Methanol-based engine fuel containing a combustion improver additive
A compression ignition engine fuel includes 98.0% to 99.9% by weight of methanol and 0.01% to 2.0% by weight of an alkyl nitrate or mixture of alkyl nitrates.
1. A compression ignition engine fuel which consists of from about 98.0% to about 99.9% by weight of liquid methanol and from about 0.1% to about 2.0% by weight of a liquid alkyl nitrate.
2. The fuel of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl nitrate is a nitrate of a linear alkyl having from 4 to 36 carbon atoms, a nitrate of a branched alkyl having from 4 to 36 carbon atoms, a nitrate of a cyclic alkyl having from 5 to 18 carbon atoms, or a mixture of these nitrates.
3. The fuel of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl nitrate is selected from the group consisting of: 2 ethyl hexyl nitrate, cyclohexyl nitrate, dodecyl nitrate, n-nonyl nitrate, 2-tetradecyl-1-octadecyl nitrate, hexyl nitrate, 2-octyl nitrate, isononyl nitrate, 2-propylheptyl nitrate, a mixture of C 9 to C 13 branched alkyl nitrates, and mixtures thereof.
4. The fuel of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl nitrate is 2-ethylhexyl nitrate.
5. A method of obtaining a fuel according to claim 1 , which comprises mixing, in a liquid state, an alkyl nitrate with methanol.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the methanol and the alkyl nitrate are mixed in an engine tank.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the methanol and the alkyl nitrate are mixed in an injector.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the methanol and the alkyl nitrate are mixed in a premix chamber of an engine.
9. An engine containing a fuel as defined in claim 1 .
10. A vehicle or vessel comprising an engine as defined in claim 9 .
11. The fuel of claim 1 , wherein the amount of liquid alkyl nitrate is from about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight.
12. A method for igniting a fuel in a combustion engine, the method comprising operating the engine with the fuel, the fuel consisting of from about 98.0% to about 99.9% by weight of liquid methanol and from about 0.1% to about 2.0% by weight of a liquid alkyl nitrate.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the amount of liquid alkyl nitrate in the fuel is from about 0.1% to about 1.5% by weight.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the amount of liquid alkyl nitrate in the fuel is from about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the alkyl nitrate is 2-ethylhexyl nitrate.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the alkyl nitrate is selected from the group consisting of 2 ethyl hexyl nitrate, cyclohexyl nitrate, dodecyl nitrate, n-nonyl nitrate, 2-tetradecyl-1-octadecyl nitrate, hexyl nitrate, 2-octyl nitrate, isononyl nitrate, 2-propylheptyl nitrate, a mixture of C9 to C13 branched alkyl nitrates, and mixtures thereof.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the alkyl nitrate and the methanol are mixed in an injector.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the alkyl nitrate and the methanol are mixed in a premix chamber of the combustion engine.