Cooking fuel compositions and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides useful cooking and/or heating fuel compositions which may be produced substantially from renewable resources, such as biomass, to provide green fuel compositions, methods, and systems. The fuel compositions include gases stored under pressure, liquids, and gels/gelled waxes. Gases and liquids can include dimethyl ether and one or more C 2 or larger alcohols, or can include dimethyl ether and one or more C 2 or larger hydrocarbons. Gels and gelled waxes can include dimethyl ether and/or one or more C 1-4 alcohols and wax or a gel. Methods of making these fuel compositions, particularly from biomass-derived syngas, are also described. Various applications and methods of using the fuel compositions, such as portable cylinder fuels for camping, are disclosed. Additionally, principles of burner design for these fuel compositions are disclosed herein.

1 . A cooking fuel composition comprising dimethyl ether and one or more C 2  to C 6  alcohols. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , said composition comprising said alcohol in a concentration of at least 10 wt %. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , said composition comprising said alcohol in a concentration of at least 50 wt %. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising methanol. 
     
     
         6 . A composition comprising dimethyl ether one or more C 2  to C 10  hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , said composition comprising ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, butane, and butylenes. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , said composition further comprising one or more C 5  to C 10  hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the dimethyl ether is present in a concentration of at least 10 wt %. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the dimethyl ether is present in a concentration of at least 50 wt %. 
     
     
         11 . A cooking fuel composition comprising wax and one or more C 3-6  alcohols. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein composition includes less than one percent by weight of methanol. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the composition comprises isopropyl alcohol and secondary butanol or isobutanol. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more C 3-6  alcohols are present in a concentration of at between 5 and 25 percent by weight. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more of methanol, ethanol, and dimethyl ether. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more of methanol, ethanol, and dimethyl ether is present in a concentration of between 5 and 25 percent by weight. 
     
     
         17 . A cooking fuel composition in the form of a gel, wherein the gel comprises a crosslinked calcium compound and one or more C 3-6  alcohols. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more C 3-6  alcohols are present in between around 30 and 50 percent by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 17 , further comprising one or more of methanol, ethanol, and dimethyl ether. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more of methanol, ethanol, and dimethyl ether is present in a concentration of between 5 and 25 percent by weight.