Emulsified water/hydrocarbon fuel, preparation and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention concerns an emulsified fuel containing a hydrocarbon liquid phase, an aqueous phase and at least one emulsifier, having a water/hydrocarbon ration ranging between 5/95 and 35/65. The invention also concerns the method for making such fule.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . An emulsified fuel comprising a hydrocarbon liquid phase, an aqueous phase and at least one emulsifying agent and exhibiting a water/hydrocarbons ratio by weight ranging from 5/95 to 35/65, wherein the hydrocarbon phase comprises from 5 to 35% by weight of C 8  to C 22  normal paraffins, the aqueous phase being dispersed in the hydrocarbon phase.  
   
   
       30 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the hydrocarbon phase comprises from 5 to 35% by weight of C 13  to C 19  normal paraffins.  
   
   
       31 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the hydrocarbon phase comprises from 8 to 20% by weight of said C 8  to C 22 , preferably C 13  to C 19i  normal paraffins.  
   
   
       32 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the hydrocarbon phase comprises from 10 to 20% by weight of said C 8  to C 22 , preferably C 13  to C 19 , normal paraffins.  
   
   
       33 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the hydrocarbon phase comprises at least one petroleum fraction of gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene type.  
   
   
       34 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the hydrocarbon phase comprises a mixture composed of one or more hydrocarbon fractions and of at least one fraction rich in said normal paraffins, comprising at least 50% by weight of said normal paraffins.  
   
   
       35 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein said fraction rich in normal paraffins is a fraction of petroleum origin.  
   
   
       36 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein said fraction rich in normal paraffins comprises synthetic paraffins obtained by oligomerization of olefins comprising from 2 to 5 carbon atoms or by the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis starting from light hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       37 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the said fraction rich in normal paraffins comprises at least one hydrotreated animal or vegetable oil and/or fat.  
   
   
       38 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the oil and/or the fat is chosen from: 
 vegetable oils;    animal fats;    waste food oils or fats;    and the mixtures of the above products.    
   
   
       39 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the hydrocarbon fraction, with which the fraction rich in normal paraffins is mixed in order to obtain said hydrocarbon phase, is chosen from gasoline fractions, middle distillates, preferably chosen from kerosene fractions and diesel fuel fractions, biofuels, preferably chosen from esterified or nonesterified vegetable oils, and the mixtures of such fractions.  
   
   
       40 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the hydrocarbon fraction, with which the fraction rich in normal paraffins is mixed in order to obtain said hydrocarbon phase, comprises at least one fraction chosen from intermediate vacuum distillates, heavy vacuum distillates or bottom cuts.  
   
   
       41 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein its content of emulsifying agent is between 0.5 and 5% by weight.  
   
   
       42 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the emulsifying agent comprises at least one nonionic organic emulsifying agent, preferably of natural origin, preferably chosen from fatty acids and their derivatives, polyol esters or functionalized polymers.  
   
   
       43 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein it comprises a bactericide and/or a fungicide.  
   
   
       44 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein it comprises at least one antifreeze chosen from alcohols, glycols, derivatives of glycols or of alcohols, or saline solutions.  
   
   
       45 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein it comprises at least one soot remover preferably chosen from catalysts based on magnesium, calcium, barium, cerium, copper, iron or their mixtures.  
   
   
       46 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein it comprises at least one cetane number improver preferably chosen from alkyl nitrates or organic peroxides.  
   
   
       47 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the ratio of the content by weight of C 8  to C 22  normal paraffins in the hydrocarbon phase to the content by weight of cetane number improvers in the engine fuel is between 5/0.5 to 15/0.05, preferably between 5/0.3 and 15/0.1.  
   
   
       48 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein its sulfur content, determined according to the standard NF M 07-100, is less than or equal to 350 ppm and preferably less than or equal to 50 ppm.  
   
   
       49 . The fuel as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein its content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, determined according to the standard IP 391, is preferably less than or equal to 11% by weight, more preferably less than or equal to 6% by weight.  
   
   
       50 . A process for the preparation of an emulsified fuel comprising a hydrocarbon liquid phase, an aqueous phase and at least one emulsifying agent and exhibiting a water/hydrocarbons ratio by weight ranging from 5/95 to 35/65, in which the hydrocarbon phase comprises from 5 to 35% by weight of C 8  to C 22  normal paraffins, the aqueous phase being dispersed in the hydrocarbon phase, 
 the process comprising at least the following stages:    (a) selecting at least one petroleum fraction of gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene type comprising from 5 to 35% by weight, preferably from 8 to 20% by weight, more preferably still from 10 to 20% by weight of C 8  to C 22 , preferably C 1 -3 to C 19 , normal paraffins; or    (a′) mixing one or more hydrocarbon fractions and at least one fraction comprising at least 50% by weight of C 8  to C 22 , preferably C 13  to C 19 , normal paraffins, so as to obtain a hydrocarbon phase comprising from 5 to 35% by weight, preferably from 8 to 20% by weight, more preferably still from 10 to 20% by weight of C 8  to C 22 , preferably C 13  to C 19r  normal paraffins; then    (b) emulsifying, in the presence of at least one emulsifying agent, the hydrocarbon phase obtained in (a)    or (a′) with an aqueous phase according to a water/hydrocarbons ratio by weight ranging from 5/95 to 35/65.    
   
   
       51 . The process as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein stage 
 (b) is carried out by mixing the emulsifying agent with the hydrocarbon phase and then passing the resulting mixture one or more times into an emulsifier system fed with the water necessary for the formation of the emulsion.    
   
   
       52 . The process as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein stage 
 (b) is carried out by: 
 (b1) premixing the water and the emulsifying agent, followed by dispersion in the hydrocarbon phase, or simultaneous mixing of the hydrocarbon phase with the water and the emulsifying agent, then  
 (b2) emulsifying proper using an appropriate device.  
   
   
   
       53 . The use of an emulsified fuel comprising a hydrocarbon liquid phase, an aqueous phase and at least one emulsifying agent and exhibiting a water/hydrocarbons ratio by weight ranging from 5/95 to 35/65, in which the hydrocarbon phase comprises from 5 to 35% by weight of C 8  to C 22  normal paraffins, the aqueous phase being dispersed in the hydrocarbon phase, as engine fuel, in particular as engine fuel for a diesel engine.  
   
   
       54 . The use of an emulsified fuel comprising a hydrocarbon liquid phase, an aqueous phase and at least one emulsifying agent and exhibiting a water/hydrocarbons ratio by weight ranging from 5/95 to 35/65, in which the hydrocarbon phase comprises from 5 to 35% by weight of C 8  to C 22  normal paraffins, the aqueous phase being dispersed in the hydrocarbon phase as fuel for thermal machines preferably chosen from industrial or domestic boilers, furnaces, turbines and generators.  
   
   
       55 . The use of an emulsified fuel comprising a hydrocarbon liquid phase, an aqueous phase and at least one emulsifying agent and exhibiting a water/hydrocarbons ratio by weight ranging from 5/95 to 35/65, in which the hydrocarbon phase comprises from 5 to 35% by weight of C 8  to C 22  normal paraffins, the aqueous phase being dispersed in the hydrocarbon phase, as Furnace Fuel Oil.  
   
   
       56 . A method for reducing emissions from heat engines or thermal machines, comprising the use of an emulsified fuel comprising a hydrocarbon liquid phase, an aqueous phase and at least one emulsifying agent and exhibiting a water/hydrocarbons ratio by weight ranging from 5/95 to 35/65, in which the hydrocarbon phase comprises from 5 to 35% by weight of C 8  to C 22  normal paraffins, the aqueous phase being dispersed in the hydrocarbon phase.