CN-122029259-A - Composition for producing highly lubricating substance for lubricating mechanical equipment and method for using and manufacturing same

Abstract

A system is provided for producing a highly lubricious substance from a fuel when the fuel is used to operate a mechanical device such as an engine, thereby increasing the lubricity of the fuel and allowing the fuel to be used as a lubricant for various friction surfaces within the engine without the use of other additives or modifiers. In this regard, embodiments of the present disclosure may include an apparatus having a first surface with a film deposited thereon. The first surface of the device and associated membrane may be in continuous contact with the fuel. The device may include a second surface that is in periodic and/or repeated contact with the first surface, such as by sliding contact, rolling contact, a combination of both, or the like.

Inventors

• T. C. Simons
• C. G. Carson
• S. HAYNES

Assignees

• 优耐特防护科技有限责任公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240807

Priority Date

20230807

Claims (20)

1. 1. A method for generating a high lubricity substance for lubricating a mechanical device, the method comprising: providing a first component operably coupled to the mechanical device, the first component comprising a surface having a film deposited thereon; operating the mechanical device using a hydrocarbon-based fluid, wherein operating the mechanical device comprises exposing the membrane to a hydrocarbon-based fluid to generate the high lubricity substance on a surface of the membrane; suspending at least a portion of the high lubricity material in the hydrocarbon-based fluid; Delivering said at least a portion of said high lubricity substance via said hydrocarbon-based fluid to a second component operatively coupled to said mechanical device, and The second component is lubricated using the at least a portion of the high lubricity substance.
2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the high lubricity substance on the surface of the film further comprises: Positioning the hydrocarbon-based fluid between the membrane on the first component surface and a surface of a third component operatively coupled to the mechanical device, and The film on the surface of the first component is brought into contact with the surface of the third component.
3. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first component is housed in a device operatively coupled to the mechanical device.
4. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is located external to the mechanical apparatus, wherein the first component is located substantially within a path of a hydrocarbon-based fluid delivery system of the mechanical apparatus.
5. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the high lubricity substance is a suspension comprising one or more carbon allotropes.
6. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the film comprises a metal M selected from the group consisting essentially of metals Cu, ni, sc, Y, ti, zr, hf, V, nb, ta, cr, mo, ag, au, pd, zn, cd, hg, al, ga, in, pt and W, and combinations thereof.
7. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the film comprises copper and molybdenum nitrides with a copper to molybdenum ratio of between 1:3 and 1:2.
8. 8. A high lubricity substance comprising one or more carbon allotropes, wherein the high lubricity substance is generated on the surface of a film when the film is exposed to a hydrocarbon-based fluid.
9. 9. The high lubricity substance of claim 8, wherein the film is deposited on the surface of a component of a mechanical device comprising: a first component operatively coupled to the mechanical device, An inlet stream of hydrocarbon-based fluid; an effluent comprising: hydrocarbon-based fluids, and At least a portion of the high lubricity material is suspended in the hydrocarbon-based fluid.
10. 10. The high lubricity material of claim 8, wherein the high lubricity material further comprises graphite structures in the hydrocarbon-based fluid.
11. 11. The high lubricity substance of claim 8, wherein the film comprises a metal M selected from the group consisting essentially of metals Cu, ni, sc, Y, ti, zr, hf, V, nb, ta, cr, mo, ag, au, pd, zn, cd, hg, al, ga, in, pt and W and combinations thereof.
12. 12. The high lubricity substance of claim 8, wherein the film comprises copper and molybdenum nitrides in a ratio of copper to molybdenum of between 1:3 and 1:2.
13. 13. The high lubricity substance of claim 9, further comprising a monoaromatic concentration in the effluent that is less than a monoaromatic concentration in the hydrocarbon-based fluid at the inlet stream of the mechanical device.
14. 14. The high lubricity substance of claim 9, further comprising a concentration of polynuclear aromatic compounds in the effluent that is greater than the concentration of polynuclear aromatic compounds in the hydrocarbon-based fluid at the inlet of the mechanical device.
15. 15. The high lubricity substance of claim 9 wherein the effluent comprises a fluid having a viscosity higher than the hydrocarbon-based fluid at the inlet of the mechanical device.
16. 16. A system for generating a high lubricity substance for lubricating a mechanical device, the system comprising: the mechanical device, wherein the mechanical device is an engine; A first component operably coupled to the engine, wherein a surface of the first component has a film deposited thereon; A second component operatively coupled to the engine, wherein the second component includes a surface in moving contact with the surface of the membrane, and A third component operatively coupled to the engine; Wherein when the membrane is placed in contact with the second component with the hydrocarbon-based fluid between the surface of the membrane and the surface of the second component, a high lubricity substance is generated on the surface of the membrane; Wherein at least a portion of the high lubricity substance is suspended in the hydrocarbon-based fuel in the engine.
17. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first component and the second component are housed in a device operatively coupled to the engine.
18. 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the device is located external to the engine, wherein the first component and the second component are substantially located within a fuel path of a fuel delivery system of the engine.
19. 19. The system of claim 16, wherein the high lubricity substance is a suspension comprising one or more carbon allotropes.
20. 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the film comprises a metal M selected from the group consisting essentially of metals Cu, ni, sc, Y, ti, zr, hf, V, nb, ta, cr, mo, ag, au, pd, zn, cd, hg, al, ga, in, pt and W, and combinations thereof.

Description

Composition for producing highly lubricating substance for lubricating mechanical equipment and method for using and manufacturing same Cross Reference to Related Applications This is a non-provisional patent application claiming priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/531,295 filed on 7, 8, 2023, entitled "System for GENERATING HIGH-Lubricity Substances for Lubrication of A MECHANICAL DEVICE (a System for producing highly lubricious substances for lubricating machinery). Technical Field The present invention relates generally to lubrication of mechanical devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for generating a high lubricity substance for lubricating a mechanical device. Background Engines, such as internal combustion engines, are used in a wide range of applications ranging from powering automobiles to generating electricity. These engines rely on a stable fuel supply of a generally hydrocarbon-based material such as gasoline, diesel or aviation fuel. However, these fuels may tend to be low lubricity, meaning that they do not provide adequate lubrication for moving parts inside the engine. To provide this lubrication, a separate system is typically required to supply lubricant, typically a long hydrocarbon-based oil, to the critical wear surfaces. Such oils may provide protection from wear and tear on the engine, but may also reduce fuel efficiency, increase emissions, and increase maintenance costs. The need for these lubricants in engines requires that they be added as additives to the fuel source or that specialized systems be incorporated during operation to circulate the lubricant to critical wear surfaces. This need for lubrication can lead to a number of difficulties for the operator. Either special additional lubricant must be taken in specific proportions and added to the fuel or the weight and complexity of the lubrication pump and recirculation system must be incorporated into the design of the engine. When a lubricant recirculation system is used, due to the life of the lubricant, which requires periodic draining, flushing and refilling, components of the system may require maintenance to operate the engine. In either case, frequent combustion or overheating of the lubricant in the engine system can significantly increase emissions and result in significant engine deposits, thereby reducing efficiency and resulting in reduced engine life. In addition, lubricant leakage from the engine or during lubricant handling may require extensive remedial measures to reduce environmental damage. In order to address these problems, a system is needed that can increase the lubricity of fuels without the use of additives or special lubricants and improve the performance and efficiency of the engine or mechanical system. In the prior art, several variables are cited as leading to an increase in lubricity of the fuel, including chemical composition of the fuel, viscosity and presence of the third body (3 rd bodies). Heavy aromatics such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and azacyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAH) are the primary sources of fuel lubricity for petroleum distillate engines. These chemicals, due to their geometry, bind to the metal surface forming slip planes. There is generally a proportional relationship between the boiling point of the fuel and the concentration of these chemicals, and therefore the lubricity of diesel fuel is greater than that of kerosene, which is more lubricious than gasoline. Although diesel is more lubricious than the other mentioned oils, it is typically at higher pressures and several biodiesel fuels do not contain these hydrocarbons, thus increasing more wear in diesel applications. The viscosity of the fluid is critical to lubricity and lower wear because it provides a hydrodynamic force that separates the two surfaces as they move relative to one another. Essentially, the surface that causes the engagement slides along the fluid surface rather than engaging the counter surface. Finally, the third body particles act between the surfaces to form a solid lubricant boundary layer, fill in surface roughness, and create a slip plane for the higher pressure interface. These generally result in lower friction and wear. The addition of graphite to the lubrication system has been shown to improve lubricity, increase power and reduce wear. It is therefore desirable to create a method of improving the lubricity of fuels by catalyzing reactions that increase the concentration of heavy aromatics, increase viscosity, and/or create third bodies in the fuel. Disclosure of Invention The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all e