Fuel blends

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle fuel composition containing an alcohol, a lubricant and an ether. A preferred embodiment is a fuel blend containing ethanol, dimethyl ether and a distilled organic acid. These fuel blends are thoroughly blended to obtain a motor fuel having a higher energy content and a lower pollution profile compared to standard commercial motor fuels.

1 . A fuel composition, comprising a homogeneous liquid phase comprising an alcohol, an ether and an organic oil. 
     
     
         2 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is ethanol. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel composition of  claim 2 , wherein the ethanol is anhydrous ethanol. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ether is selected from the group consisting of diethyl ether, dimethyl ether and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the organic oil is an oil distilled from a source selected from the group consisting of a plant, a seed, a bean a fruit and a vegetable. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the organic oil is an oil distilled from used cooking oil. 
     
     
         7 . A fuel composition, comprising a homogeneous liquid phase comprising:
 at least about 80% by weight of an alcohol;   about 1-10%, by volume, of at least one ether selected from the group consisting of dimethyl ether and diethyl ether; and,   about 0.008-0.02%, by volume, of a distilled organic oil.   
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a hydrocarbon fuel additive comprising:
 mixing an organic oil with an alcohol to form an alcohol-oil mixture;   heating the alcohol-oil mixture to a temperature of between about 260° C. to about 380° C. to produce a hydrocarbon gas; and,   cooling the hydrocarbon gas to condense and capture a liquid hydrocarbon lubricant.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising capturing natural gas emitted from the heated alcohol-oil mixture. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising heating the liquid hydrocarbon lubricant to distill off additional alcohol. 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing ether comprising:
 mixing sulfuric acid with an alcohol to form an alcohol-acid mixture;   heating the alcohol-acid mixture to evaporate an ether gas; and,   cooling the ether gas to condense and capture a liquid ether.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising capturing natural gas emitted from the heated alcohol-oil mixture. 
     
     
         13 . A fuel composition, comprising a homogeneous liquid phase comprising
 an alcohol,   an ether and a hydrocarbon lubricant formed by the process comprising:
 mixing an organic oil with an alcohol to form an alcohol-oil mixture; 
 heating the alcohol-oil mixture to a temperature of between about 260° C. to about 380° C. to produce a hydrocarbon gas; and, 
 cooling the hydrocarbon gas to condense and capture a liquid hydrocarbon lubricant. 
   
     
     
         14 . The fuel composition of  claim 13 , wherein the alcohol is ethanol. 
     
     
         15 . The fuel composition of  claim 13 , wherein the ether is selected from the group consisting of diethyl ether, dimethyl ether and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A fuel blend comprising a homogeneous liquid phase comprising:
 a petroleum fuel selected from the group consisting of gasoline and diesel;   an alcohol;   an ether; and,   a hydrocarbon lubricant formed by the process comprising:
 mixing an organic oil with an alcohol to form an alcohol-oil mixture; 
 heating the alcohol-oil mixture to a temperature of between about 260° C. to about 380° C. to produce a hydrocarbon gas; and, 
 cooling the hydrocarbon gas to condense and capture a liquid hydrocarbon lubricant. 
   
     
     
         17 . The fuel blend of  claim 16 , wherein the alcohol content of the homogeneous liquid phase is between about 25 volume percent and about 75 volume percent.