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. 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 branched C.sub.8-14 alkyl, AO.sup.a is an ethylene oxide radical, propylene oxide radical, butylene oxide radical, pentylene oxide radical, or mixture thereof, m is a number from 1 to 100, and R.sup.a is hydrogen or C.sub.1-4 alkyl; and wherein the emulsifier package additionally comprises a long-chained surfactant of the formula (II)
R.sup.bO-(AO.sup.b)n-R.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, or mixture thereof, n is a number from 1 to 100, and R.sup.b is hydrogen or C.sub.1-4 alkyl.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein m is a number from 3 to 60.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein n is a number from 3 to 60.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.a is isotridecyl.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein AO.sup.a is an ethylene oxide radical.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.b is a linear C.sub.16-22 alkyl.

7. The method according claim 1, wherein AO.sup.b is a mixture of an ethylene oxide radical and a propylene oxide radical.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.a and R.sup.b are hydrogen.

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

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsifier package comprises 1 to 99 wt % of the long-chained surfactant.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsifier package comprises 1 to 99 wt % of the short-chained surfactant.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsifier package comprises at least 10 wt % of water, an organic solvent, or a mixture of water and an organic solvent.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fuel emulsion comprises the emulsifier package in an amount of 0.05 to 0.4 wt % based on the diesel.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the fuel emulsion comprises 40 to 80 wt % water.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fuel is marine fuel.

16. A fuel emulsion for powering a diesel engine, as defined in claim 1.

17. The method according to claim 9, wherein the emulsifier package comprises the short-chained surfactant and the long-chained surfactant in a weight ratio of 4:1 to 1:4.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein m and n are each independently 3 to 60.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein AO.sup.b is a mixture of an ethylene oxide radical and a propylene oxide radical in a molar ratio of 50:1 to 1:2.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein AO.sup.b is a mixture of an ethylene oxide radical and a propylene oxide radical in a molar ratio 10:1 to 1:1.

Description

EXAMPLES

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

(6) The following surfactants were used:

(7) Short-Chained Surfactants of Formula (I):

(8) Nonionic B: Isotridecanol ethoxylate, 70% active content in water, pour point about 0? C. according to ISO 3016. Nonionic C: Isotridecanol ethoxylate, 70% active content in water, HLB about 18.

(9) 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%

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