High throughput screening methods for fuel compositions

Abstract

Methods for determining deposit formation tendencies for a plurality of fluid samples of different compositions is provided. Each sample includes fuel additive compositions containing one or more fuel additives or fuel compositions containing one or more fuels and one or more fuel additives. The methods can advantageously be optimized using combinatorial chemistry, in which a database of combinations of fuel compositions are generated. As market conditions vary and/or product requirements or customer specifications change, conditions suitable for forming desired products can be identified with little or no downtime.

1 . A high throughput method for screening fuel additive composition samples, under program control, comprising:
 (a) providing a plurality of different fuel additive composition samples, each sample comprising at least one fuel additive;   (b) measuring the deposit formation of each sample to provide deposit formation data for each sample; and,   (c) outputting the results of step (b).   
   
   
       2 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A high throughput method for screening fuel composition samples, under program control, comprising:
 (a) providing a plurality of different fuel composition samples, each sample comprising (i) a major amount of at least one fuel and (ii) a minor amount of at least one fuel additive;   (b) measuring the deposit formation of each sample to provide deposit formation data for each sample; and,   (c) outputting the results of step (b).   
   
   
       19 - 35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . A system for screening fuel additive performance, under program control, comprising:
 a) a plurality of test receptacles, each receptacle containing a different fuel additive composition sample comprising at least one fuel additive;   b) receptacle moving means for individually positioning the test receptacles in a testing station for measurement of deposit formation of the respective sample;   c) means for measuring the deposit formation of the sample in the testing station to obtain deposit formation data associated with the sample and for transferring said deposit formation data to a computer controller.   
   
   
       37 .- 61 . (canceled)