Abstract:
A method for selecting an effective removal agent and a method of removing drag reducer additive from liquid hydrocarbon fuels, preferably gasoline or jet fuel.
Abstract:
A biofuel containing an estolide ester, an ether ester, or a combination thereof. The estolide ester and ether ester can be of formula A: R1—CH(O—X)R2CO2R3 wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 36 carbons, X is an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbons and preferably 1, 2, or 3 carbons or is an acyl group of formula COR5 where R5 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbons and preferably 1, 2, or 3 carbons, R2 is an alkylene group or alkenylene group having from 1 to 36 carbons, and R3 is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons and preferably 1, 2, or 3 carbons.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to compositions of a nanofluid, which comprises a thermal transfer fluid and carbon nanoparticles. The nanofluid may be hydrophilic nanofluids, such as a coolant, or hydrophobic nanofluids, such as nanolubricants or nanogreases. In particular, the present invention provides a homogenous hydrophilic nanofluid, which contains soluble carbon nanotubes in the hydrophilic thermal transfer fluid. The present invention also provides a nanogrease, which is a sustainable dispersion of solid carbon nanotubes in a hydrophobic thermal transfer fluid. The solid carbon nanotubes function as both as a thickener to modulate viscosity and as a solid heat transfer medium to enhance thermal conductivity and high temperature resistance.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to processes for preparing a stable suspension of carbon nanoparticles in a thermal transfer fluid to enhance thermal conductive properties, viscosity, and lubricity. One process is to disperse carbon nanoparticles directly into a thermal transfer fluid and other additives in the present of surfactants with intermittent ultrasonication. The second process is carried out in three stages. First, carbon nanoparticles are dispersed into a volatile solvent. Then, a thermal transfer fluid, surfactants, and other additives are added into this intermediate dispersion and mixed thoroughly. At last, the volatile solvent is removed to produce a uniformly dispersed nanofluid. The third process is to disperse carbon nanoparticles at an elevated temperature into a homogeneous mixture of surfactants and other additives in a thermal transfer fluid with help of a physical agitation. The present invention also relates to compositions of carbon nanoparticle nanofluids, such as nanolubricants and nanogreases. The nanofluid of the present invention is a dispersion of carbon nanoparticles, particularly carbon nanotubes, in a thermal transfer fluid in the present of surfactants. Addition of surfactants significantly increases the stability of nanoparticle dispersion. For nanogreases, carbon nanoparticles function both as a thickener to modulate viscosity and as a solid heat transfer medium to enhance thermal conductivity and high temperature resistance.
Abstract:
A method for increasing removal of drag reducer additive (DRA) from liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The method comprises producing contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising a concentration of removable DRA comprising a quantity of one or more polar groups, and contacting the contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel with an amount of one or more removal agents under removal conditions effective to produce a reduced concentration of the removable DRA.
Abstract:
A method for improving performance of an engine comprising contacting contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising an initial concentration of DRA with one or more effective DRA removal agent under conditions effective to produce decontaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising a reduced concentration of the DRA, and feeding the decontaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel to the engine.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to compositions of a nanofluid, which comprises a thermal transfer fluid and carbon nanoparticles. The nanofluid may be hydrophilic nanofluids, such as a coolant, or hydrophobic nanofluids, such as nanolubricants or nanogreases. In particular, the present invention provides a homogenous hydrophilic nanofluid, which contains soluble carbon nanotubes in the hydrophilic thermal transfer fluid. The present invention also provides a nanogrease, which is a sustainable dispersion of solid carbon nanotubes in a hydrophobic thermal transfer fluid. The solid carbon nanotubes function as both as a thickener to modulate viscosity and as a solid heat transfer medium to enhance thermal conductivity and high temperature resistance.
Abstract:
The present application provides a method for removing drag reducer additive (“DRA”) from liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The method comprises: providing contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising an initial concentration of DRA; contacting the contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel with a quantity of fresh attapulgus clay under conditions effective to produce decontaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising a reduced concentration of the DRA; said fresh attapulgus clay being effective to remove about 10% or more of a target DRA when 1 g of the fresh attapulgus clay is added in increments of from about 0.02 gram to about 0.1 gram, with agitation, to 100 ml. of contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising from about 8 to about 9 ppm of the unsheared target DRA.
Abstract:
The application relates to a method for selecting drag reducer additive (DRA) effectively removable by activated carbons and graphites to be used in fuel. The appliction also relates to effective activated carbons and graphites for removing DRA from fuel, and to a method of using effective activated carbons and graphites to remove DRA from fuel.