U.S. patent application number 12/915502 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-02 for blended fuel composition having improved cold flow properties.
This patent application is currently assigned to CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY. Invention is credited to Yun BAO, Dhananjay B. Ghonasgi, Lisa L. MYERS, Edward L. SUGHRUE, II, Xiaochun XU, Jianhua Yao.
Application Number | 20110126449 12/915502 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44066849 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110126449 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
XU; Xiaochun ; et
al. |
June 2, 2011 |
BLENDED FUEL COMPOSITION HAVING IMPROVED COLD FLOW PROPERTIES
Abstract
There is provided a fuel composition comprising petroleum based
component and a renewable based component, wherein at least 20% of
the compounds in said petroleum based component having boiling
point range equal or greater than the boiling point of said
renewable based component.
Inventors: |
XU; Xiaochun; (Bartlesville,
OK) ; BAO; Yun; (Bartlesville, OK) ; Yao;
Jianhua; (Bartlesville, OK) ; Ghonasgi; Dhananjay
B.; (Bartlesville, OK) ; SUGHRUE, II; Edward L.;
(Bartlesville, OK) ; MYERS; Lisa L.;
(Bartlesville, OK) |
Assignee: |
CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
44066849 |
Appl. No.: |
12/915502 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61265076 |
Nov 30, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
44/308 ; 44/300;
44/388 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C10G 2300/1014 20130101;
C10L 2200/0469 20130101; C10L 10/14 20130101; C10L 1/18 20130101;
C10L 2200/043 20130101; Y02E 50/13 20130101; C10L 2200/0446
20130101; C10G 3/42 20130101; C10G 2300/1018 20130101; C10G
2300/1051 20130101; C10L 1/1822 20130101; C10L 2200/0492 20130101;
C10L 1/19 20130101; C10L 2200/0476 20130101; C10L 2200/0484
20130101; Y02E 50/10 20130101; C10G 2300/1022 20130101; C10L 1/191
20130101; C10G 3/50 20130101; C10G 2300/1055 20130101; C10G 2400/04
20130101; C10L 1/1802 20130101; C10L 2200/0438 20130101; Y02P 30/20
20151101; C10G 2300/301 20130101; C10G 2300/304 20130101; C10L
1/1616 20130101; C10L 1/08 20130101; C10L 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
44/308 ; 44/300;
44/388 |
International
Class: |
C10L 1/19 20060101
C10L001/19; C10L 1/10 20060101 C10L001/10; C10L 1/18 20060101
C10L001/18 |
Claims
1. A fuel composition comprising petroleum based component and a
renewable based component, wherein at least 20% of the compounds in
said petroleum based component having boiling point range equal or
greater than the boiling point of said renewable based
component.
2. The fuel composition of claim 1, wherein the amount of said
renewable based component is in the range between 0.1 vol. % to 50
vol. %, based on the total volume of the fuel composition.
3. The fuel composition of claim 1, wherein the amount of said
renewable based component is in the range between 0.1 vol. % to 35
vol. %, based on the total volume of the fuel composition.
4. The fuel composition of claim 1, wherein the amount of said
renewable based component is in the range between 0.1 vol. % to 20
vol. %, based on the total volume of the fuel composition.
5. The fuel composition of claim 1, wherein said renewable based
component comprises isoparaffins.
6. The fuel composition of claim 1, wherein said renewable based
component comprises normal paraffins.
7. The fuel composition of claim 1, wherein said renewable based
component comprises hydrocarbons that are derived from natural,
replenishable feed stock which can be utilized as source of
energy.
8. The fuel composition of claim 1, wherein said renewable based
component is selected from the group consisting of a product
derived from hydrotreating a material of biological origin, a
product derived from the transesterification of a material of
biological origin with an alcohol, a product derived from reacting
a fatty acid with an alcohol, a biomass pyrolysis bio-oils, a
biologically-derived oils, alcohol; other oxygenate; vegetable oil
or vegetable oil derivatives, and any combinations thereof.
9. The fuel composition of claim 8, wherein said material of
biological origin is selected from the group consisting of
vegetable oils, vegetable fats, animal fats, fish oils, algae oil,
and any mixtures thereof.
10. The fuel composition of claim 1, wherein said renewable based
component comprises a renewable diesel produced by hydrotreating
triglyceride containing feedstock in the presence of a
catalyst.
11. The fuel composition of claim 1, wherein said petroleum based
component comprises a hydrocarbon derived from petroleum refining
process.
12. The fuel composition of claim 1, wherein said petroleum based
fuel comprises a fractional distillate of petroleum.
13. The composition of claim 1, wherein said petroleum based
component is selected from the group consisting of a middle
distillate fuel, a jet or turbine fuel, automotive diesel fuels,
railroad diesel fuels, heating oils, industrial gas oils,
distillate marine fuels, kerosene fuels, light and heavy cycle
oils, Fischer-Tropsch fuel, and any mixture thereof.
14. The composition of claim 1, wherein said petroleum based
component comprises diesel base fuel having boiling points within
the range of 150.degree. C. to 400.degree. C.
15. A method for preparing a fuel composition comprising blending
petroleum based fuel and a renewable based fuel, wherein at least
20% of the compounds in said petroleum based component having
boiling point range equal or greater than the boiling point of said
renewable based component.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application which
claims benefit under 35 USC .sctn.119(e) to U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/265,076 filed Nov. 30, 2009, entitled "A
BLENDED FUEL COMPOSITION HAVING IMPROVED COLD FLOW PROPERTIES"
which is incorporated herein in their entirety.
STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] None
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] The present invention relates generally to fuel
compositions. More specifically, the present invention relates to a
blended fuel composition comprising petroleum based fuel and
renewable fuel which exhibit improved cold flow properties. The
present invention also relates to the method of making such
compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] There is a national interest in the discovery of alternative
sources of fuels and chemicals, other than from petroleum
resources. As the public discussion concerning the availability of
petroleum resources and the need for alternative sources continues,
government mandates will require fuel range hydrocarbons to
include, at least in part, hydrocarbons derived from sources
besides petroleum. As such, there is a need to develop alternative
sources for hydrocarbons useful for producing fuels and
chemicals.
[0005] One possible alternative source of hydrocarbons for
producing fuels and chemicals is the natural carbon found in plants
and animals, such as for example, oils and fats. These so-called
"natural" carbon resources (or renewable hydrocarbons) are widely
available, and remain a target alternative source for the
production of hydrocarbons. For example, it is known that oils and
fats have been successfully hydrotreated to produce
hydrocarbons/fuel range hydrocarbons which is also called
"Renewable fuel" such as renewable diesel fuels.
[0006] Renewable diesel fuels are gaining greater market acceptance
as a cutter stock to extend petroleum diesel market capacity. The
blends of renewable diesel fuels with petroleum diesel are being
used as fuel for diesel engines, utilized for heating, power
generation, and for locomotion with ships, boats, as well as motor
vehicles.
[0007] It is know to those skilled in the art that the renewable
diesel may be prepared by reacting vegetable oils and/or animal
fats with a hydrogenation and deoxygenation catalyst at the
hydrogenation and deoxygenation conditions.
[0008] The main components in renewable diesel are n-C15 to n-C18
paraffins. Therefore, renewable diesel exhibits poor cold flow
properties, e.g., cloud point, pour point and Cold Filter Plugging
Point (CFPP). Generally, it is thought that renewable diesel would
have a big impact on the cold flow properties of petroleum diesel,
which would limit its blending concentration in the diesel
pool.
[0009] The cold flow properties of renewable diesel can be improved
by using dewaxing technology, either cracking or isomerization, to
lower the cold flow properties, thereby minimizing the impact of
renewable diesel on the cold flow properties of petroleum diesel.
However, such processes will increase the production cost and
decrease the diesel volume yield.
[0010] In addition, the cold flow properties of renewable diesel
can also be improved by adding cold flow additives. However, cold
flow additives are expensive. With the implementation of renewable
diesel, the use of cold flow additives is expected to increase.
Therefore, using cold flow additive is economically
unfavorable.
[0011] As such, development of a blended fuel composition having
improved cold flow properties without the above economic concerns
would be a significant contribution to the art and to the
economy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0012] The present invention relates generally to fuel
compositions. More specifically, the present invention relates to a
blended fuel composition comprising petroleum based fuel and
renewable based fuel which exhibit improved cold flow
properties.
[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a composition comprising a petroleum based component and a
renewable based component, wherein at least 20% of the compounds in
the petroleum based component having boiling point range equal or
greater than the boiling point of the renewable based component.
The amount of the renewable based component is in the range between
0.1 vol. % to 50 vol. %, based on the total volume of the fuel
composition.
[0014] The renewable based component comprises hydrocarbons that
are derived from natural, replenishable feed stock which can be
utilized as source of energy.
[0015] The petroleum based component comprises hydrocarbons derived
from petroleum refining process. The petroleum based component can
be a diesel base fuel having boiling points within the range of
150.degree. C. to 400.degree. C.
[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is
provided for preparing a fuel composition comprising blending a
petroleum based fuel and a renewable based fuel, wherein at least
20% of the compounds in the petroleum based component having
boiling point range equal or greater than the boiling point of the
renewable based component.
[0017] It is discovered in this invention that the impact of
renewable fuel on the cold flow properties of petroleum fuel
depends on the boiling point range of the petroleum based fuel.
This invention enables the refinery to minimize the use of cold
flow additives when they implement renewable diesel technology.
[0018] Other objects, advantages and embodiments of the invention
will be apparent from the following detailed description of the
invention and the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The present invention relates generally to fuel
compositions. More specifically, the present invention relates to a
blended fuel composition comprising petroleum based fuel and
renewable based fuel which exhibit improved cold flow properties.
The present invention also relates to the method of making such
compositions.
[0020] According to one embodiment of the current invention, there
is provided a fuel composition comprising petroleum based component
and a renewable based component, wherein at least 20% of the
compounds in said petroleum based component having boiling point
range equal or greater than the boiling point of said renewable
based component.
[0021] According to yet another embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a process for preparing a fuel
composition comprising blending a petroleum based fuel and a
renewable based fuel, wherein at least 20% of the compounds in the
petroleum based component having boiling point range equal or
greater than the boiling point of the renewable based
component.
[0022] According to the various embodiment of the present
invention, the petroleum based component is a hydrocarbon derived
from petroleum refining process. Petroleum based fuel refers to a
fuel that includes a fractional distillate of petroleum. The
distillate fuel in many cases can be described as a gasoline or
middle distillate fuel oil.
[0023] The middle distillate fuels typically are divided into
several types fuels including: jet or turbine fuels, automotive
diesel fuels, railroad diesel fuels, and heating oils. These
products are blended from a variety of refinery streams to meet the
desired specifications. Other examples of middle distillate fuel
may include industrial gas oils, distillate marine fuels, kerosene
fuels such as aviation fuels or heating kerosene, light and heavy
cycle oils as obtained in a fluid catalytic cracking unit, a
Fisher-Tropsch derived fuel, in particular a Fischer-Tropsch
derived diesel fuel.
[0024] Petroleum derived gas oil may be obtained from refining and
optionally hydroprocessing crude petroleum source. It may be a
single gas oil stream obtained from such a refinery process or a
blend of several gas oil fractions obtained in the refinery process
via different processing routes. Examples of such gas oil fractions
are straight run gas oil, atmospheric gas oil, vacuum gas oil, gas
oil as obtained in a thermal cracking process, and gas oil as
obtained from a hydrocracker unit.
[0025] The fuel composition to which the present invention is
preferably to use is for an internal combustion engine, for example
a diesel fuel composition which is used in an automotive diesel
engine. Therefore, the petroleum based component may be any known
diesel base fuel, and it may itself comprise a mixture of diesel
fuel components. It may have a sulfur content of 0 to 20,000 ppmw
(parts per million by weight). It may also have a sulfur content of
0 to 15 ppmw.
[0026] Typical diesel fuel components comprise liquid hydrocarbon
middle distillate fuel oils, for instance petroleum jet or turbine
fuels, automotive diesel fuels, railroad diesel fuels, heating oils
and gas oil They will typically have boiling points within the
usual diesel range of 150.degree. C. to 400.degree. C., depending
on grade and use.
[0027] Further according to various embodiments of the present
invention, a renewable based component is a hydrocarbon that is
derived from natural, replenishable feed stock which can be
utilized as source of energy. Suitable examples of a renewable
based component include, but not limited to, bio-diesel which is a
product derived from the transesterification of a material of
biological origin with an alcohol or from reacting a fatty acid
with an alcohol; renewable diesel which is a product derived from
hydrotreating a material of biological origin; alcohol; other
oxygenate; vegetable oil or vegetable oil derivatives; a biomass
pyrolysis bio-oils, or any combinations thereof. The above
mentioned material of biological origin can be selected from any
triglyceride containing feedstock e.g. vegetable oils, vegetable
fats, animal fats, fish oils, algae oil; any mixtures thereof.
[0028] Examples of alcohols used here include methanol, ethanol,
and mixtures thereof, although virtually any C1-10 alcohol can be
used.
[0029] Bio-diesel is commonly produced by the reaction of a
material of biological origin with alcohols in the presence of a
suitable catalyst. A material of biological origin is natural
triglycerides derived from plant or animal sources. The reaction of
natural triglycerides with an alcohol to produce a fatty acid ester
and glycerin is commonly referred to as transesterification.
Alternatively, bio-diesel can be produced by the reaction of a
fatty acid with an alcohol to form the fatty acid ester. The fatty
acid segments of triglycerides are typically composed of C10-C24
fatty acids, where the fatty acid composition can be uniform or a
mixture of various chain lengths. The bio-diesel may be produced
from single sourced components, or blends of multiple triglyceride
containing feed stocks.
[0030] The term, "triglyceride," is used generally to refer to any
naturally occurring ester of a fatty acid and/or glycerol having
the general formula
CH.sub.2(OCOR.sub.1)CH(OCOR.sub.2)CH.sub.2(OCOR.sub.3), where
R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are the same or different, and may
vary in chain length. Vegetable oils, such as for example, canola
and soybean oils contain triglycerides with three fatty acid
chains. Useful triglycerides in the present invention include, but
are not limited to, triglycerides that may be converted to
hydrocarbons when contacted under suitable reaction conditions.
Examples of triglycerides useful in the present invention include,
but are not limited to, vegetable oils including soybean and corn
oil, peanut oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, babassu oil,
grape seed oil, poppy seed oil, almond oil, hazelnut oil, walnut
oil, olive oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, tall oil, cottonseed oil,
palm oil, rice bran oil, canola oil, cocoa butter, shea butter,
butyrospermum, wheat germ oil, illipse butter, meadowfoam, seed
oil, rapeseed oil, borange seed oil, linseed oil, castor oil,
vernoia oil, tung oil, jojoba oil, ongokea oil, Jatropha oil, algae
oil, yellow grease (for example, as those derived from used cooking
oils), and animal fats, such as tallow animal fat, beef fat, and
milk fat, and the like and mixtures and combinations thereof.
[0031] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a
renewable based component may be a renewable diesel that is
produced by hydrotreating triglyceride containing feedstock in the
presence of a suitable catalyst.
[0032] Useful catalyst compositions for the hydrotreating process
include any catalysts which may be effective in the conversion of
triglycerides to hydrocarbons (e.g. renewable diesel) when
contacted under suitable reaction conditions. Examples of suitable
catalysts include hydrotreating catalysts. Examples of
hydrotreating catalysts useful in one embodiment of the present
invention include, but are not limited to, materials containing
compounds selected from Group VI and Group VIII metals, and their
oxides and sulfides. Examples of suitable support materials for the
hydrogenation catalysts include, but are not limited to, silica,
silica-alumina, aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), silica-magnesia,
silica-titania and acidic zeolites of natural or synthetic origin.
Examples of hydrotreating catalysts include but are not limited to
alumina supported cobalt-molybdenum, nickel sulfide,
nickel-tungsten, cobalt-tungsten and nickel-molybdenum. Other
catalysts useful in the present invention are sorbent compositions.
Sorbent compositions can be used in either the fixed-bed reactor or
the fluidized bed reactor embodiments.
[0033] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
reaction zone may comprise any suitable type of reactor. Exemplary
reactors include fixed bed reactors and fluidized bed reactors.
Generally, the reaction conditions at which the reaction zone is
maintained generally include a temperature in the range of from
about 260.degree. C. to about 430.degree. C. In another embodiment,
the temperature is in the range of from about 300.degree. C. to
about 400.degree. C. The reaction conditions at which the reaction
zone is maintained generally include a pressure less than about
2000 psig, and more particularly between about 100 psig to about
750 psig. In one embodiment employing a fixed bed reactor, the
pressure is maintained between about 100 psig to about 350 psig. In
one embodiment employing a fluidized bed reactor, the pressure is
maintained between about 400 psig to about 750 psig.
[0034] During the research and development efforts to evaluate cold
flow properties of petroleum fuels, renewable fuels, and their
blends, it was discovered that a combination of petroleum fuels
with renewable fuels resulted in an enhancement of the cold flow
properties, provided at least 20% of the compounds in the petroleum
based component having boiling point range equal or greater than
the boiling point of the renewable based component.
[0035] A cold flow property of fuel is a measure of the inherent
handling and the use characteristics of a fuel at diminished
temperature. The cold flow property of a given fuel is generally
considered as the lowest temperature at which the given fuel can be
utilized without causing operational difficulties. The cold flow
properties of a given fuel is estimated by its cloud point (CP),
pour point (PP) and its CFPP.
[0036] The CP of a fuel is the point at which first visible
crystals are detected in the fuel. The PP is a standardized term
for the temperature at which oil, for example, mineral oil, diesel
fuel or hydraulic oil, stops flowing upon cooling. The Cold Filter
Plugging Point (CFPP) of a fuel is the temperature at and below
which wax in the fuel will cause severe restrictions to flow
through a filter screen. CFPP is believed to correlate well with
vehicle operability at lower temperatures.
[0037] The invention can be practiced at high renewable based fuel
concentration, wherein the renewable based component is up to 100%
by volume of the finished fuel blend. However, in the scope of the
invention, the renewable based component is typically up to about
50% by volume of the finished fuel blend, more typically up to
about 35% by volume of the finished fuel blend, and alternatively
up to about 20% by volume of the finished fuel blend. The invention
is also applicable at renewable based component concentrations as
low as about 15, 10, and 5% by volume of the finished fuel blend,
and even at very low renewable fuel concentrations as low as about
4, 3, 2, 1, and 0.5% by volume of the finished fuel blend.
[0038] The main components in renewable diesel are n-C15 to n-C18
paraffins. Therefore, renewable diesel exhibits poor cold flow
properties, e.g., CP, PP and CFPP. Generally, it is thought that
renewable diesel would have a big impact on the cold flow
properties of petroleum diesel, which would limit its blending
concentration in the diesel pool.
[0039] However, as illustrated in the following examples, it is
surprising that when petroleum based diesel has high percentage
(e.g., >20%) of compounds with boiling points higher than
renewable diesel, renewable diesel has little impact on the cold
flow properties of petroleum diesel. This phenomenon has been
successfully demonstrated on the blended fuel composition
containing up to 20% renewable based diesel. It is therefore
discovered that the impact of renewable diesel on the cold flow
properties of petroleum diesels depends on the boiling point range
of the petroleum diesels. The higher the boiling point of petroleum
diesel, the less the impact of renewable diesel on the cold flow
properties. When petroleum diesel has high percentage (e.g.,
>20%) of compounds with boiling points higher than renewable
diesel (e.g. 626.degree. F.), renewable diesel has little impact on
the cold flow properties of petroleum diesel. When petroleum diesel
has high percentage (e.g., >50%) products with boiling
temperatures lower than renewable diesel (e.g., 519.degree. F.),
blending renewable diesel has a big impact on the cold flow
properties of petroleum diesel.
[0040] As a result of this discovery, the present invention is able
to provide a more optimized method for improving the cold flow
performance of a diesel fuel composition comprising renewable based
component. It has now been found that by controlling the selection
of the boiling point of the petroleum based diesel, the impact of
the renewable based diesel on the cold flow properties of petroleum
based diesels may be minimized or eliminated.
[0041] The following examples are presented to further illustrate
the present invention and are not to be construed as unduly
limiting the scope of this invention.
Example 1
[0042] Table 1 shows the CP, PP, CFPP and boiling point of tallow
renewable diesel. For tallow renewable diesel, .about.99% of the
compounds boil below 626.2.degree. F. This is because the main
components of renewable diesel are n-C 15 to n-C18 paraffins, which
have boiling points between 519.degree. F. and 602.degree. F.,
respectively. CP, PP and CFPP are 60.degree. F., 54.degree. F. and
10.degree. C., respectively.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Cold flow Properties Tallow renewable diesel
Cloud Point (F.) 60 Pour Point (F.) 54 CFPP (C.) 10 SimDis Boiling
Point (F.) IBP 389.1 10% BP 521.8 50% BP 580.1 80% BP 604.6 90% BP
607.7 99% BP 626.2 FBP 643.1
Example 2
[0043] Table 2 shows the impact of renewable diesel on the cold
flow properties of diesel 1. CP, PP and CFPP all increased rapidly
with renewable diesel concentration. Boiling point of diesel 1 is
shown in Table 3. Compared to renewable diesel, boiling point of
diesel 1 is low. For example, 50% of the compounds in diesel 1 is
lighter than tallow renewable diesel and less than 5% is heavier
than renewable diesel. Therefore, blending renewable diesel has a
big impact on cold flow properties of petroleum diesel.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Impact of renewable diesel on the cold flow
properties of diesel 1 Renewable Diesel Content (%) 0 2 5 10 20
Cloud Point (F.) -6 -3 1 6 17 Pour Point (F.) -21 -15 -9 -3 9 CFPP
(C.) -22 -20 -18 -16 -13
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Boiling point of diesel 1 Boiling Point (F.)
IBP 292.2 10% BP 399.2 50% BP 506.2 80% BP 570.3 90% BP 598.9 99%
BP 647.5 FBP 654.1
Example 3
[0044] Table 4 shows the impact of renewable diesel on the cold
flow properties of diesel 2. CP, PP and CFPP all increased with
renewable diesel concentration. However, the impact of renewable
diesel on the cold flow properties of diesel 2 is smaller than that
of diesel 1. Boiling point of diesel 2 is shown in Table 5.
Compared to renewable diesel, the boiling point of diesel 2 is
still low. For example, .about.45% of the compounds in diesel 2 are
lighter than tallow renewable diesel and .about.10% is heavier than
renewable diesel. Therefore, blending renewable diesel still has
impact on cold flow properties of petroleum diesel. However, since
the boiling point of diesel 2 is higher than that of diesel 1, the
impact of renewable diesel on the cold flow properties of diesel 2
is smaller than that of diesel 1.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Impact of renewable diesel on the cold flow
properties of diesel 2 Renewable Diesel Content (%) 0 2 5 10 20
Cloud Point (F.) 4 5 7 10 17 Pour Point (F.) -12 -9 -3 0 9 CFPP
(C.) -16 -16 -16 -16 -13
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Boiling point of diesel 2 Boiling Point (F.)
IBP 243.0 10% BP 438.7 50% BP 531.4 80% BP 602.4 90% BP 633.9 99%
BP 706.6 FBP 742.8
Example 4
[0045] Table 6 shows the impact of renewable diesel on the cold
flow properties of diesel 3. Renewable diesel has little impact on
the cold flow properties of petroleum diesel up to 20 volume %.
Boiling point of diesel 3 is shown in Table 7. There are .about.20%
of the compounds in diesel 3 heavier than renewable diesel.
Therefore, the heavy components in diesel 3 control the cold flow
properties of the renewable diesel/petroleum diesel blends.
Blending renewable diesel up to 20 volume % has little impact on
the cold flow properties of petroleum diesel.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Impact of renewable diesel on the cold flow
properties of diesel 3 Renewable Diesel Content (%) 0 2 5 10 20
Cloud Point (F.) 25 23 23 22 25 Pour Point (F.) 15 15 12 15 18 CFPP
(C.) -6 -7 -7 -7 -9
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Boiling point of diesel 3 Boiling Point (F.)
IBP 247.1 10% BP 415.2 50% BP 537.6 80% BP 627.8 90% BP 673.7 99%
BP 744.4 FBP 757.7
[0046] It is therefore discovered that the impact of renewable
diesel on the cold flow properties of petroleum diesels depends on
the boiling point range of the petroleum diesels. The higher the
boiling point of petroleum diesel, the less the impact of renewable
diesel on the cold flow properties. When petroleum diesel has high
percentage (e.g., >20%) of compounds with boiling points higher
than renewable diesel (e.g. 626.degree. F.), renewable diesel has
little impact on the cold flow properties of petroleum diesel. When
petroleum diesel has high percentage (e.g., >50%) products with
boiling temperatures lower than renewable diesel (e.g., 519.degree.
F.), blending renewable diesel has a big impact on the cold flow
properties of petroleum diesel.
[0047] The results shown in the above examples, clearly demonstrate
that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects
and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those
inherent therein. Reasonable variations, modifications and
adaptations may be made within the scope of this disclosure and the
appended claims without departing from the scope of the invention.
While this invention has been described in detail for the purpose
of illustration, it should not be construed as limited thereby but
intended to cover all changes and modifications within the spirit
and scope thereof.
* * * * *