Aqueous additives in hydrocarbonaceous fuel combustion systems

Abstract

An aqueous additive containing a metal compound is used to improve the operation of combustion exhaust after treatment systems. The additive is introduced into the combustion chamber as part of an emulsion with the fuel or, alternatively, in the emulsion or alone as an aqueous stream introduced into the exhaust or emission path. The metal compound scavenges combustion byproducts in order to protect and make more efficient the after treatment system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hydrocarbonaceous fuel product comprising: 
 a) hydrocarbonaceous fuel, and    b) an aqueous additive that comprises a metal compound.    
     
     
         2 . The fuel product of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel product is an emulsion.  
     
     
         3 . The fuel product of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous additive is an emulsion.  
     
     
         4 . The fuel product of  claim 1 , wherein the metal compound is soluble in the fuel product.  
     
     
         5 . The fuel product of  claim 1 , wherein the metal compound is dispersed in the fuel product.  
     
     
         6 . The fuel product of  claim 1 , wherein the metal compound is soluble in the aqueous additive.  
     
     
         7 . The fuel product of  claim 1 , wherein the metal compound is dispersed in the aqueous additive.  
     
     
         8 . The fuel product of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbonaceous fuel is selected from gasoline, bitumen, crude oil, residual fuel oil, bunker oils, middle distillate fuel, diesel fuel, biodiesel, biodiesel-derived fuel, synthetic diesel fuel, coal, coal slurry, methanol, ethanol, methane, home heating oil, lignocellulosics, wood chips, wood pulp, sawdust, leaves, bushes, lawn clippings, paper, urban waste, industrial waste, and farm waste, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The fuel product described in  claim 1 , wherein the metal compound is an inorganic metal compound.  
     
     
         10 . The fuel product described in  claim 1 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, titanium, cerium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, iron, rubidium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The fuel product described in  claim 9 , wherein the inorganic metal compound is selected from the group consisting of fluorides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, oxides, nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, nitrides, hydrides, carbonates, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The fuel product described in  claim 1 , wherein the metal compound is an organometallic compound.  
     
     
         13 . The fuel product described in  claim 6 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, titanium, cerium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, iron, rubidium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The fuel product described in  claim 12 , wherein the organometallic compound is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, anhydrides, sulfonates, phosphonates, chelates, phenates, crown ethers, carboxylic acids, amides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The fuel product described in  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous additive is comprised of about 0.001 to about 10.0 percent by weight of the metal compound.  
     
     
         16 . The fuel product described in  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous additive comprises about 0.001 to about 10.0 percent by weight of the hydrocarbonaceous fuel product.  
     
     
         17 . The fuel product described in  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbonaceous fuel product is a liquid fuel for use in an internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         18 . An aqueous additive used with a hydrocarbonaceous fuel product, wherein the additive comprises a water-soluble metal compound.  
     
     
         19 . The aqueous additive of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous additive comprises manganese methylcyclopentadienyl tricarbonyl.  
     
     
         20 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 18 , wherein the metal compound is an inorganic metal compound.  
     
     
         21 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 18 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, titanium, cerium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, iron, rubidium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 20 , wherein the inorganic metal compound is selected from the group consisting of fluorides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, oxides, nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, carbonates, nitrides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 18 , wherein the metal compound is an organometallic compound.  
     
     
         24 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 23 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, titanium, cerium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, iron, rubidium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 23 , wherein the organometallic compound is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, anhydrides, sulfonates, phosphonates, chelates, phenates, crown ethers, carboxylic acids, amides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 18 , wherein the aqueous additive is comprised of about 0.001 to about 10.0 percent by weight of the metal compound.  
     
     
         27 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 18 , wherein the aqueous additive comprises about 0.001 to about 10.0 percent by weight of the hydrocarbonaceous fuel product.  
     
     
         28 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 18 , wherein the hydrocarbonaceous fuel product is a liquid fuel for use in a combustion chamber.  
     
     
         29 . An aqueous additive adapted to be injected into a hydrocarbonaceous combustion exhaust stream, the additive comprising a water-soluble metal compound.  
     
     
         30 . The aqueous additive of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of urea and ammonia.  
     
     
         31 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 29 , wherein the metal compound is an inorganic metal compound.  
     
     
         32 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 29 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, titanium, cerium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, iron, rubidium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 29 , wherein the inorganic metal compound is selected from the group consisting of fluorides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, oxides, nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, hydrides, carbonates, nitrides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 29 , wherein the metal compound is an organometallic compound.  
     
     
         35 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 34 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, titanium, cerium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, iron, rubidium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 34 , wherein the organometallic compound is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, anhydrides, sulfonates, phosphonates, chelates, phenates, crown ethers, carboxylic acids, amides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         37 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 29 , wherein the aqueous additive is comprised of about 0.001 to about 10.0 percent by weight of the metal compound.  
     
     
         38 . The aqueous additive as describe in  claim 29 , wherein the additive is injected into the exhaust stream at a rate of about 0.001 to about 10.0 percent by weight of the hydrocarbonaceous source.  
     
     
         39 . The aqueous additive as described in  claim 29 , wherein the additive further comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of ammonia and urea.  
     
     
         40 . A method of enhancing performance durability of a catalytic emissions control system in a hydrocarbonaceous fuel combustion system comprising a catalytic device having a transition metal, noble metal, alkali or alkaline earth metal element, or combinations thereof, said combustion system producing at least one combustion byproduct, said method comprising: 
 supplying a hydrocarbonaceous fuel comprising an aqueous additive that includes a soluble metal compound to a fuel combustion system,    combusting said fuel in said combustion system to produce at least one byproduct, combustion complexing said metal compound with at least one combustion byproduct,    said metal compound being supplied in an effective amount to complex with the at least one fuel combustion byproduct,    whereby the impact of said fuel combustion byproduct on said emissions control system is reduced.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the said fuel comprises a spark-ignition fuel.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said fuel comprises a compression-ignition fuel.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said fuel comprises a combustion chamber fuel.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the metal compound is an inorganic metal compound.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, titanium, cerium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, iron, rubidium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the inorganic metal compound is selected from the group consisting of fluorides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, oxides, nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, carbonates, hydrides, nitrides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the metal compound is an organometallic compound.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, titanium, cerium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, iron, rubidium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the organometallic compound is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, anhydrides, sulfonates, phosphonates, chelates, phenates, crown ethers, carboxylic acids, amides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the aqueous additive is comprised of about 0.001 to about 10.0 percent by weight of the metal compound.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the aqueous additive comprises about 0.001 to about 10.0 percent by weight of the hydrocarbonaceous fuel.  
     
     
         52 . A method of enhancing performance durability of a catalytic emissions control system for after treatment of an exhaust stream from a hydrocarbonaceous fuel combustion system containing a catalytic device having a transition metal, noble metal, alkali or alkaline earth metal element, or combinations thereof, said combustion system producing at least one byproduct, comprising: 
 supplying a hydrocarbonaceous fuel to a fuel combustion system, combusting said fuel in said system to produce at least one combustion byproduct in the exhaust stream,    injecting an aqueous additive comprising a metal compound into the exhaust stream,    complexing said metal compound with at least one combustion byproduct,    said metal compound being supplied in an effective amount to complex with the at least one fuel combustion byproduct,    whereby performance durability of the catalytic device is enhanced.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the metal compound is an inorganic metal compound.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, titanium, cerium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, iron, rubidium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the inorganic metal compound is selected from the group consisting of fluorides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, oxides, nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, hydrides, carbonates, nitrides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the metal compound is an organometallic compound.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, titanium, cerium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, iron, rubidium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the organometallic compound is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, anhydrides, carboxylic acids, sulfonates, phosphonates, chelates, phenates, crown ethers, amides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the aqueous additive is comprised of about 0.001 to about 10.0 percent by weight of the metal compound.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the additive further comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of ammonia and urea.  
     
     
         61 . A catalytic emissions control system for the after treatment of a combustion process exhaust stream, comprising: 
 an exhaust passageway for the passage of an exhaust stream containing exhaust byproducts from the combustion of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel,    at least one catalytic material having catalytic activity, said catalytic material being located within the exhaust passageway and contacting the exhaust stream,    wherein the exhaust stream contains a water-soluble metal compound which complexes with at least one of the exhaust byproducts and reduces the impact of the byproduct upon the catalytic material, and    wherein said fuel comprises an aqueous additive that includes the water-soluble metal compound.    
     
     
         62 . The system described in  claim 61 , wherein at least one of the byproducts contains sulfur.  
     
     
         63 . The system described in  claim 61 , wherein at least one of the byproducts contains phosphorous.  
     
     
         64 . The system described in  claim 61 , wherein at least one of the byproducts contains a material selected from the group consisting of lead compounds, zinc compounds, and soot.  
     
     
         65 . A catalytic emissions control system for the after treatment of a combustion process exhaust stream, comprising: 
 an exhaust passageway for the passage of an exhaust stream containing exhaust byproducts from the combustion of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel,    at least one catalytic material having catalytic activity, said catalytic material being located within the exhaust passageway and contacting the exhaust stream,    wherein the exhaust stream has an aqueous additive introduced into it, the additive comprising a water-soluble metal compound which complexes with at least one of the exhaust byproducts and reduces the impact of the exhaust upon the catalytic material.    
     
     
         66 . A system as described in  claim 65 , wherein the additive further comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of ammonia, urea, precursors thereof, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         67 . The system described in  claim 65 , wherein at least one of the byproducts contains sulfur.  
     
     
         68 . The system described in  claim 65 , wherein at least one of the byproducts contains phosphorous.  
     
     
         69 . The system described in  claim 65 , wherein at least one of the byproducts contains a material selected from the group consisting of lead compounds, zinc compounds, and soot.  
     
     
         70 . A method for protecting the catalyst in a catalytic converter which receives combustion byproducts from the combustion of hydrocarbonaceous fuel, said method comprising adding to the fuel before or during combustion an aqueous additive containing a water-soluble metal compound, whereby the catalyst is protected relative to the catalyst in a catalytic converter which receives combustion byproducts without said aqueous additive.  
     
     
         71 . A method for emission reduction of one or more materials selected from sulfur compounds, phosphorus compounds, and soot produced by the combustion of hydrocarbonaceous fuel in a combustion chamber, said method comprising adding to the fuel before or during combustion an aqueous additive containing a water-soluble metal compound, whereby the metal of said metal compound reacts with at least one material selected from the group consisting of sulfur, phosphorus, lead, zinc and soot to form a particulate which is captured in a particulate trap.  
     
     
         72 . A method for the after-treatment of combustion products resulting from the combustion of hydrocarbonaceous materials, said method comprising adding to the fuel before or during combustion an aqueous additive containing a water-soluble metal compound, whereby the metal of said metal compound reacts with at least one material selected from the group consisting of sulfur, phosphorus, lead, zinc and soot to form a particulate which is captured in a particulate trap.  
     
     
         73 . A combustion device comprising a combustion chamber, a combustion byproduct exhaust passageway, a catalytic converter, particulate trap, and a means for introducing an aqueous additive.  
     
     
         74 . A method conducted in a combustion chamber for reducing the amount of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of sulfur compounds, phosphorus compounds, lead compounds, zinc compounds, and soot from combustion byproducts produced by the combustion of a hdrocarbonaceous fuel in said combustion chamber, the method comprising adding to the fuel before or during combustion an aqueous additive containing a water-soluble metal compound, whereby the metal of said metal compound reacts with at least one material selected from the group consisting of sulfur, phosphorus, lead, zinc and soot to form a particulate.  
     
     
         75 . A method for reducing the amount of one or more of sulfur compounds, phosphorus compounds, and/or soot combustion byproducts produced from the combustion in a combustion chamber of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel, said method occurring before the combustion byproducts contact a catalytic converter, and comprising the steps: adding to the fuel before or during combustion an aqueous additive containing a water-soluble metal compound, whereby the metal of said metal compound reacts with at least one material selected from the group consisting of sulfur compounds, phosphorus compounds or soot to form a particulate.  
     
     
         76 . A composition of matter comprising a material selected from a water-soluble metal ion source, a water-soluble metal compound, a precursor thereof, and a mixture thereof, a water-in-fuel emulsion, and optionally further comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of di-hydrocarbyl peroxides, surfactants, dispersants, organic peroxy esters, corrosion inhibitors, antioxidants, anti-rust agents, detergents, lubricity agents, cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl compound, lubricity improvers, sodium nitrite, urea, ammonium nitrate, fuel stabilizers, and azide compounds.  
     
     
         77 . A fuel additive comprising a metal compound, water, fuel, and urea.  
     
     
         78 . A fuel additive comprising a metal compound, water, fuel, and ammonia.  
     
     
         79 . A method for scavenging phosphorus from the combustion byproducts resulting from the combustion of hydrocarbonaceous fuel in a combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of adding to the fuel before or during combustion an aqueous additive containing a water-soluble metal compound, whereby the metal of said metal compound reacts with phosphorus to form a reaction product, and removing said reaction product from said combustion byproducts.  
     
     
         80 . A method for scavenging sulfur from the combustion byproducts resulting from the combustion of hydrocarbonaceous fuel in a combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of adding to the fuel before or during combustion an aqueous additive containing a water-soluble metal compound, whereby the metal of said metal compound reacts with sulfur to form a reaction product, and removing said reaction product from said combustion byproducts.  
     
     
         81 . A method for scavenging soot from the combustion byproducts resulting from the combustion of hydrocarbonaceous fuel in a combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of adding to the fuel before or during combustion an aqueous additive containing a water-soluble metal compound, whereby the metal of said metal compound reacts with soot to form a reaction product, and removing said reaction product from said combustion byproducts.  
     
     
         82 . A method for preventing poisoning of a catalyst in a catalytic converter receiving combustion byproducts from the combustion of hydrocarbonaceous fuel in a combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of adding to the fuel before or during combustion an aqueous additive containing a water-soluble metal compound, whereby the metal of said metal compound reacts with at least one material selected from sulfur, phosphorus, lead, zinc, and soot to thereby prevent poisoning of the catalyst by the sulfur, phosphorus, lead, zinc or soot.  
     
     
         83 . A fuel composition comprising a major amount of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel, and a minor amount of an additive comprising the additive of  claim 18 .  
     
     
         84 . The fuel product of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one oxygenate selected from the group consisting of water, biodiesel, alcohols, esters, ethers, ketones, polyols, glymes, and mixtures thereof.