Gasoline fuel

• US 5,593,567 A
• Filed: 03/22/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael C. Croudace, Peter J. Jessup
• Original Assignee: Michael C. Croudace, Peter J. Jessup
• Inventors: Croudace, Michael C., Jessup, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Helane
• Application Number:
  US08/409,074
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 123/1 A, 422/212, 44/475, 208/46, 208/16-18, 585/14
• US Class Current: 208/46
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/06 for spark ignition

Abstract

By controlling one or more properties of a gasoline fuel suitable for combustion in automobiles, the emissions of NOx, CO and/or hydrocarbons can be reduced. The preferred fuel for reducing all three such emissions has a Reid Vapor Pressure no greater than 7.5 psi (0.51 atm), essentially zero olefins, and a 50% D-86 Distillation Point greater than about 180° F. (82° C.) but less than 205° F. (96.1° C.)

Claims

1. A method for operating an automotive vehicle having a spark-induced, internal combustion engine and a catalytic converter to yield a reduced amount of NOx, CO, or unburned hydrocarbons as compared to combusting fuel A/O AVE in said engine, the method comprising:

(1) introducing into the engine an unleaded gasoline, suitable for combustion in an automotive engine, having the following properties;

(a) a Reid Vapor Pressure less than 7.5 psi;

(b) a 10% D-86 distillation point no greater than 158°

F.;

(c) a 50% D-86 distillation point less than 203°

F.;

(d) a 90% D-86 distillation point less than 300°

F.;

(e) a paraffin content greater than 65 volume percent;

(f) an olefin content less than 8 volume percent; and

(g) an octane value of at least 87; and

thereafter

(2) combusting the unleaded gasoline in said engine;

(3) introducing at least some of the resultant engine exhaust emissions into the catalytic converter; and

(4) discharging emissions from the catalytic converter to the atmosphere.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 50% D-86 distillation point less than 200°

F.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 50% distillation point less than 198°

F.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 50% D-86 distillation point less than 195°

F.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 50% D-86 distillation point less than 193°

F.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an olefin content less than 6 volume percent and a paraffin content greater than 68 volume percent.

14. A method as defined in claim 13 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a Reid Vapor Pressure less than 7.0 psi.

15. A method as defined in claim 14 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 10% D-86 distillation point less than 140°

F.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an olefin content less than 6 volume percent, a paraffin content greater than 70 volume percent and a 10% D-86 distillation point less than 140°

F.

17. A method as defined in claim 16 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a Reid Vapor Pressure less than 7.0 psi.

18. A method as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an octane value of at least 92.

19. A method as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 11 wherein the unleaded gasoline contains one or more oxygenates.

20. A method as defined in claim 19 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an octane value of at least 92.

21. A method as defined in claim 19 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an olefin content less than 6 volume percent.

22. A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an octane value of at least 92.

23. A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a Reid Vapor pressure less than 7.0 psi. and a 10% D-86 distillation point less than 140°

F.

24. A method as defined in claim 23 wherein the unleaded gasoline contains an octane value of at least 92.

33. A method as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a Reid Vapor Pressure less than 7.0 psi.

6. A method for operating an automotive vehicle having a spark-induced, internal combustion engine and a catalytic converter to yield a reduced amount of NOx, CO, or unburned hydrocarbons as compared to combusting fuel A/O AVE in said engine, the method comprising:

(1) introducing into the engine an unleaded gasoline, suitable for combustion in an automotive engine, having the following properties;

(a) a Reid Vapor Pressure less than 7.5 psi;

(b) a 10% D-86 distillation point no greater than 158°

F.;

(c) a 50% D-86 distillation point less than 208°

F.;

(d) a 90% D-86 distillation point no greater than 315°

F.;

(e) a paraffin content greater than 72 volume percent;

(f) an olefin content less than 8 volume percent;

(g) an aromatics content of at least 4.5 volume percent; and

(h) an octane value of at least 87; and

thereafter

(2) combusting the unleaded gasoline in said engine;

(3) introducing at least some of the resultant engine exhaust emissions into the catalytic converter; and

(4) discharging emissions from the catalytic converter to the atmosphere.

7. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 50% D-86 distillation point no greater than 205°

F.

8. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 50% D-86 distillation point less than 200°

F.

9. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 50% D-86 distillation point less than 198°

F.

10. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 50% D-86 distillation point less than 195°

F.

11. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 50% D-86 distillation point less than 193°

F.

12. A method as defined in claim 7, 8, 9, or 11 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 10% D-86 distillation point less than 140°

F.

25. A method as defined in claim 6, 8, 9, or 11 wherein the unleaded gasoline contains one or more oxygenates in a total oxygen concentration no greater than the equivalent provided by about 14.9 volume percent methyl tertiary butyl ether.

26. A method as defined in claim 25 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an octane value of at least 92.

27. A method as defined in claim 25 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 90% D-86 distillation point less than 300°

F. and an olefin content less than 6 volume percent.

28. A method as defined in claim 27 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an octane value of at least 92.

29. A method as defined in claim 27 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a Reid Vapor pressure less than 7.0 psi.

30. A method as defined in claim 29 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 10% D-86 distillation point less than 140°

F.

31. A method as defined in claim 30 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an octane value of at least 92.

32. A method as defined in claim 31 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a paraffin content greater than 75 volume percent.

34. A method as defined in claim 6, 7, 8, 9, or 11 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an olefin content less than 6 volume percent.

35. A method as defined in claim 34 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a Reid vapor Pressure less than 7.0 psi.

36. A method as defined in claim 34 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 10% D-86 distillation point less than 140°

F.

37. A method as defined in claim 34 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a 90% D-86 distillation point less than 300°

F.

38. A method as defined in claim 37 wherein the unleaded gasoline has a paraffin content greater than 75 volume percent, a 10% D-86 distillation point less than 140°

F., and a Reid Vapor Pressure less than 7.0 psi.

39. A method as defined in claim 38 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an octane value of at least 92.

40. A method as defined in claim 34 wherein the unleaded gasoline has an octane value of at least 92.