Dual use hydrocarbon fuel composition

• US 7,533,700 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BP Oil International Limited (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: BP Oil International Limited (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Butler, Graham, Lang, Gregory James, Ketley, Graham Walter, Cook, Stephen David, Hodges, Michael Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US11/485,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20060254126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 141/1, 141/9, 141/11, 141/83, 141/98, 141/104, 141/286, 429/17, 429/19, 443/00, 585/1, 585/13, 585/14, 585/24
• US Class Current: 141/11
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/06 for spark ignition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0625 in a modular combined reactor/fuel cell structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0662 Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A hydrocarbon fuel composition which is suitable for sue in a fuel cell apparatus and an internal combustion engine comprises at least one saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and is characterised by an olefin content of less than 20% by volume, an aromatics content of less than 42% by volume, a final boiling point (fop) of less than 215° C., and a sulphur content of less than 20 ppm.

Claims

1. A method of fuelling a fuel cell apparatus, said method comprising:

(a) providing a fuel composition comprising at least one saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and having;

an olefin content of less than less than 20% by volume,

an aromatics content of less than 35% by volume,

a final boiling point (fbp) of less than 215°

C.,

a sulphur content of less than 20 ppm,

a Motor Octane Number of at least 80, and

a Research Octane Number of at least 90;

(b) providing a fuel cell apparatus comprising a conversion unit and a fuel cell unit;

(c) introducing the fuel composition into the conversion unit;

(d) operating the conversion unit to convert at least some of the fuel composition into a product stream comprising hydrogen; and

(e) introducing the hydrogen produced in the conversion unit into the fuel cell unit.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising passing said fuel composition through a sulphur trap.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the amount of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon in said fuel composition is greater than 50% by volume.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the amount of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon in said fuel composition is greater than greater than 70% by volume.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the amount of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon in said fuel composition is greater than greater than 80% by volume.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the amount of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon in said fuel composition is greater than greater than 90% by volume.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has an olefin content of less than 10% by volume.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has an olefin content of less than 5% by volume.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has an olefin content of less than 3% by volume.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has an aromatics content of less than 25% by volume.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has an aromatics content of less than 10% by volume.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition contains at least one oxygenate, preferably in an amount of less than 5% by volume.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has a sulphur content by weight of less than 10 ppm by weight.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has a sulphur content by weight of less than 5 ppm by weight.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has a sulphur content by weight of less than 1 ppm by weight.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has a sulphur content by weight of less than 0.5 ppm by weight.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has a sulphur content of less than 0.1 ppm by weight.

18. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has a final boiling point (fbp) of less than 200°

C.

19. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has a final boiling point (fbp) of less than 185°

C.

20. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has a final boiling point (fbp) of less than 180°

C.

21. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition has a final boiling point in the range 155 to 175°

C.

22. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition comprises at least 2% by volume of a highly branched alkane having the formula R—

CH₂—

CH(CH₃)—

C(CH₃)₂—

CH₃ where R is hydrogen or a methyl group or an alkane “

A”

having 8-12 carbon atoms, and having at least 4 methyl and/or ethyl branches.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 in which the fuel composition comprises greater than 70% by volume of a highly branched alkane having the formula R—

CH₂—

CH(CH₃)—

C(CH₃)₂—

CH₃ where R is hydrogen or a methyl group or an alkane “

A”

having 8-12 carbon atoms, and having at least 4 methyl and/or ethyl branches.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22 in which the fuel composition comprises greater than 80% by volume of a highly branched alkane having the formula R—

CH₂—

CH(CH₃)—

C(CH₃)₂—

CH₃ where R is hydrogen or a methyl group or an alkane “

A”

having 8-12 carbon atoms, and having at least 4 methyl and/or ethyl branches.

25. A method as claimed in claim 22 in which the fuel composition comprises greater than 90% by volume of a highly branched alkane having the formula R—

CH₂—

CH(CH₃)—

C(CH₃)₂—

CH₃ where R is hydrogen or a methyl group or an alkane “

A”

having 8-12 carbon atoms, and having at least 4 methyl and/or ethyl branches.

26. A method as claimed in claim 22 in which the fuel composition comprises greater than 95% by volume of a highly branched alkane having the formula R—

CH₂—

CH(CH₃)—

C(CH₃)₂—

CH₃ where R is hydrogen or a methyl group or an alkane “

A”

having 8-12 carbon atoms, and having at least 4 methyl and/or ethyl branches.

27. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fuel composition further comprises additives for use in an internal combustion engine.