Supplying tungsten to a combustion system or combustion system exhaust stream containing iron

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for delivering tungsten from a to a fuel combustion system or to the exhaust therefrom. By the present invention, tungsten from the lubricant or the fuel will interact with iron from the combustion process. In this manner, the tungsten scavenges or inactivates iron that can otherwise poison catalytic converters, sensors and/or automotive on-board diagnostic devices and/or reduce the operation of spark plugs. The present invention can also lead to improved durability of exhaust after treatment systems. Supplying tungsten acts to change the characteristics of iron deposits formed by combusting a fuel with iron.

1 . A method for improving the durability of an after treatment device for a combustion system, said method comprising contacting one of at least a fuel or the products of the combustion of the fuel containing iron, with a concentration of about 10 mg iron per liter up to about 35 mg iron per liter of fuel, with a tungsten source in an amount sufficient for the tungsten to interact with the iron in at least one of the fuel or the products to thereby reduce the amount of iron deposits contacting the after treatment device. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel is a hydrocarbonaceous fuel selected from a group comprising diesel fuel, biodiesel, biodiesel-derived fuel, synthetic diesel and mixtures thereof, jet fuel, alcohols, ethers, kerosene, low sulfur fuels, synthetic fuels, Fischer-Tropsch fuels, fuels produced from at least one gaseous reactant, liquid petroleum gas, fuels derived from coal, genetically engineered biofuels and crops and extracts therefrom, natural gas, propane, butane, gasoline, unleaded motor gasoline, aviation gasoline, reformulated gasoline containing fuel-soluble oxygenated blending agents, waste oil, used engine oil, used motor oil, bunker fuel, coal dust, coal slurry, crude oil, refinery bottoms and by-products, crude oil extracts, hazardous wastes, yard trimmings, yard waste, wood chips, saw dust, agricultural waste, fodder, silage, plastics, organic waste and/or by-products, and mixtures thereof, and emulsions, suspensions, and dispersions thereof in water, alcohol, or other carrier fluids. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount sufficient for the tungsten to interact with the iron is between about 1 to about 36 milligrams of a tungsten containing compound per liter of fuel. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the amount sufficient for the tungsten to interact with the iron is less than 25 mg of tungsten compound per liter of fuel. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the amount sufficient for the tungsten to interact with the iron is about 1 to about 20 mg of tungsten compound per liter of fuel. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the tungsten-containing compound is at least one selected from a group comprising elemental tungsten, organotungsten, sulphur-containing organotungsten, sulphur- and phosphorus-free tungsten sources, tungsten oxides, mono-nuclear tungsten sulfonate, di-nuclear tungsten sulfonate, tri-nuclear tungsten sulfonate, tungsten phenate, tungsten acid, tungsten trioxide, ammonium ortho tungstate, ammonium metal tungstate, ammonium paratungstate, sodium tungstate, potassium tungstate, tungsten halide, tungsten hexacarbonyl, tungsten ethoxide, tungsten oxychloride, tungsten pentacarbonyl-N-pentylisonitrile, tungsten silicide, cyclomatic tungsten compounds, tungsten organoamines, tungsten phosphenes, organo-oxo-tungstenates, MgWO 4 , CaWO 4 , and ZnWO 4 . 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tungsten source is suspended in a lubricant in an amount from about 10 ppm to about 750 ppm. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tungsten source is suspended in a lubricant in an amount from about 10 ppm to 350 ppm. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tungsten source is suspended in a lubricant in an amount from about 30 ppm to about 200 ppm. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the tungsten source is suspended in a lubricant in an amount from about 50 ppm to about 100 ppm. 
   
   
       11 . A method to inhibit the formation of a iron-containing permeability-reducing glaze on the surface of a catalyst exposed to the products from the combustion in a combustion unit of a fuel comprising an iron-containing compound, wherein an iron concentration is about 10 mg iron per liter up to about 35 mg iron per liter of fuel, said method comprising contacting tungsten with the products of combustion of the fuel, wherein said products contain iron. 
   
   
       12 . A method reducing the conductivity of deposits formed from the combustion of a fuel comprising an iron-containing compound, wherein an iron concentration is about 10 mg iron per liter up to about 35 mg iron per liter of fuel, said method comprising adding a tungsten-containing compound to the fuel, whereby the conductivity of deposits formed from the combustion of the fuel comprising an iron-containing compound is reduced relative to the conductivity of deposits formed in the absence of tungsten. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the iron-containing compound comprises ferrocene. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel is treated with about 1 to about 36 milligrams of a tungsten-containing compound per liter of fuel.