Fuel composition
View Patent ↗A middle distillate fuel composition is provided comprising (a) a middle distillate base fuel, (b) a Fischer-Tropsch derived paraffinic wax component, and (c) one or more cold flow additives; a method for formulating a middle distillate fuel composition comprising a middle distillate base fuel, comprising (i) incorporating into the base fuel a Fischer-Tropsch derived wax component. The use of a Fischer-Tropsch derived wax component in a middle distillate fuel composition, for the purpose of increasing the effect of a CFPP improver additive in the composition is disclosed.
1. A middle distillate fuel composition comprising (a) a middle distillate base fuel, (b) a Fischer-Tropsch derived paraffinic wax component in the amount of at least 100 mg/kg and less than 3500 mg/kg, based on the fuel composition, having a melting point in the range of from 40° C. to 120° C., and at least 90 wt % of the paraffinic hydrocarbon molecules in the paraffinic wax are n-paraffinic, and (c) one or more cold flow additives in an amount up to 1000 ppmw, wherein the middle distillate base fuel comprises a fatty acid methyl ester, a paraffinic hydrocracked fatty ester middle distillate fuel fraction, and/or a fatty ester middle distillate fuel fraction.
2. The fuel composition of claim 1 further comprising an additive package.
3. The fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the middle distillate base fuel comprises a Fischer-Tropsch derived middle distillate fraction.
4. The fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the wax component (b) comprises hydrocarbons having a carbon range of from 16 to 48 carbon atoms.
5. The fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the wax component (b) has a congealing point as determined according to ASTM D938 in the range of from 40° C. to 80° C.
6. The fuel composition of claim 4 wherein the wax component (b) has a congealing point as determined according to ASTM D938 in the range of from 40° C. to 80° C.
7. A method of operating a fuel consuming system, involving introducing into the system a fuel composition of claim 1 .
8. A method of operating a fuel consuming system, involving introducing into the system a fuel composition of claim 4 .
9. The fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived wax component comprise more than 99 wt % saturated paraffinic hydrocarbons, said paraffinic hydrocarbons is at least 50 wt % n-paraffinic and at least 3 wt % iso-paraffinic.
10. The fuel composition of claim 9 wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived wax component congealing point as determined according to ASTM D938 in the range of from 40° C. to 80° C.
11. The fuel composition of claim 1 where the amount of cold flow additive (c) is up to 500 ppmw.
12. A method for formulating a middle distillate fuel composition comprising a middle distillate base fuel and at least one cold flow additive, comprising (i) incorporating into a base fuel comprising a fatty acid methyl ester, a paraffinic hydrocracked fatty ester middle distillate fuel fraction, and/or a fatty ester middle distillate fuel fraction, a Fischer-Tropsch derived paraffinic wax component wherein at least 90 wt % of the paraffinic hydrocarbon molecules in the paraffinic wax are n-paraffinic, in an amount effective to improve the cold flow response of the fuel to the cold flow additive.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived wax component is present in an amount of at least 100 mg/kg and less than 3500 mg/kg, based on the fuel composition.