Fuel compositions
View Patent ↗A fuel composition having an enhanced thermal stability in a diesel fuel application is provided comprising a base fuel containing: (a) 90 to 50% by volume based on the base fuel, of a petroleum refined diesel fuel having sulfur level of less than 500 ppm, and boiling point within the range of about 150 to about 400° C.; (b) 5 to 25% by volume based on the base fuel, a Fischer-Tropsch derived gas oil; and (c) 5 to 25% by volume based on the base fuel, a fatty acid alkyl ester having C18:2 to C18:1 ratio of 1.5 to 2.8 wherein the alkyl group has a carbon number from 1 to 4.
1. A fuel composition comprising a base fuel consisting essentially of:
(a) 90 to 50% by volume based on the base fuel, of a petroleum refined diesel fuel having sulfur level of less than 500 ppm, and boiling point within the range of about 150 to about 400° C.;
(b) 5 to 25% by volume based on the base fuel, a Fischer-Tropsch derived gas oil; and
(c) 5 to 25% by volume based on the base fuel, a fatty acid alkyl ester having C18:2 to C18:1 ratio of 1.5 to 2.8 wherein the alkyl group has a carbon number from 1 to 4.
2. The fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the C18:2 to C18:1 ratio in component (c) is 1.8 to 2.5.
3. The fuel composition of claim 2 wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester is a fatty acid methyl ester.
4. The fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester is selected from a group consisting of a soy ester, corn ester, cottonseed ester, walnut ester, sunflower ester, pumpkin ester and a mixture thereof.
5. The fuel composition of claim 2 wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester is selected from a group consisting of a soy ester, corn ester, cottonseed ester, walnut ester, and a mixture thereof.
6. The fuel composition of claim 5 wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester is soy ester.
7. The fuel composition of claim 6 wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester is a soy methyl ester.
8. The fuel composition of claim 2 wherein the petroleum refined diesel fuel has a sulfur level of less than 15 ppm.
9. The fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the base fuel is present in the fuel composition in an amount of at least 95% by weight.
10. The fuel composition of claim 2 wherein the base fuel is present in the fuel composition in an amount of at least 99% by weight.
11. The fuel composition of claim 4 wherein the base fuel is present in the fuel composition in an amount of at least 95% by weight.
12. The fuel composition of claim 5 wherein the base fuel is present in the fuel composition in an amount of at least 95% by weight.
13. The fuel composition of claim 12 wherein the base fuel is present in the fuel composition in an amount of at least 99% by weight.
14. A method for improving thermal stability of a diesel fuel run or operated in a diesel engine by using a diesel fuel composition comprising a base fuel comprising:
(a) 90 to 50% by volume based on the base fuel, of a petroleum refined diesel fuel having sulfur level of less than 500 ppm, and boiling point within the range of about 150 to about 400° C.;
(b) 5 to 25% by volume based on the base fuel, a Fischer-Tropsch derived gas oil; and
(c) 5 to 25% by volume based on the base fuel, a fatty acid alkyl ester having C18:2 to C18:1 ratio of 1.5 to 2.8 wherein the alkyl group has a carbon number from 1 to 4.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the C18:2 to C18:1 ratio in component (c) is 1.8 to 2.5.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester is a fatty acid methyl ester.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester is selected from a group consisting of a soy ester, corn ester, cottonseed ester, walnut ester, sunflower ester, pumpkin ester and a mixture thereof.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester is selected from a group consisting of a soy ester, corn ester, cottonseed ester, walnut ester, and a mixture thereof.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester is soy ester.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the fatty acid alkyl ester is a soy methyl ester.
21. A method of preparing a diesel fuel comprising blending
(a) 90 to 50% by volume based on the base fuel, of a petroleum refined diesel fuel having sulfur level of less than 500 ppm, and boiling point within the range of 150 to 400° C.;
(b) 5 to 25% by volume based on the base fuel, a Fischer-Tropsch derived gas oil; and
(c) 5 to 25% by volume based on the base fuel, a fatty acid alkyl ester having C18:2 to C18:1 ratio of 1.5 to 2.8 wherein the alkyl group has a carbon number from 1 to 4.