Abstract:
An additive composition for residual fuel oils, for retarding ash deposition during their combustion, comprises a homogeneous solution of an oil-soluble organic silicate and an aromatic solvent such as a substituted naphthalene or disubstituted benzene which has the capacity to actively disperse petroleum sludge. This dispersive activity, which is further exemplified by the dispersion of carbon black in diesel oil using a composition of the invention, is said to be characteristic of aromatic solvents which assist in producing a more homogeneous solution of the silicate in the residual fuel oil. The silicate and solvent may be present in approximately equal amounts by weight or in a ratio of 1:4 to 1:5. Silicates exemplified are tetraethyl orthosilicate and mixed ethyl polysilicates containing an average of five silicon atoms per molecule, these silicates providing respectively about 28% and 40% available SiO2. Aromatic solvents include (i) aromatic solvent mixtures which contain alpha- and/or beta-methyl naphthalene fractions originating from coal tar such as creosote oil or from petroleum sources, (ii) purified methyl naphthalenes such as alpha-methyl naphthalene, beta-methyl naphthalene, mixtures of these and derivatives thereof such as dimethyl- or trimethyl-naphthalene, alphaand/or beta-ethyl naphthalene, and (iii) disubstituted benzenes such as orthodichlorobenzene. Sufficient additive is used in the fuel oil to provide one part by weight of SiO2 to each 2 to 4 parts by weight of ash in the fuel oil.