Low emission, non-oxygenated fuel composition

Abstract

Provided is an unleaded gasoline fuel which is substantially free of oxygenates, and most preferably contains substantially zero oxygenates. The gasoline fuel also has a Reid vapor pressure less then 7.5 psi, a sulfur content less than 30 ppmw, an aromatic hydrocarbon content between 25 and 30 volume percent, and/or a 50% D-86 Distillation Temperature between 210 and 220° F., and/or a 90% D-86 Distillation Temperature between 300 and 330° F., and the fuel composition fails the California Predictive Model requirements for emissions. Preferably, the olefin content of the fuel is also 8 volume percent or less. Such a gasoline fuel offers a substantially oxygenate free gasoline which avoids the environmental impact of oxygenates, yet when combusted in an internal combustion automobile provides good performance and good emissions, despite failing the California Predictive Model. The gasoline fuel in particular can provide surprisingly lower NO x emissions than that predicted by the California Predictive Model.

1. An unleaded gasoline fuel, which is substantially free of oxygenates and has a Reid vapor pressure less than 7.5 psi;
 a sulfur content less than 10 ppmw;  
 an aromatics content of greater 25 volume percent but no greater than 30 volume percent; and  
 the fuel composition fails the California Predictive Model requirements for emissions.  
 
     
     
       2. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 1 , wherein the olefin content is 8.0 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       3. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 2 , wherein the fuel has a Reid vapor pressure no greater than 7.0. 
     
     
       4. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 2 , wherein the olefin content of the fuel is 6 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       5. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 2 , wherein the olefin content of the fuel is 5 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       6. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 2 , wherein the olefin content of the fuel is 3 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       7. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 2 , wherein the olefin content of the fuel is no greater than about 2 volume percent. 
     
     
       8. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 2 , wherein the fuel has a 50% D-86 Distillation Point no greater than 210° F. 
     
     
       9. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 2 , wherein the fuel has a 90% D-86 Distillation Temperature no greater than 300° F. 
     
     
       10. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel has a 50% D-86 Distillation Temperature between 210 and 220° F., and/or a 90% D-86 Distillation Temperature between 300 and 330° F. 
     
     
       11. An unleaded gasoline fuel, which is substantially free of oxygenates and has a Reid vapor pressure less than 7.5 psi;
 a sulfur content less than 10 ppmw; and  
 a 50% D-86 Distillation Temperature greater than 210 but no greater than 220° F.,  
 and the fuel composition fails the California Predictive Model requirements for emissions.  
 
     
     
       12. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 11 , wherein the olefin content is 8 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       13. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel has a Reid vapor pressure no greater than 7.0. 
     
     
       14. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 12 , wherein the olefin fuel content is 6 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       15. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 12 , wherein the olefin fuel content is 5 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       16. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 12 , wherein the olefin fuel content is 3 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       17. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 12 , wherein the olefin fuel content is no greater than about 2 volume percent. 
     
     
       18. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 12 , wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon content is no greater than 25 volume percent. 
     
     
       19. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel has a 90% D-86 Distillation Temperature no greater than 300° F. 
     
     
       20. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel has an aromatic hydrocarbon content between 25 and 30 volume percent, and/or a 90% D-86 Distillation Temperature between 300 and 330° F. 
     
     
       21. An unleaded gasoline fuel, which is substantially free of oxygenates and has a Reid vapor pressure less than 7.5 psi;
 a sulfur content less than 10 ppmw; and  
 a 90% D-86 Distillation Temperature between 300 and 330° F.,  
 and the fuel composition fails the California Predictive Model requirements for emissions.  
 
     
     
       22. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 21 , wherein the olefin content is 8 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       23. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 22 , wherein the fuel has a Reid vapor pressure no greater than 7.0. 
     
     
       24. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 22 , wherein the olefin fuel content is 5 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       25. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 22 , wherein the olefin fuel content is 3 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       26. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 22 , wherein the olefin fuel content is no greater than about 2 volume percent. 
     
     
       27. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 22 , wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon content is no greater than 25 volume percent. 
     
     
       28. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 22 , wherein the fuel has a 50% D-86 Distillation Point no greater than 210° F. 
     
     
       29. The unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 22 , wherein the fuel has an aromatic hydrocarbon content between 25 and 30 volume percent, and/or a 50% D-86 Distillation Temperature between 210 and 220° F. 
     
     
       30. A method for operating an automotive vehicle having a spark-ignited, internal combustion engine, comprising:
 introducing into the engine the unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 1 , and then  
 combusting the unleaded gasoline in the engine.  
 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein the automotive vehicle also has a catalytic converter into which at least some of the engine exhaust emissions created by combusting the unleaded gasoline is introduced, with emissions then being discharged from the catalytic converter and subsequently to the atmosphere. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 30 , wherein the introduction into the engine of an unleaded gasoline is accomplished by fuel injection. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the introduction into the engine of an unleaded gasoline is accomplished by fuel injection. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the gasoline introduced into the engine has a Reid vapor pressure no greater than 7.0. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the gasoline introduced into the engine contains 5 volume percent olefin or less. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , wherein the gasoline fuel introduced into the engine has an olefin content of 3 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 35 , wherein the gasoline has an olefin content of no greater than 2 volume percent. 
     
     
       38. A method for operating an automotive vehicle having a spark-ignited, internal combustion engine, comprising:
 introducing into the engine the unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 15 , and then  
 combusting the unleaded gasoline in the engine.  
 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38 , wherein the automotive vehicle also has a catalytic converter into which at least some of the engine exhaust emissions created by combusting the unleaded gasoline is introduced, with emissions then being discharged from the catalytic converter and subsequently to the atmosphere. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 38 , wherein the introduction into the engine of an unleaded gasoline is accomplished by fuel injection. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 39 , wherein the introduction into the engine of an unleaded gasoline is accomplished by fuel injection. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 39 , wherein the gasoline introduced into the engine has a Reid vapor pressure no greater than 7.0. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 39 , wherein the gasoline introduced into the engine contains 5 volume percent olefin or less. 
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 39 , wherein the gasoline fuel introduced into the engine has an olefin content of 3 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 39 , wherein the gasoline has an olefin content of no greater than 2 volume percent. 
     
     
       46. A method for operating an automotive vehicle having a spark-ignited, internal combustion engine, comprising:
 introducing into the engine the unleaded gasoline fuel of  claim 21 , and then  
 combusting the unleaded gasoline in the engine.  
 
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 46 , wherein the automotive vehicle also has a catalytic converter into which at least some of the engine exhaust emissions created by combusting the unleaded gasoline is introduced, with emissions then being discharged from the catalytic converter and subsequently to the atmosphere. 
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 46 , wherein the introduction into the engine of an unleaded gasoline is accomplished by fuel injection. 
     
     
       49. The method of  claim 47 , wherein the introduction into the engine of an unleaded gasoline is accomplished by fuel injection. 
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 47 , wherein the gasoline introduced into the engine has a Reid vapor pressure no greater than 7.0. 
     
     
       51. The method of  claim 47 , wherein the gasoline introduced into the engine contains 5 volume percent olefin or less. 
     
     
       52. The method of  claim 47 , wherein the gasoline fuel introduced into the engine has an olefin content of 3 volume percent or less. 
     
     
       53. The method of  claim 47 , wherein the gasoline has an olefin content of no greater than 2 volume percent.