are operable to generate mechanical work from the engine, and an injection arrangement for injecting fuel into the one or more combustion chambers, wherein the method includes: (a) operating the injection arrangement to inject an alcohol-based fuel into the one or more combustion chambers, and wherein there is injected in combination with the alcohol-based fuel at least one ignition-improver.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further includes pre-mixing the alcohol-based fuel and the at least one ignition-improver using a pre-mixing arrangement.

27. The method as claimed in claim 25, further includes injecting the pre-mixed alcohol-based fuel and at least one ignition-improver as aqueous solution into one or more engine cylinders by a common injector.

28. The method as claimed in claim 25, further includes injecting the alcohol-based fuel and the at least one ignition-improver into one or more engine cylinders by separate injectors.

29. The method as claimed in claim 25, further includes controlling an amount of the at least one ignition-improver injected into the one or more combustion chambers relative to an amount of alcohol-based fuel injected therein by using a control arrangement.

30. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the controlling of the amount of the at least one ignition-improver is based on one or more measured parameters associated with the combustion engine.

31. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the alcohol-based fuel contains at least one alcohol, water, at least one lubricity agent and at least one anti-corrosion agent, wherein the anti-corrosion agent contains organic amines.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the lubricity agent is at least one of polyethylene glycol, synthetic esters, and fatty acids.

33. (canceled)

34. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the ignition-improver is at least one of: Dimethylether (DME), diethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, Ammonium Nitrate (AN), PEG-nitrate, octyl nitrate, hydrazine, and hydroxylamine nitrate.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS

[0046] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

[0047] FIG. 1 is a graphical illustration of an enhanced fuel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a graphical illustration of an enhanced fuel, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0049] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a method of producing an enhanced fuel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0050] FIG. 4 is an illustration of components of a enhanced fuel applied to a spark-ignited engine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0051] FIG. 5 is an illustration of components of a enhanced fuel applied to a compression-ignition engine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] In the accompanying diagrams, when a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow or lead line, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow or lead line is pointing.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0053] In overview, the present disclosure is concerned with an enhanced fuel which is based upon an alcohol, for example ethanol and/or methanol, which is economical in use, and which can be used as a diesel fuel substitute, with only minor changes being necessary to an internal combustion engine which is configured to operate from conventional diesel fuel.

[0054] The environmental benefits of using an alcohol, as a replacement for diesel fuel, have been well established in prior-art, since a combustion system employing such alcohol as a fuel produces lower amounts of pollutant gases and particulates in a vehicle's exhaust in comparison to fuels such as petrol and diesel fuel. Moreover, in recent years, governments and society in general have been increasingly applying pressure on companies to adopt more environmentally friendly alternatives. Therefore, as the intrinsic environmental benefits of using alcohols as a running fuel of contemporary vehicles are well-accepted and understood, it is clear from the foregoing that improving the economic efficiency of the use of alcohols as alternative fuels is a key problem to be resolved.

[0055] In the present disclosure, there is proposed an alternative additive as a substitute for Avocet additive that allows alcohols to be used in existing compression ignition engines.

[0056] Ammonium Nitrate is known to be an explosive material. Moreover, Ammonium Nitrate has been hitherto perceived to be unsuitable for use as an additive, because it is not soluble in alcohols, for example methanol. However, pursuant to embodiments of the present disclosure, Ammonium nitrate (AN) has a significant potential as a cetane enhancer for alcohols, such as methanol. The cetane enhancement capability effectively allows AN to be used as an ignition improver for such alcohol fuels. Ammonium Nitrate is, for example, manufactured in large quantities, for example for use in agriculture to replenish soil after crops have been grown which have a high fixed nitrogen requirement, for example grain crops, beans and so forth.

[0057] In respect of the use of ammonium nitrate (AN) as additive for methanol, Ammonium nitrate (AN) has a significant potential as a cetane enhancer for alcohols such as methanol, as aforementioned. The cetane enhancement capability effectively allows AN to be used as an ignition improver for such alcohol fuels, which allows these fuels to be used as direct replacement for known convention combustible fuels.

[0058] Disclosed an embodiment of the present disclosure in which AN is employed as an ignition improver/cetane enhancement for methanol, or another alcohol. AN is not very soluble in methanol for example, but both methanol and AN are soluble in water. Therefore, there is disclosed a fuel including a mixture of an alcohol, for example ethanol and/or methanol, AN and water, as shown in FIG. 1. Such a fuel is beneficially manufactured from a method including: [0059] (i) Mixing methanol and AN to the desired concentration, for example in a range of 0.5% to 10% AN relative to methanol; and [0060] (ii) During mixing in (i), adding enough water so that AN becomes dissolvable in the methanol water mix.

[0061] In step (i) of the method, the range in which AN needs to be added is defined by a ratio N/C (namely, Nitrogen to Carbon), wherein Nitrogen atoms come from the AN additive and Carbon atoms, mostly, comes from the fuel, for example methanol.

[0062] In an example, the AN is included in a concentration having a range of 1% to 5% by weight with respect to the alcohol. Further, the AN and water solution is mixed in alcohol to allow the AN/alcohol ratio in be in a range of 0.5% to 20% by weight with respect to the alcohol.

[0063] In step (ii) of the method, water needs to be added to an extent that solubilises the required amount of AN, namely:

Enhanced fuel=Methanol+water+AN   Eq. 2

[0064] The enhanced fuel (or mixture) of water, AN and methanol is of advantage in that it can be easily stored over a long-term period without separating out into individual components parts, and does not form an emulsion and does not need to be emulsified. The enhance fuel pursuant to Equation 2 (Eq. 2) only contains fully soluble compounds and, thus, is considered to be more stable and more reliable in operating conditions. The enhanced fuel pursuant to Equation 2 (Eq. 2) is considerably cheaper than known diesel fuel substitutes based on methanol, for example employing Avocet, and also is very clean when burnt in an internal combustion engine, for example very low soot production and low NOx production. Moreover, the enhanced fuel pursuant to Equation 2 (Eq. 2) potentially avoids a need to employ Adblue in the exhaust systems of vehicles.

[0065] Methanol can be generated from a variety of sources, for example fermenting biological waste, biota material, algea culture, processing wood by-products, fossil fuel reserves, coal, coal liquefaction, hydrates and so forth; mutatis mutandis ethanol is similarly derivable.

[0066] Embodiments of the present disclosure are concerned with an introduction of a new additive which increases the efficiency of a given fuel, for example methanol-based fuel, by acting as a cetane enhancer. The new additive provides at least one of following benefits: [0067] (a) the new additive allows methanol to act a direct replacement for diesel fuel; [0068] (b) the new additive in solution is non-explosive, and thus less hazardous in than, for example, octyl nitrate; and [0069] (c) the new additive has a potential for application in petrol engines.

[0070] “Cetane” is a measure of an ignition quality of a diesel fuel. The higher the cetane measure of a given diesel fuel, the easier it is to start a standard (direct injection) diesel engine using the given diesel fuel. The cetane measure is defined by a percentage, by volume, of cetane, with a chemical name “hexadecane”’, in a combustion mixture, containing cetane and 1-methylnaphthalene, whose ignition characteristics match those of a given diesel fuel being tested. Comparisons with other additives and fuels can be made by way of “equivalent cetane measure”, for example as employed when describing embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0071] Benefits of the enhanced fuel in Equation 2 (Eq. 2) include: [0072] (a) The method allows Ammonium Nitrate to be used as an ignition improver to methanol or similar alcohols, in turn allowing the fuel to be used in existing diesel engines with minimum modifications; [0073] (b) The addition of water keeps an engine burning the fuel of Equation 2 (Eq. 2) cool (due to a high latent heat of water), thereby decreasing a need for cooling systems, thus making the vehicle more energy efficient; [0074] (c) Lower particulate emission from engines burning the enhanced fuel of Equation 2, namely lower particulate emission than achievable by employing other methods, for example sing exhaust filters, using Adblue spraying in exhaust systems and so forth; (d) Environmentally friendly, since the N-groups in AN are released as N2 gas at the end of a burn cycle in a combustion engine; [0075] (e) The enhanced fuel of Equation 2 (Eq. 2) results in a significant reduction in cost in comparison to PEG-dinitrate-based additives, namely AN cost approximately less than 1/10th of Avocet additives; and [0076] (f) Cooler engine operation consequent upon the introduction of water results in lower NOx formation. Since NOx is the precursor of tropospheric ozone pollution, the reduction in NOx constitutes a significant environmental benefit.

[0077] In an example, systems and methods may be disclosed for the use of an aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate (AN) as an ignition improver directly injected into the engine cylinder, which will be explained in greater detail herein later. For example, the systems and methods may include tanks fitted to contain an aqueous solution of urea as the tanks to contain the AN solution prior to injection.

[0078] According to another aspect, the enhanced fuel, as disclosed above with the help of the FIG. 1 and Equation 2 (Eq. 2), can also include other components that collectively form additive for the fuel.

[0079] In an example, the fuel further includes an ignition-improver additive, preferably, dimethylether (DME). Specifically, the fuel includes DME in addition to the components of the fuel disclosed in FIG. 1. In such instance, ammonium nitrate (AN) acts cetane enhancer additive, which is an alternative additive as a substitute for Avocet additives that allows alcohols to be used as an improved fuel in existing compression-ignition engines. Optionally, the fuel can further include other cetane enhancer, such as hydrazine, hydroxylamine nitrates, octyl nitrate having similar technical benefits, although their cost is greater than that of AN.

[0080] Dimethylether (DME) and other compounds with relatively high vapour pressures, including low-boiling point ethers, namely diethyl ether or methyl ethyl ether are suitable compounds to be employed as ignition-improver additive, particularly to enhance the cold-start of spark-ignited engines.

[0081] Dimethylether (DME) is produced by dehydration of methanol over a preferred catalyst, and is an additive independent of petroleum. For example, DME is soluble in methanol and water, and thus preferably mixed directly into the fuel without the need of emulsification. The chemical formula of DME does not contain Carbon-Carbon bonds, which significantly reduces the possibility of formation of particulate impurities when compared to other commonly used additives, for example Avocet. Further advantages include the possibility of using DME in any engine tuned to be run with methanol as a fuel, wherein no extra modifications in this type of engine are needed.

[0082] Dimethylether (DME) additive is inexpensive and readily available in large-scale. It provides several benefits to the engine operation, which includes enhancing the cold-start of spark-ignited engines. The DME additive can be utilised in range of 0.1-5% by weight with respect to the alcohol. For example, the DME additive is to be utilised range of 0.1-3% by weight with respect to the alcohol. For its utilisation as an additive to a methanol-based fuel, DME has the following favourable characteristics: [0083] a) It is inexpensive, widely available and in large scale production. [0084] b) It is miscible with methanol. [0085] c) It is derived efficiently from methanol by dehydration over an alumina catalyst, and, as such, is independent of petroleum. [0086] d) It is a chemical with no C—C bonds, thus significantly decreasing the chance of formation of particulate impurities. [0087] e) Engines tuned to be run with methanol-based fuels are also capable of running with DME as an additive without extra modifications. [0088] f) It has a high vapour pressure at ambient temperatures, so enabling facile starting of alcohol fuelled SI engines.

[0089] Methanol modified in the way proposed in the present disclosure enables the full benefits of dedicated methanol SI engines to be realised. These benefits include low emissions coupled with the high fuel efficiency and high power output resulting from increased compression ratios made possible by methanol's high octane value.

[0090] There is therefore disclosed an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein DEM and/or AN are/is employed as ignition improver for methanol and/or another alcohol. AN is not directly soluble in methanol, for example, but both methanol and AN are soluble in water. Therefore, there is disclosed a fuel including a mixture of an alcohol, for example ethanol and/or methanol, water, DME (as ignition-improver additive) and AN (as cetane enhancer), as shown in FIG. 2. It is to be understood that AN may be optionally added as cetane enhancer. Such a fuel is beneficially optionally manufactured using a method (300 shown in FIG. 3). Specifically, the method 300 of producing a fuel includes: [0091] (i) Mixing methanol, DME and AN to a desired concentration, for example in a range of 1% to 5% AN relative to methanol; and 0.1 to 3% DME relative to methanol, at step 302; [0092] (ii) During mixing in (i), adding enough water so that AN becomes dissolvable in the methanol-water-DME mix, at step 304.

[0093] In step (i) of the method, the range in which AN needs to be added is defined by a ratio N/C (namely, Nitrogen to Carbon), wherein Nitrogen atoms come from the AN additive and Carbon atoms, mostly, comes from the fuel, for example methanol. In contradistinction, in a case of PEG dinitrate, there is a Nitrogen to Carbon N:C=20:1 is a typically required ratio. However, the values may vary depending on requirements of engine design and operating temperature.

[0094] In step (ii) of the method, water needs to be added to an extent that renders the required amount of AN soluble in the mixture, namely:

Enhanced fuel=Methanol+water+DME+AN   Eq. 3

[0095] Such a mixture of water, AN and methanol is of advantage in that it can be easily stored over a long-term period without separating out into individual component parts, and does not form an emulsion and does not need to be emulsified.

[0096] The enhanced fuel pursuant to Equation 3 is considerably cheaper than known fuel substitutes based upon methanol, for example employing Avocet, and also is very clean when burnt in an internal combustion engine, for example results in very low soot production and low NOx production. Moreover, the enhanced fuel pursuant to Equation 3 potentially avoids a need to employ Adblue in exhaust systems of vehicles.

[0097] Additionally, the fuel (or the method 300) also includes addition of at least one lubricity agent and at least one anti-corrosion agent, so providing a “universal fuel” (which is alcohol based). Therefore, fuel of the present disclosure, proposes an alcohol-based fuel which can be used in vehicles powered by compression-ignition (diesel family), spark-ignition engines, or other suitable hybrid engines.

[0098] For example, the method 300 (or the fuel) further includes adding an ignition-improver additive, preferably dimethylether (DME), adding at least one lubricity agent and at least one anti-corrosion agent. The at least one lubricity agent is selected from additives based on mono-acids and/or fatty-acids such as HiTec and BioTec products from Afton (HiTec, BioTec and Afton are trademarks). Further, the lubricity agents are preferably selected from compositions including polyethylene glycol, synthetic esters or hydroxyesters, fatty acids. The at least one anti-corrosion agent is selected from corrosion inhibitor additives including additives based on zinc dithiophosphates and/or calcium nitrates. Further, the anti-corrosion agent can be selected from at least one of DCI-4A, DCI-6A, DCI-11, DCI-28, DCI-30 (DCI is a trade mark). Moreover, at least one anti-corrosion agent is selected from corrosion inhibitors including organic amines, for example ethanolamine or morpholine or similar basic heterocyclic compounds.

[0099] The fuel can also include other cetane enhancer (other than AN, hydrazine, hydroxylamine nitrates and octyl nitrate) such as, polyethylene glycol dinitrate (PEGDN). Further, in the fuel the PEGDN can be included in a concentration in a range 5% to 10% by weight with respect to alcohol.

[0100] The present embodiment of the present disclosure (similar to embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1) is concerned with an introduction of a new additive which increases the efficiency of a given fuel, for example a methanol-based fuel, having a cetane enhancer and an ignition-improver additive. The new additive provides at least one of following benefits: [0101] (a) the new additive allows methanol to act a direct replacement for many types of conventional fossil-reserve-derived fuel; [0102] (b) the new additive Is non-explosive, and this less hazardous in use; and [0103] (c) the new additive has a potential for application in a wide range of combustion engines.

[0104] Further, similarly the benefits of the enhanced fuel in Equation 3 include: [0105] (a) The method allows Ammonium Nitrate to be used as cetane enhancer for methanol or similar alcohols, in turn allowing the fuel to be used in existing compression-ignition engines with minimal modifications; [0106] (b) The addition of water keeps an engine burning the fuel of Equation 3 cool (due to a high latent heat of evaporation of water), thereby decreasing a need for cooling systems, thus making the vehicle more energy efficient; [0107] (c) Lower particulate emission from engines burning the enhanced fuel of Equation 3, namely lower particulate emission than achievable by employing other methods, for example using exhaust filters, using Adblue spraying in exhaust systems and so forth; [0108] (d) Environmentally friendly, since the N-groups in AN are released as N2 gas at the end of a burn cycle in a combustion engine; and [0109] (e) The enhanced fuel of Equation 2 results in a significant reduction in cost in comparison to PEG-dinitrate-based additives, namely AN cost approximately 1/10th of Avocet additives.

[0110] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide benefits in direct injection combustion engines, and are also capable of providing cost reduction. Such cost reduction here is based on two factors: [0111] (i) cost reduction due to the direct injection; and [0112] (ii) cost reduction due to the use of AN instead of Avocet additives.

[0113] With respect to diesel engines, the present disclosure provides a direct competitor to Octyl Nitrate, which is a currently favoured substance for improving the cetane number of lower grade diesel fuels. The addition of enough water to Ammonium Nitrate (AN) is capable of making this compound soluble in alcohol-based fuels, such as methanol. In turn, this potentially allows for the use of methanol, or another alcohol, in place of diesel fuel in current modern diesel engines. Moreover, modern diesel engines are required to be fitted with tanks containing an aqueous solution of urea, which in turn, are optionally used as a reservoir for the AN solution prior to injection.

[0114] Current European diesel trucks are fitted with a small urea tank, which is beneficially optionally used as the reservoir for the Ammonium Nitrate (AN), while petrol engines do not need such an addition.

[0115] Ammonium Nitrate (AN) has a great potential to be used as an ignition improver -cetane enhancement for methanol (or another alcohol). This present disclosure relates to the use of an aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate as an ignition improver directly injected into the engine cylinder.

[0116] In the case of modern diesel engine, the AN solution is beneficially injected in concentrations which vary in a range of 5% to 20% by weight with respect to the alcohol. The composition of an alcohol-based fuel, preferably methanol, with the additions of the AN solution in the range specified and a lubricity agent could be potentially used without adjustment in combustion engines, leading to the concept of a versatile fuel.

[0117] If the AN is injected as described above, then the fuel can be any substance suitable for use, for example, as a diesel fuel. The fuel can be used directly in spark-ignited petrol engines. For economic, safety, transport and environmental reasons, methanol has a unique capacity to provide this capability.

[0118] The fuel is used by way of direct injection of additive into a given cylinder of a combustion engine. Modern diesel engines are required to be fitted with tanks containing an aqueous solution of urea; this same tank is beneficially made available to contain the AN solution prior to injection, provided that the injection line is modified to inject the additive solution directly into the engine cylinder. Modern engines with computer-based fuel injection management systems, under software control, are capable of using fuels pursuant to the present disclosure.

[0119] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a versatile fuel, for example a mixture of methanol, a lubricity additive and at least one anti-corrosion agent. Such a versatile fuel is susceptible to being employed in spark-ignition engines. Injection of AN enables the versatile fuel to be employed in compression-ignition engines.

[0120] Optionally, the fuel is used by way of direct injection of additive into a given cylinder of a combustion engine. Modern diesel engines are required to be fitted with tanks containing an aqueous solution of urea; this same tank is beneficially made available to contain the AN solution prior to injection, provided that the injection line is modified to inject the additive solution directly into the engine cylinder. Modern engines with computer-based fuel injection management systems, under software control, are capable of using fuels pursuant to the present disclosure.

[0121] In recent years, current environmental laws and society pressure have placed less emphasis on economics of fuels, and more on environmental gains. Nevertheless, an additive that costs less, and makes an overall combustion process in internal combustion engines more efficient will increase economic benefits, which associated to intrinsic environmental gains, makes alcohol once more an attractive alternative to diesel fuel from a commercial perspective.

[0122] Therefore, in another aspect, the present disclosure relates to method of using a fuel for operating internal combustion engine. The combustion engine primarily includes one or more combustion chambers having reciprocating and/or rotating elements therein which are operable to generate mechanical work from the engine. The combustion engine also includes an injection arrangement for injecting fuel into the one or more combustion chambers. Therefore, the method pursuant to present aspect includes operating the injection arrangement to inject an alcohol-based fuel into the one or more combustion chambers, and wherein there is injected in combination with the alcohol-based fuel at least one ignition-improver.

[0123] The term “at least ignition-improver” broadly encompasses the cetane enhancers and the ignition-improver additives, disclosed herein above. Therefore, the ignition-improver is at least one of: Dimethylether (DME), diethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, Ammonium Nitrate (AN), PEG-nitrate, octyl nitrate, hydrazine, and hydroxylamine nitrate.

[0124] Further, the term “alcohol-based fuel” used herein mainly includes components of the fuels disclosed herein above. For example, the alcohol-based fuel contains at least one alcohol, water, at least one lubricity agent and at least one anti-corrosion agent. Moreover, the lubricity agent is at least one of polyethylene glycol, synthetic esters, and fatty acids; and the anti-corrosion agent contains organic amines.

[0125] In an embodiment, the method of using the fuel for operating internal combustion engine further includes pre-mixing the alcohol-based fuel and the at least one ignition-improver using a pre-mixing arrangement. Further, the pre-mixed alcohol-based fuel and at least one ignition-improver are injected as aqueous solution into one or more engine cylinders by a common injector. Alternatively, the method of using the fuel for operating internal combustion engine includes injecting the alcohol-based fuel and the at least one ignition-improver into one or more engine cylinders by separate injectors.

[0126] The method also includes controlling an amount of the at least one ignition-improver injected into the one or more combustion chambers relative to an amount of alcohol-based fuel injected therein by using a control arrangement. The controlling of the amount of the at least one ignition-improver is based on one or more measured parameters associated with the combustion engine. In an example, the control arrangement includes a computing-device-based controller operable to execute computer program instructions, including one or more sensors for dynamically controlling the fluid pumps as a function of one or more engine parameters, for example as a function of at least one of engine temperature, engine load, ambient temperature, fuel-type, accelerator pedal position.

[0127] The nozzles for injectors in combustion engines pursuant to the present disclosure are beneficially manufactured from spark-eroded Hastelloy-N, sintered Silicon Carbide, sintered metals, sintered ceramic materials such as Carborundum, and similar. Sintered materials are of advantage in that they can be spatially formed by a moulding process prior to their sintering.

[0128] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a retrofit kit including nozzles, fluid pumps and piping for providing additive and fuel separately for injection into cylinders of a combustion engine. Otherwise, the retrofit kit can include a single nozzle (or the common injector) associated with the pre-mixing arrangement (such as a pre-mixing container).

[0129] In the present disclosure, Dimethylether and Ammonium nitrate (AN) are beneficially employed, for example with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, respectively as ignition-improver and as a directly-injected cetane improver. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the alcohol-based fuel includes the alcohol (such as methanol), the ignition-improver additive (such as DME), water, the lubricity agent and the anti-corrosion which are premixed (for in the pre-mixing container) and injected in the spark ignition engine by the single nozzle (or the common injector). However, in the shown in FIG. 5, the alcohol-based fuel and an aqueous solution of AN is beneficially directly injected into a cylinder of a combustion engine to function as the cetane enhancer. Specifically, in such an engine (compression-ignition), two injectors are employed for each cylinder of the combustion engine. Thus, use of aqueous AN injection as a cetane enhancer enables fuel neutral operation to be achieved, namely applicable for both diesel fuel and alcohol-based fuels.

[0130] The above embodiment relates to combustion engines which are operable to use an aqueous solution of Ammonium Nitrate as an ignition improver directly injected into the engine cylinder, for example via a dedicated nozzle for the ignition improver and/or when the ignition improver is pre-mixed into fuel which is injected into the engine cylinder. Further, the method allows Dimethylether and/or Ammonium Nitrate to be used as an ignition improver for methanol-based or similar alcohol-based fuels, in turn allowing the fuels to be used in existing compression ignition engines with minimum modifications; or by exchanging injector nozzles of cylinders of a compression ignition engine with an alternative type, which has multiple injection nozzles, namely one nozzle for the alcohol-based fuel and another nozzle for the Ammonium Nitrate.

[0131] Modifications to embodiments of the disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural. Numerals included within parentheses in the accompanying claims are intended to assist understanding of the claims and should not be construed in any way to limit subject matter claimed by these claims.

REFERENCE LITERATURE

[0132] [1] Gaouyer, J. P.: “What has happened in Europe in the Biofuels Domain over the last two years?” Proceedings 2nd European Motor Biofuels Forum, Graz, p. 37-41, 1996.