Additive for hydrocarbon fuel consisting of non-acidic inorganic compounds of boron and related processes

Abstract

The present invention provides a fuel additive and a process for using and making the fuel additive. The fuel additive includes a non-acidic boron-containing salt in a carrier fluid. The fuel additive enhances combustion by increasing fuel efficiency or decreased pollutant output in an exhaust gas resulting from combustion of the fuel with the fuel additive.

1 . A fuel additive comprising a mixture of at least one salt and a carrier fluid, the salt comprising [Y] a B b O c , wherein [Y] is a cation and the salt is non-acidic, the carrier fluid being operable to maintain the salt within the carrier fluid in at least a partially dispersed state, the fuel additive being operable to enhance combustion when placed into contact with fuel in a combustion zone and combusted, the enhanced combustion being measurable by increased fuel efficiency or decreased pollutant output in an exhaust gas resulting from the combustion of the fuel and the fuel additive.  
   
   
       2 . The fuel additive of  claim 1  wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of metaborate, pentaborate, tetraborate and orthoborate and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The fuel additive of  claim 1  further comprising [NH 4 ] 2 B 4 O 7 .  
   
   
       4 . The fuel additive of  claim 1  further comprising an ammonium compound.  
   
   
       5 . The fuel additive of  claim 1  wherein the pH of the solution is between about 6.0 and 8.0.  
   
   
       6 . The fuel additive of  claim 1  wherein the salt is inorganic.  
   
   
       7 . A process for enhancing fuel performance of a hydrocarbon fuel in a combustion system having a combustion zone comprising the steps of providing the fuel additive of  claim 1  in an amount effective to enhance fuel performance to the combustion zone and combusting the hydrocarbon fuel with the fuel additive.  
   
   
       8 . The process of enhancing fuel performance of  claim 7  wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is a liquid hydrocarbon fuel.  
   
   
       9 . The process of enhancing fuel performance of  claim 7  wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is a solid hydrocarbon fuel.  
   
   
       10 . The process of enhancing fuel performance of  claim 7  wherein the combustion zone is within an engine operating on gasoline fuel.  
   
   
       11 . The process of enhancing fuel performance of  claim 7  wherein the combustion zone is within an engine operating on diesel fuel.  
   
   
       12 . The process of enhancing fuel performance of  claim 7 , wherein the fuel additive is operable to enhance combustion when placed into contact with fuel in a direct fired burner or open flame in the combustion zone and combusted, the enhanced combustion being measurable by increased fuel efficiency or decreased pollutant output in an exhaust gas resulting from the combustion of the fuel and the fuel additive.  
   
   
       13 . An enhanced fuel comprising a substantial amount of hydrocarbon fuel suitable for combustion, and an amount of fuel additive of  claim 1  operable to enhance combustion.  
   
   
       14 . The enhanced fuel of  claim 13  wherein boron is present in the hydrocarbon fuel in an amount of between about 5 and 10 ppm by weight.  
   
   
       15 . The enhanced fuel of  claim 13  wherein the amount of fuel additive is the amount operable to reduce emissions upon combustion of the enhanced fuel as compared to the combustion of the hydrocarbon fuel without the fuel additive.  
   
   
       16 . The enhanced fuel of  claim 13  wherein boron is present in the hydrocarbon fuel in an amount less than about 25 ppm by weight.  
   
   
       17 . A process for creating an enhanced hydrocarbon fuel for use in a combustion system comprising the step of: 
 adding an amount effective to enhance fuel performance to the hydrocarbon fuel of a chemical addition composition, the chemical addition composition comprising the product from the dispersion of a non-acidic borate salt in water.    
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the salt is inorganic.  
   
   
       19 . A process for creating a fuel additive for enhancing combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel, the process comprising the steps of: 
 adding the salt [Y] a B b O c , wherein [Y] is a cation and the salt is non-acidic, to a fluid to at least partially disperse the salt in the fluid to create a boron-containing parent dispersion;    mixing the boron-containing parent dispersion with carrier fluid such that the boron-containing parent dispersion is generally dispersed in the carrier fluid; and    removing a substantial portion of the fluid from the mixture of the boron-containing parent dispersion with the carrier fluid to create a fuel additive that is operable to enhance combustion when added to a combustion zone in the presence of a hydrocarbon fuel and combusted.    
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 19 , wherein the salt is inorganic.