Engine fuel based on a mixture of alcohol and water and containing a combustion improver additive
A fuel for a combustion engine includes from about 95.0% to about 99.9% by weight of a liquid water/alcohol mixture, in which water makes up from about 1% to about 15% by weight of the mixture, and from about 0.01% to about 5.0% by weight of an alkyl nitrate.
1. A fuel for a combustion engine, consisting of:
(a) from about 95.0% to about 99.9% by weight of a liquid water/alcohol mixture, in which water makes up from about 1% to about 15% by weight of the mixture, and
(b) from about 0.01% to about 5.0% by weight of an alkyl nitrate.
2. The fuel of claim 1 , consisting of from about 97.0% to about 99.9% by weight of said water/alcohol mixture, and from about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of said alkyl nitrate.
3. The fuel of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl nitrate is selected from the group consisting of 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, and mixtures thereof.
4. The fuel of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl nitrate is selected from the group consisting of hexyl nitrate, cyclohexyl nitrate, 2-ethylhexyl nitrate, 2-octyl nitrate, n-nonyl nitrate, isononyl nitrate, dodecyl nitrate, 2-propylheptyl nitrate, 2-tetradecyl-1-octadecyl nitrate, a mixture of C9 to C13 branched alkyl nitrates, and mixtures thereof.
5. The fuel of claim 4 , wherein the alkyl nitrate is 2-ethylhexyl nitrate.
6. The fuel of claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is methanol or ethanol.
7. The fuel of claim 6 , wherein the alcohol is methanol.
8. A method of obtaining a fuel according to claim 1 , which consists of mixing, in a liquid state, an alkyl nitrate with a water/alcohol mixture.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the water/alcohol mixture and the alkyl nitrate are mixed in an engine tank.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the water/alcohol mixture and the alkyl nitrate are mixed in an injector.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the water/alcohol mixture and the alkyl nitrate are mixed in a premix chamber of an engine.
12. A method for improving the ignition, in a combustion engine, of a fuel initially consisting of a liquid water/alcohol mixture, in which water makes up from about 1% to about 15% by weight of the mixture, the method consisting of adding to the said mixture an alkyl nitrate, in an amount such as to provide a final fuel composition consisting of:
(a) from about 95.0% to about 99.9% by weight of a liquid water/alcohol mixture, in which water makes up from about 1% to about 15% by weight of the mixture, and
(b) from about 0.1% to about 5.0% by weight of an alkyl nitrate.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the alkyl nitrate is selected from the group consisting of 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, and mixtures thereof.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the alkyl nitrate is selected from the group consisting of hexyl nitrate, cyclohexyl nitrate, 2-ethylhexyl nitrate, 2-octyl nitrate, n-nonyl nitrate, isononyl nitrate, dodecyl nitrate, 2-propylheptyl nitrate, 2-tetradecyl-1-octadecyl nitrate, a mixture of C9 to C13 branched alkyl nitrates, and mixtures thereof.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the alkyl nitrate is 2-ethylhexyl nitrate.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the alcohol is methanol or ethanol.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the alcohol is methanol.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the water/alcohol mixture and the alkyl nitrate are mixed in a tank of the engine.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the water/alcohol mixture and the alkyl nitrate are mixed in an injector.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the water/alcohol mixture and the alkyl nitrate are mixed in a premix chamber of the engine.
21. An engine containing the fuel of claim 1 .
22. A vehicle or vessel comprising the engine of claim 21 .
23. A fuel for a combustion engine, consisting of:
(a) from about 95.0% to about 99.9% by weight of a liquid water/alcohol mixture, in which water makes up from about 1% to about 15% by weight of the mixture,
(b) from about 0.01% to about 5.0% by weight of an alkyl nitrate, and
(c) any remaining balance to 100% by weight of at least one additive selected from the group consisting of additives with preservative functions and additives with detergent functions.