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EP-4569053-B1 - IMPROVEMENTS IN FUELS

EP4569053B1EP 4569053 B1EP4569053 B1EP 4569053B1EP-4569053-B1

Inventors

  • BELLY, ALEXANDER JOHN
  • GOLISZ, SUZANNE

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230809

Claims (13)

  1. The use of one or more additives to reduce the filter blocking tendency of a fuel composition having a tendency to block filters, wherein the fuel composition comprises a renewable diesel component obtained by the hydrodeoxygenation of fats and oils and a biodiesel component comprising esters of fatty acids; and wherein the one or more additives comprise (a) a copolymer comprising units of formula (I): and units of formula (II): wherein R is an alkyl group and each of R 1 and R 2 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms; wherein the filter blocking tendency is measurable by the Canadian Cold Soak Filter Blocking Tendency test (CSFBT) in which test fuel is stored at 1 °C for 16 hours before the filterability is assessed; or by the European Cold Soak test CS IP387 in which fuel is stored at 5°C for 16 hours.
  2. A method of reducing the filter blocking tendency of a fuel composition having a tendency to block filters and which comprises at least 5 vol% of a biodiesel component comprising esters of fatty acids and a renewable diesel component obtained by the hydrodeoxygenation of fats and oils, the method comprising dosing into the fuel one or more additives selected from (a) a copolymer comprising units of formula (I): and units of formula (II): wherein R is an alkyl group and each of R 1 and R 2 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms; wherein the filter blocking tendency is measurable by the Canadian Cold Soak Filter Blocking Tendency test (CSFBT) in which test fuel is stored at 1 °C for 16 hours before the filterability is assessed; or by the European Cold Soak test CS IP387 in which fuel is stored at 5°C for 16 hours.
  3. A fuel composition comprising a renewable diesel component obtained by the hydrodeoxygenation of fats and oils, at least 5 vol% of a biodiesel component comprising esters of fatty acids and one or more additives; wherein the fuel composition has a reduced filter blocking tendency compared with an otherwise identical fuel composition which does not comprise the one or more additives and has a tendency to block filters; and wherein the one or more additives are selected from (a) a copolymer comprising units of formula (I): and units of formula (II): wherein R is an alkyl group and each of R 1 and R 2 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms; wherein the filter blocking tendency is measurable by the Canadian Cold Soak Filter Blocking Tendency test (CSFBT) in which test fuel is stored at 1 °C for 16 hours before the filterability is assessed; or by the European Cold Soak test CS IP387 in which fuel is stored at 5°C for 16 hours.
  4. A composition, method or use according to any preceding claim wherein each of R 1 and R 2 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 14 carbon atoms.
  5. A composition, method or use according to any preceding claim wherein the one or more additives comprise component (b) the reaction product of a polycarboxylic acid having at least one tertiary amino group and a primary or secondary amine.
  6. A composition, method or use according to any preceding claim wherein the one or more additives comprise component (c) the reaction product of secondary amines and a copolymer of maleic anhydride and an α-olefin.
  7. A composition, method or use according to any preceding claim wherein the one or more additives comprise a copolymer comprising units of formula (I): and units of formula (II): wherein R is an alkyl group each of R 1 and R 2 is an alkyl group having 10 to 14 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 14 carbon atoms and which copolymer has a number average molecular weight of 4000 to 25000, preferably 5000 to 20000, more preferably 6000 to 15000.
  8. A composition, method or use according to claim 7 wherein the copolymer comprises from 40 to 60 mol % of units of formula (I) and from 60 to 40 mol % of units of formula (II).
  9. A composition, method or use according to any preceding claim wherein the one or more additives comprise the reaction product of 1 mole of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and 4 moles of hydrogenated tallow fatty amine.
  10. A composition, method or use according to any preceding claim wherein the one or more additives comprise the reaction product of a copolymer of maleic anhydride and a C18 α-olefin and 2 equivalents of ditallow fatty amine.
  11. A use according to any preceding claim wherein the fuel composition comprises from 1 to 40 vol% (preferably from 5 to 35 vol%) of a biodiesel component and from 60 to 99 vol% (preferably from 65 to 95 vol%) of a renewable diesel component, or a method or composition according to any preceding claim wherein the fuel composition comprises from 5 to 40 vol% (preferably from 5 to 35 vol%) of a biodiesel component and from 60 to 99 vol% (preferably from 65 to 95 vol%) of a renewable diesel component.
  12. A use or method according to any of claims 1, 2 or 4 to 11 which provides a reduced filter blocking tendency as measured by the Canadian Cold Soak Filter Blocking Tendency test CAN/CGSB-3.0 No. 142.0-2019, modified as set out in example 2.
  13. A composition according to any of claims 3 to 11 which has a filter blocking tendency of less than 2 as measured by the Canadian Cold Soak Filter Blocking Tendency test CAN/CGSB-3.0 No. 142.0-2019, modified as set out in example 2.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements in fuel compositions, and in particular to improving the properties of blended fuel compositions comprising renewable diesel and biodiesel. Due to environmental considerations significant efforts have been made in developing alternative hydrocarbon fuels to fossil fuels to power internal combustion engines. The present invention relates in particular to alternatives to mineral diesel fuel. One alternative fuel suitable for use in diesel engines is biodiesel. Biodiesel is produced by the transesterification of lipids obtained from plants or animals, for example tallow oil, soybean oil or other vegetable oil. Transesterification of the triglycerides obtained from these plant or animal sources with an alcohol such as methanol, ethanol or propanol produces a mono alkyl ester as the biodiesel fuel. Renewable diesel is produced from biomass sources through biological, thermal and chemical processes. Typically renewable diesels are obtained by hydrotreatment of vegetable oils with hydrogen at elevated temperatures and pressures in the presence of a catalyst. Renewable diesel is sometimes referred to as hydrogenated vegetable oil. Renewable diesel contains mainly saturated, straight chain or branched, aliphatic hydrocarbons. Biodiesel consists primarily of mono alkyl esters. Mineral diesel often contains aromatic and sulfated species as well as aliphatic hydrocarbons. Due to the different chemical components of the fuels, new challenges can arise when mineral diesel is replaced partially or fully with renewable diesel and/or biodiesel. The present invention attempts to solve some problems that may occur when blends of renewable diesel and biodiesel are used. Due to the different chemical nature of the renewable and biodiesel components of a blended fuel, problems can occur when storing the fuel, particularly if storage is at low temperatures. Three measurements are commonly taken to assess the low temperature performance of diesel fuel. Standardised tests have been devised to measure the temperature at which the fuel hazes (the cloud point - CP), the lowest temperature at which a fuel can flow (the pour point - PP) and the lowest temperature at which fuel flows through a filter, the cold filter plugging point - CFPP); and the changes thereto caused by additives (ΔCP, ΔPP, ΔCFPP). The present invention is not about the use of additives to change the cloud point, pour point or cold filter plugging point of a fuel. Rather the present invention seeks to address problems that can occur in a fuel when it is above the cloud point. Neste Renewable Diesel Handbook (XP 093071405) provides information on Neste renewable diesel and its use in diesel engines. WO2010089594A1 describes a method of providing an improved biofuel, by the presence of an additive which combats problems arising from precipitation at temperatures above the cloud point. US2019/218466 describes blended fuel compositions and methods of generating such compositions that exhibit surprising and unexpected emissions profiles, while avoiding field performance issues. Diesel vehicle fuel systems are fitted with a filter to prevent particulate matter reaching the final injection system. If such particulates are not removed, failure of the fuel injection system could result. Problems can arise when the filter becomes blocked as this affects the rate at which fuel is delivered to the engine. This issue is different to the problems which occur during cold filter plugging where wax forms under very low temperatures and blocks the filter until the wax redissolves. Filter blocking can occur due to the formation of particulates within the fuel, particularly during storage. In recent years the problems with filter blocking have become more prominent. This is because in an effort to reduce emissions and improve engine performance, more sophisticated injection systems have been developed. Since these fuel injection systems operate at high temperature and pressures they are more susceptible to wear and damage if exposed to particulates in the fuel. Fuel filter pore sizes have therefore decreased and in some cases may be as low as 2 to 5 microns in diameter. The reduction in pore size of the filter has inevitably led to increased issues with filter blocking. A blocked filter will restrict or prevent fuel from reaching an engine. This can cause problems with starting the engine and a loss of power. In some instances a blocked filter can cause an engine to shut down altogether until the filter has been replaced, in order to protect the injection system, causing huge inconvenience to the user. The present invention seeks to reduce the filter blocking tendency of fuels containing a blend of renewable diesel and biodiesel fuels. These fuels are different in nature to mineral diesel fuels and blends containing mineral diesel. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of one or more additives to redu