Handling and blending of biodiesel

• US 20080005957A1
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marathon Petroleum Company LP (Marathon Petroleum Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Marathon Petroleum Company LLC (Marathon Petroleum Corporation)
• Inventors: Coffman, Todd, Sell, Amy, Fowler, Douglas W., Lewis, Russell P., Sharkey, Bernard M., Lester, Andy
• Application Number:
  US11/481,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20080005957A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 44/308
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1014 of vegetal origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1055 Diesel having a boiling range of about 230 - 330 °C
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/026 for compression ignition
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/20 using bio-feedstock

Abstract

This handling relates to the effective storage and blending of biodiesel with petroleum fuel. More specifically, the processing relates to blending biodiesel with petroleum based diesel fuel stocks in cold weather without shock crystallization.

Claims

1. A method for blending a diesel fuel composition while retaining or improving diesel engine performance comprising the steps of:

providing a major amount of diesel fuel at a temperature of 32°

F. or less;

blending a minor amount of biodiesel at a temperature above 32°

F. with the diesel fuel; and

producing a resulting diesel fuel composition without shock crystallization.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the biodiesel comprises alkyl esters of soybean oil.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the biodiesel comprises methyl ester of soybean oil.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the resulting diesel fuel composition contains 1 to 20 weight percent biodiesel.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the resulting diesel fuel composition is B1, B2, B5, B10 or B20.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the resulting diesel fuel composition is wax free.

11. A diesel fuel composition produced by the process of claim 1.

2. A method for blending a diesel fuel composition while retaining or improving diesel engine performance comprising the steps of:

heating a major amount of diesel fuel to a temperature above 10°

F.;

blending a minor amount of biodiesel at a temperature of about 50°

F. with the diesel fuel; and

producing a resulting diesel fuel composition without shock crystallization.

12. A diesel fuel composition produced by the process of claim 2.

3. A method for blending a diesel fuel composition while retaining or improving diesel engine performance comprising the steps of:

providing a major amount of diesel fuel at a temperature of about 0°

F.;

blending a minor amount of biodiesel at a temperature below 32°

F. with the diesel fuel;

agitating the resulting mixture during the blending; and

producing a resulting diesel fuel composition without shock crystallization.

9. A method according to claim 3 wherein the agitating is carried out at speeds of 12,000 rpm'"'"'s for a time of 1 to 2 seconds.

10. A method according to claim 3 wherein the agitating is carried out at speeds of 1700 rpm'"'"'s for a time of 5 to 7 seconds.

13. A diesel fuel composition produced by the process of claim 3.

14. An apparatus for blending a diesel fuel composition of diesel fuel and biodiesel while retaining or improving diesel engine performance comprising:

a biodiesel tank for supplying biodiesel;

a biodiesel tank heater for heating the biodiesel;

a pump for removing heated, biodiesel from the biodiesel tank;

a mixer for blending the heated biodiesel and diesel fuel;

delivery piping for delivering heated biodiesel from the pump to the mixer;

a source of diesel fuel;

metering piping for delivering diesel fuel to the mixer; and

an offload station for removing the resulting diesel fuel composition from the mixer.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the mixer is a static mixer.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the mixer is a Braun hand mixer.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the mixer is a paddle mixer.