WO2015092386A1

WO2015092386A1 - Fuel additive composition

Info

Publication number: WO2015092386A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/053721
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ehab Rida Mahmoud HABIB; Taskin Ali TURGAN; Bilal KARACA; Huri BESLER
Original assignee: ELEND Almut Susanne; AL-HAJAM ESTABLISHMENT (VOLUME TRADING)
Current assignee: ELEND Almut Susanne; AL-HAJAM ESTABLISHMENT (VOLUME TRADING)
Priority date: 2013-12-16
Filing date: 2014-12-16
Publication date: 2015-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-16
Also published as: GB2522612A; GB201322176D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition comprising glycerol or a glycerol derivative, one or more alcohols, titanium dioxide and water, and preferably also borax, a sucrose derivative, hydrogen peroxide and starch. The composition may be used as a fuel additive to reduce the amount of NO_x and/or SO_x and/or CO emitted during fuel combustion and/or to increase the productivity of the fuel combustion. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing the composition and a method of using the composition as fuel additive during fuel combustion. The present invention further relates to a method of fuel combustion using the composition, a method of reducing the amount of NO_x and/or SO_x and/or CO emitted during fuel combustion and a method of increasing the productivity of fuel combustion.

Description

Fuel Additive Composition

Field of the invention The present invention relates to a composition comprising glycerol or a glycerol derivative, one or more alcohols, titanium dioxide and water, and preferably also borax, a sucrose derivative, hydrogen peroxide and starch. The composition may be used as a fuel additive to reduce the amount of NO_x and/or SO_x and/or CO emitted during fuel combustion and/or to increase the productivity of the fuel combustion. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing the composition and a method of using the composition as fuel additive during fuel combustion. The present invention further relates to a method of fuel combustion using the composition, a method of reducing the amount of NO_x and/or SO_x and/or CO emitted during fuel combustion and a method of increasing the productivity of fuel combustion.

Background of the invention

The demands of an industrialized society and the consequent need to burn fuel for the generation of heat and energy tend to compromise air quality. Many of the existing energy sources, particularly fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal, release substantial amounts of pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NO_x), sulfur oxides (SO_x) and carbon monoxide (CO) upon combustion. These pollutants cause respiratory diseases and other human ailments. They also poison the environment via acid rain, ground level ozone and greenhouse gases.

In recent years, much work has been done to find ways of reducing the output of NO_x, SO_x and CO from fuel combustion. The most common means of reducing NO_x emissions is the use of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. However, this approach requires the construction of an expensive catalytic system to treat the exhaust gases from the combustion process.

Another approach is to use staged combustion to reduce NO_x wherein there is more than one individualized combustion zone in the furnace. While this technique is suitable for the construction of new furnaces, it is not easily retrofitted to existing furnaces. Yet another approach is the use of additives during the combustion process to effect changes in the combustion conditions such that emissions are reduced. In one method, calcium compounds, such as CaO, CaC0₃ or CaF, are added to the combustion zone to reduce NO_x and SO_x emissions. However, this and similar techniques result in a slag disposal issue.

US 2004/0168365 suggests using a composition comprising wax, a fatty acid, ammonia or an ammonia like compound (such as amides, amines or amino acids), water and optionally Ti0₂ or a composition comprising ammonia, an ammonia like compound, Ti0₂ and water. These compositions are said to facilitate more complete and efficient combustion and to reduce NO_x emissions when applied to coal, wood or rubber before burning. In particular ammonia, ammonia like compounds and Ti0₂ are considered to contribute to the reduction in NO_x emissions. However, a reduction in NO_x emissions of only 12.9% is achieved.

WO 2005/003264 discloses a fuel composition for reducing NO_x emissions, the composition comprising pulverised coal and an oxygenate selected from glycerol, glycerol derivatives, propylene glycol, propylene glycol derivatives, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol derivatives, fatty acid alkyl esters, fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof. The oxygenate may be blended with the coal prior to, during and/or after pulverisation or may be injected into the combustion zone via a separate nozzle. However, the productivity of fuel combustion of these compositions is unsatisfactory.

Notwithstanding previous attempts to solve the emissions problems associated with the combustion of fuels, there is a continuing need to develop combustion methods that improve NO_x, SO_x and CO emissions, that increase the productivity of fuel combustion, and that can be cost effectively retrofitted to existing heat producing units, such as boilers, furnaces and thermal reactors. Summary of the invention

A first aspect of the present invention provides a composition comprising glycerol or a glycerol derivative, one or more alcohols, titanium dioxide and water. Preferably the composition comprises glycerol, methanol, titanium dioxide and water. Preferably the composition of the first aspect of the present invention further comprises borax. Preferably the composition of the first aspect further comprises a sucrose derivative, which is preferably sugar, preferably white sugar. Preferably the composition of the first aspect further comprises hydrogen peroxide. Preferably the composition of the first aspect further comprises starch.

Preferably the composition of the first aspect of the present invention further comprises borax, a sucrose derivative, hydrogen peroxide and starch. Preferably the sucrose derivative is sugar, preferably white sugar.

Preferably the composition comprises or consists essentially of or consists of glycerol or a glycerol derivative, one or more alcohols, titanium dioxide, water and borax. Preferably the composition further comprises a sucrose derivative. Preferably the composition further comprises hydrogen peroxide. Preferably the composition further comprises starch. Preferably the glycerol or glycerol derivative is glycerol. Preferably the one or more alcohol is methanol. Preferably the sucrose derivative is sugar, preferably white sugar.

Preferably the composition comprises or consists essentially of or consists of glycerol or a glycerol derivative, one or more alcohols, titanium dioxide, water, a sucrose derivative and hydrogen peroxide. Preferably the composition further comprises borax. Preferably the composition further comprises starch. Preferably the glycerol or glycerol derivative is glycerol. Preferably the one or more alcohol is methanol. Preferably the sucrose derivative is sugar, preferably white sugar.

Preferably the composition comprises or consists essentially of or consists of glycerol or a glycerol derivative, one or more alcohols, titanium dioxide, water, hydrogen peroxide and starch. Preferably the composition further comprises borax. Preferably the composition further comprises a sucrose derivative. Preferably the glycerol or glycerol derivative is glycerol. Preferably the one or more alcohol is methanol. Preferably the sucrose derivative is sugar, preferably white sugar.

The composition is preferably a fuel additive composition. The composition is preferably a solution.

Preferably the composition comprises or consists essentially of or consists of: (a) 5-30% by weight glycerol,

(b) 1-8% by weight titanium dioxide,

(c) 5-20% by weight methanol,

(d) 5-25% by weight borax,

(e) 1-10% by weight sugar, preferably white sugar,

(f) 5-15% by weight hydrogen peroxide,

(g) 1-10% by weight starch, and

(h) 20-70% by weight water. Preferably the composition comprises or consists essentially of or consists of:

(a) 5-20% by weight glycerol,

(b) 1-6% by weight titanium dioxide,

(c) 5-15% by weight methanol,

(d) 5-15% by weight borax,

(e) 1-8% by weight sugar, preferably white sugar,

(f) 5-12% by weight hydrogen peroxide,

(g) 1-10% by weight starch, and

(h) 30-60% by weight water. Preferably the composition does not comprise a hydrocarbon compound. As used herein, a 'hydrocarbon compound' is a compound consisting of carbon and hydrogen only. Hydrocarbons include paraffin, alkanes, alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylene. Preferably the composition does not comprise paraffin wax or wax. Preferably the composition does not comprise polyvinyl alcohol.

Preferably the composition is suitable for use as a fuel additive. When used as a fuel additive, the composition may be added to any fuel or energy source, preferably a fossil fuel (such as coal, petroleum, oil or natural gas), wood, chemicals or waste. Preferably the fuel or energy source is a fossil fuel, preferably coal. As used herein throughout the specification and claims, the terms "fuel" and "energy source" are used interchangeably. When the composition is used as a fuel additive, preferably the amount of NO_x and/ or SOx and/ or CO emitted during fuel combustion is reduced. When the composition is used as a fuel additive, preferably the productivity of the fuel combustion is increased. As used herein throughout the specification and claims, the terms "combustion" and "burning" are used interchangeably.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of preparing a composition according to the first aspect of the present invention, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) mixing glycerol or a glycerol derivative and titanium dioxide,

(b) mixing borax and water and further adding starch,

(c) mixing hydrogen peroxide and a sucrose derivative,

(d) mixing the mixtures obtained in steps (a) and (b),

(e) mixing the mixtures obtained in steps (c) and (d), and

(f) mixing the mixture obtained in step (e) and one or more alcohols.

Preferably the method comprises the steps of:

(a) mixing glycerol and titanium dioxide,

(b) mixing borax and water, preferably at about 40°C, and further adding starch,

(c) mixing hydrogen peroxide and sugar, preferably white sugar,

(d) mixing the mixtures obtained in steps (a) and (b),

(e) mixing the mixtures obtained in steps (c) and (d), and

(f) mixing the mixture obtained in step (e) and methanol.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method of using a composition according to the first aspect of the present invention as fuel additive during fuel combustion. The third aspect of the present invention further provides a method of fuel combustion, said method comprising the step of using a composition according to the first aspect of the present invention.

The third aspect of the present invention further provides a method of reducing the amount of NO_x and/or SO_x and/or CO emitted during fuel combustion, said method comprising the step of using a composition according to the first aspect of the present invention.

The third aspect of the present invention further provides a method of increasing the productivity of fuel combustion, said method comprising the step of using a composition according to the first aspect of the present invention.

In the methods of the third aspect of the present invention, preferably the amount of NOx and/or SO_x and/or CO emitted during fuel combustion is reduced by the use of the composition according to the first aspect of the present invention. Reducing the amount of NO_x and/or SO_x and/or CO emitted during fuel combustion can increase the commercial value of the waste ash. For example, reducing the amount of SO_x emitted during fuel combustion increases the amount of sulfur in the waste ash. Waste ash high in sulfur may be suitable, for example, for producing fire retardant bricks.

In the methods of the third aspect of the present invention, preferably the productivity of the fuel combustion is increased by the use of the composition according to the first aspect of the present invention. In the methods of the third aspect of the present invention, preferably the fuel or energy source used is a fossil fuel (such as coal, petroleum, oil or natural gas), wood, chemicals or waste. Preferably the fuel or energy source is a fossil fuel, preferably coal.

In the methods of the third aspect of the present invention, preferably the composition is applied to the fuel before or during combustion or is applied to the emitted combustion gases. Preferably the composition is applied to the fuel in a weight ratio of composition : fuel of about 1-4 : 8, preferably about 2 : 8. The composition may be applied to the fuel by any suitable method. If the composition is applied to a solid fuel before combustion, the composition may be applied to the solid fuel by dipping, soaking, coating, spraying, brushing, rolling, pouring, immersing, submerging, impregnating or saturating. For example, if the solid fuel is coal, the coal may be pulverised and saturated with the composition. If the composition is applied to a liquid fuel before combustion, the composition may be applied to the liquid fuel by adding, mixing, combining, blending, stirring or spraying. If the composition is applied to the fuel during combustion, the composition may be sprayed onto the fuel. If the composition is applied to the emitted combustion gases, the composition may be sprayed onto the emitted combustion gases, preferably when the emitted combustion gases are still hot, preferably when the emitted combustion gases have a temperature of at least 90°C. In the methods of the third aspect of the present invention, preferably fuel combustion is carried out in a heat producing unit, preferably in a heat producing unit such as a boiler, furnace or thermal reactor. A heat producing unit is a combustion unit in which fuel is burned to generate heat energy. The heat energy generated may then be used to heat water or produce steam for driving electricity producing turbines or to supply heat to operate a manufacturing process or to provide heat for buildings and structures.

Brief description of the accompanying figure

Figure ι is a schematic diagram of a furnace using the composition and methods of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

A preferred fuel additive composition of the present invention comprises glycerol, methanol, titanium dioxide, borax, sugar (preferably white sugar), hydrogen peroxide, starch and water. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the glycerol in the composition of the present invention acts as oxygen source to control and reduce NO_x formation and as hydrocarbon source to increase the productivity of the fuel combustion. Titanium dioxide is believed to react with free radicals and to minimize SO_x formation. Sugar and methanol are added to the composition of the present invention as fuel enriching agents and are believed to increase the productivity of the fuel combustion. They are believed to create a chain reaction and to increase the combustion heat by flashing unburned gases. Water and hydrogen peroxide are used in the composition of the present invention as oxygen and hydrogen source at high temperatures and to provide the composition of the present invention as a homogenous mixture. Sugar and hydrogen peroxide are also added to the composition of the present invention to decrease the amount of alcohol required, while increasing the amounts of carbon and hydrogen in the combustion. Starch is used in the composition of the present invention as binding agent, especially when the fuel used is pulverised coal. Borax is added to the composition of the present invention to increase the hydrogen ratio in the composition during combustion. The fuel additive composition of the present invention may be used, for example, in a furnace as shown in Figure 1. The furnace has a combustion chamber 1. Fuel and air is supplied to this combustion chamber 1 in a conventional way via a fuel inlet 2 and air inlets 3. Ash can be removed from the combustion chamber 1 in a conventional way via an ash outlet 4. When fuel is burned in the combustion chamber 1, combustion gases 5 are emitted which are removed in a conventional way via a combustion gas outlet 6. The furnace shown in Figure 1 differs from conventional furnaces in that it has a fuel additive composition inlet 7, through which the composition of the present invention can be supplied to the combustion chamber 1. The composition can be stored in a storage container 8 and fed to the inlet 7 by a pump 9. Depending on the positioning of the fuel additive composition inlet 7 in the combustion chamber 1, the composition of the present invention is sprayed onto the burning fuel 10 or onto the hot combustion gases 5. In Figure 1 as shown, the composition of the present invention is sprayed with spray 11 onto the hot combustion gases 5.

Alternatively, the fuel additive composition of the present invention may be applied to a solid fuel, for example a pulverised fuel, before combustion. The pulverised fuel may be provided in a mixer, then water may be added, then the fuel additive composition may be added. The thus enriched fuel should preferably be mixed to provide a homogenous mixture.

Alternatively still, the fuel additive composition of the present invention may be mixed with a liquid fuel before combustion.

Example 1

A composition of the present invention was prepared, comprising 20% by weight glycerol, 20% by weight ethanol, 20% by weight methanol, 2.5% by weight titanium dioxide and 37.5% by weight water. The composition was prepared by first mixing glycerol and titanium dioxide, and then adding to this mixture ethanol, methanol and water.

Example 2 A composition of the present invention was prepared, comprising 20% by weight glycerol, 20% by weight ethanol, 20% by weight methanol, 5% by weight titanium dioxide and 35% by weight water. The composition was prepared by first mixing glycerol and titanium dioxide, and then adding to this mixture ethanol, methanol and water.

Example 3

A mixture of wood and charcoal was burned in a furnace as shown in Figure 1, first without using the composition of example 1 and then with using the composition of example 1. The composition was sprayed onto the hot combustion gases. The composition was applied to the wood and charcoal fuel in a weight ratio of composition : fuel of about 1 : 4. The combustion gases emitted were analysed and the results are shown in Table 1.

Table 1

As can be seen from Table 1, the use of the composition of the present invention significantly reduced the emission of NO_x, S0₂ and CO and increased the emission of 0₂ and C0₂.

Example 4 A composition of the present invention was prepared, comprising 16% by weight glycerol, 6% by weight methanol, 2% by weight titanium dioxide, 10% by weight borax, 2% by weight white sugar, 10% by weight hydrogen peroxide, 8% by weight starch, and 46% by weight water. The composition was prepared by mixing glycerol and titanium dioxide to give mixture (a); mixing borax and water at about 40°C and further adding starch to give mixture (b); mixing hydrogen peroxide and white sugar to give mixture (c); mixing mixtures (a) and (b) to give mixture (d); mixing the mixtures (c) and (d) to give mixture (e); and mixing mixture (e) and methanol.

Example 5

Charcoal was burned in a furnace as shown in Figure 1, first without using the composition of example 4 and then with using the composition of example 4. The composition was sprayed onto the hot combustion gases. The composition was applied to the charcoal fuel in a weight ratio of composition : fuel of about 1 : 4.

The combustion gases emitted were analysed and the results are shown in Table 2.

Table 2

As can be seen from Table 2, the use of the composition of the present invention significantly reduced the emission of NO_x, S0₂ and CO.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above by way of example only. The examples are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Various modifications and embodiments can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is defined by the following claims only.

Claims

1. A composition comprising glycerol or a glycerol derivative, one or more alcohols, titanium dioxide and water.

2. A composition according to claim l, further comprising borax, a sucrose derivative, hydrogen peroxide and starch.

3· A composition according to claim l or 2, comprisinj

(a) 5-30% by weight glycerol,

(b) 1-8% by weight titanium dioxide,

(c) 5-20% by weight methanol,

(d) 5-25% by weight borax,

(e) 1-10% by weight sugar,

(f) 5-15% by weight hydrogen peroxide,

(g) 1-10% by weight starch, and

(h) 20-70% by weight water.

4. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, for use as a fuel additive.

5. A composition according to claim 4, wherein the fuel is a fossil fuel (such as coal, petroleum, oil or natural gas), wood, chemicals or waste.

6. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the composition is used as a fuel additive, the amount of NO_x and/or SO_x and/or CO emitted during fuel combustion is reduced.

7. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when the composition is used as a fuel additive, the productivity of the fuel combustion is increased.

8. A method of preparing a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) mixing glycerol or a glycerol derivative and titanium dioxide,

(b) mixing borax and water and further adding starch,

(c) mixing hydrogen peroxide and a sucrose derivative, (d) mixing the mixtures obtained in steps (a) and (b),

(e) mixing the mixtures obtained in steps (c) and (d), and

(f) mixing the mixture obtained in step (e) and one or more alcohols.

9. A method of using a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7 as fuel additive during fuel combustion.

10. A method of fuel combustion, comprising the step of using a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

11. A method of reducing the amount of NO_x and/or SO_x and/or CO emitted during fuel combustion, said method comprising the step of using a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

12. A method of increasing the productivity of fuel combustion, said method comprising the step of using a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

13. A method according to any one of claims 9, 10 or 12, wherein the amount of NO_x and/or SO_x and/or CO emitted during fuel combustion is reduced by the use of the composition.

14. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the productivity of the fuel combustion is increased by the use of the composition.

15. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the fuel is a fossil fuel (such as coal, petroleum, oil or natural gas), wood, chemicals or waste.

16. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the composition is applied to the fuel before or during combustion or is applied to the emitted combustion gases.

17. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein fuel combustion is carried out in a boiler, furnace or thermal reactor.