Aviation fuel cold flow additives and compositions

Abstract

Aviation fuel, such as jet fuel, blends and methods for improving cold flow properties of such fuels at extremely low temperatures are disclosed. Cold flow properties of, for example, JP-8+100 jet fuel, are improved by addition to the fuel of a polymer formed from polymerization of an α-olefin monomer or monomers. Demonstratable cold flow improvement of such fuels at temperatures of about −53° C. and lower is shown.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Method of improving the cold flow rate of jet fuel comprising adding to said jet fuel an effective amount of the purpose of a cold flow rate enhancement agent (CFREA) comprising a polyolefin formed by polymerization of an α-olefin monomer having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         2 . Method as recited in  claim 1  comprising adding from a 1-7,500 mg/L of said CFREA to said jet fuel, based upon 1 liter of said jet fuel.  
     
     
         3 . Method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said jet fuel is JP-8 based jet fuel.  
     
     
         4 . Method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said α-olefin is a member selected from the group consisting of 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tridecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-pentadecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . Method as recited in  claim 4  wherein said α-olefin comprises 1-dodecene.  
     
     
         6 . Method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising adding, as an adjuvant treatment to said jet fuel, about 1-7,500 mg/L of an oil-soluble, polar, nitrogen-containing compound to said jet fuel.  
     
     
         7 . Method as recited in  claim 6  wherein said oil-soluble, polar, nitrogen-containing compound comprises an amine or amide.  
     
     
         8 . Method as recited in  claim 7  wherein said oil-soluble polar nitrogen compound comprises a reaction product formed from reaction of a hydrocarbyl acid having two or more carboxyl groups and a hydrocarbyl secondary amine followed by neutralization of the resulting product with a hydrocarbyl primary amine.  
     
     
         9 . Method as recited in  claim 6  wherein said oil-soluble, polar, nitrogen-containing compound is benzoic acid, 2-[(bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)amino)carbonyl]-C 16 -C 22 -tert-alkyl amine salt.  
     
     
         10 . Composition for improving the cold flow rate of jet fuel, said composition comprising, in an organic solvent medium, (1) a cold flow rate enhancement agent (CFREA) comprising a poly[olefin] formed by polymerization of an α-olefin monomer having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms and (2) an oil-soluble, polar, nitrogen-containing compound.  
     
     
         11 . Composition as recited in  claim 10  wherein (1) is present in an amount of about 0.01-100 moles of (1) per 1 mole of (2).  
     
     
         12 . Composition as recited in  claim 10  wherein said oil-soluble, polar nitrogen-containing compound is an amine salt and/or amide.  
     
     
         13 . Composition as recited in  claim 12  wherein said oil-soluble, polar nitrogen-containing compound is a reaction product formed by reaction of a C 4 -C 24  hydrocarbyl acid or anhydride thereof with a C 4 -C 24  hydrocarbyl substituted primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine.  
     
     
         14 . Composition as recited in  claim 14  wherein said oil-soluble, polar nitrogen-containing compound comprises a reaction product formed from reaction of a hydrocarbyl acid having two or more carboxyl groups or anhydride thereof and hydrocarbyl secondary amine followed by neutralization of the resulting product with a hydrocarbyl primary amine.  
     
     
         15 . Composition as recited in  claim 10  wherein said oil-soluble, polar nitrogen compound is benzoic acid, 2-[(bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)amino)carbonyl]-C 16 -C 22 -tert-alkyl amine salt.  
     
     
         16 . Composition as recited in  claim 15  wherein said α-olefin is a member selected from the group consisting of 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tridecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-pentadecene, 1-hexadecene, and 1-octadecene and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         17 . Composition as recited in  claim 16  wherein said α-olefin comprises 1-dodecene.