EMULSIFIER PACKAGE WITH A SHORT-CHAINED AND OPTIONALLY WITH A LONG-CHAINED SURFACTANT FOR FUEL EMULSION

Abstract

A method for powering a diesel engine with a fuel emulsion involves preparing the fuel emulsion by emulsifying a fuel and water in the presence of an emulsifier package, which contains a short-chained surfactant of the formula (I) as defined below and optionally, a long-chained surfactant of the formula (II) as defined below. A fuel emulsion for powering a diesel engine is also provided.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18: A method for powering a diesel engine with a fuel emulsion, the method comprising: preparing the fuel emulsion by emulsifying a fuel and water in the presence of an emulsifier package which comprises a short-chained surfactant of the formula (I)
R.sup.aO(AO.sup.a).sub.mR.sup.a(I) in which R.sup.a is a linear or branched C.sub.6-14 alkyl, AO.sup.a is an ethylene oxide radical, propylene oxide radical, butylene oxide radical, pentylene oxide radical, styrene oxide radical or mixtures thereof, m is a number from 1 to 100, and R.sup.a is hydrogen or C.sub.10.4 alkyl; and wherein the emulsifier package additionally comprises a long-chained surfactant of the formula (II)
R.sup.bO(AO.sup.b).sub.nR.sup.b(II) in which R.sup.b is a linear or branched C.sub.16-32 alkyl, AO.sup.b is an ethylene oxide radical, propylene oxide radical, butylene oxide radical, pentylene oxide radical, styrene oxide radical or mixtures thereof, n is a number from 1 to 100, and R.sup.b is hydrogen or C.sub.1-4 alkyl.

19: The method according to claim 18, wherein m is a number from 3 to 60.

20: The method according to claim 18, wherein n is a number from 3 to 60.

21: The method according to claim 18, wherein R.sup.a is isotridecyl.

22: The method according to claim 18, wherein AO.sup.a is an ethylene oxide radical.

23: The method according to claim 18, wherein R.sup.b is a linear C.sub.16-22 alkyl.

24: The method according claim 18, wherein AO.sup.b is a mixture of an ethylene oxide radical and a propylene oxide radical.

25: The method according to claim 18, wherein R.sup.a and R.sup.b are hydrogen.

26: The method according to claim 18, wherein the emulsifier package comprises the short-chained surfactant and the long-chained surfactant in a weight ratio of 10:1 to 1:10.

27: The method according to claim 18, wherein the emulsifier package comprises 1 to 99 wt %, 5 to 90 wt %, 10 to 80 wt %, or 20 to 70 wt % of the long-chained surfactant.

28: The method according to claim 18, wherein the emulsifier package comprises 1 to 99 wt %, 5 to 90 wt %, 10 to 80 wt %, or 20 to 70 wt % of the short-chained surfactant.

29: The method according to claim 18, wherein the emulsifier package comprises at least 10, 30, or 50 wt % of water, art organic solvent, or a mixture of water and an organic solvent.

30: The method according to claim 18, wherein the fuel emulsion comprises the emulsifier package in an amount of 0.05 to 0.4 wt % based on the diesel.

31: The method according to claim 29, wherein the fuel emulsion comprises 40 to 80 wt % water.

32: The method according to claim 18, wherein the fuel is marine fuel.

33: A fuel emulsion for powering a diesel engine, as defined in claim 18.

34: The method according to claim 26, wherein the emulsifier package comprises the short-chained surfactant and the long-chained surfactant in a weight ratio of 4:1 to 1:4.

Description

Examples

[0130] The emulsifier packages were prepared by mixing the emulsifiers and distilled water as indicated in Table 1 and an aqueous solution of emulsifiers was obtained.

[0131] The samples for testing the emulsion stability were prepared by mixing the additive package with diesel fuel. The amount of emulsifier used was 0,05% based on total volume of emulsion, including fuel and water, for all experiments in Table 1.

[0132] The used diesel fuel was a marine diesel oil of the type DMA according to DIN ISO 8217 a clear liquid diesel, free of additive packages and had a density of about 0,83 to 0,85.

[0133] The emulsion was prepared with a Silverson L5 high shear lab emulsifier based on rotor-stator principle within 10 sec at 7500 rpm at room temperature.

[0134] Then the emulsified samples were put in a graduated cylinder which was allowed to stand for up to 30 min. The amount of separated water phase was determined. For example, if 8 ml separated water phase was detected in the 80 ml total volume sample, it corresponded to an emulsion stability of 90%. If no separated water phase was detected this corresponded to 100% emulsion stability. The values are given in Table 1.

[0135] The following surfactants were used:

[0136] Short-chained surfactants of formula (I): [0137] Nonionic B: Isotridecanol ethoxylate, 70% active content in water, pour point about 0 C. according to ISO 3016. [0138] Nonionic C: Isotridecanol ethoxylate, 70% active content in water, HLB about 18.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Additive Packages (all amounts in wt %) and Emulsion stability (lower part) Examples 1 2 Water Nonionic B 100 Nonionic C 100 Ratio Fuel:Water 1:1.4 1:1.4 1 min. 99% 99% 2 min. 99% 99% 5 min. 99% 99% 10 min. 99% 99% 20 min. 98% 99% 30 min. 97% 98%

[0139] It can easily be seen that the short-chained surfactants of the formula (I) are well suitable for stabilising water-fuel-emulsions.