US4070993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pre-engine converter
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1977-01-10
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Granted: 1978-01-31
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Expires: 1997-01-10
Abstract
Abstract In pre-engine converters, a low octane fuel is contacted with a catalyst bed at high temperature cracking conditions to produce a gaseous product of substantially higher octane which is then fed, together with air, directly to an internal combustion engine. This improvement mixes oxygen with the fed fuel and uses a ZSM-5 zeolite alone or mixed with an oxidation catalyst for the conversion.
Inventors
- 👤 Nai Yuen Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:58
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M27/00; F02M27/02; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
In the process of converting low octane normally liquid hydrocarbons to higher octane normally gaseous hydrocarbons by contacting said liquid hydrocarbons with a hydrocarbon cracking catalyst under cracking conditions, mixing the resulting gaseous hydrocarbon product with an oxygen-containing gas, and generating power by burning said gaseous hydrocarbon with said oxygen in an internal combustion engine; the improvement which comprises contacting said low octane normally liquid hydrocarbons with a controlled amount of an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a hydrocarbon cracking catalyst, said controlled amount of said oxygen-containing gas being an amount sufficient to burn only a portion of said liquid hydrocarbons and provide a gaseous effluent comprising hydrocarbons of higher octane value than said normally liquid hydrocarbons, and said hydrocarbon cracking catalyst comprising a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 12, a constraint index of 1 to 12 and a crystal density not substantially below about 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter; mixing the resultant gaseous hydrocarbon effluent with an oxygen-containing gas in amount sufficient to burn said gaseous hydrocarbons; and passing the resulting mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing gas to said internal combustion engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
In the process of converting low octane normally liquid hydrocarbons to higher octane normally gaseous hydrocarbons by contacting said liquid hydrocarbons with a hydrocarbon cracking catalyst under cracking conditions, mixing the resulting gaseous hydrocarbon product with an oxygen-containing gas, and generating power by burning said gaseous hydrocarbon with said oxygen in an internal combustion engine; the improvement which comprises contacting said low octane normally liquid hydrocarbons with a controlled amount of an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a hydrocarbon cracking catalyst, said controlled amount of said oxygen-containing gas being an amount sufficient to burn only a portion of said liquid hydrocarbons and provide a gaseous effluent comprising hydrocarbons of higher octane value than said normally liquid hydrocarbons, and said hydrocarbon cracking catalyst comprising a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 12, a constraint index of 1 to 12 and a crystal density not substantially below about 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter; mixing the resultant gaseous hydrocarbon effluent with an oxygen-containing gas in amount sufficient to burn said gaseous hydrocarbons; and passing the resulting mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing gas to said internal combustion engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved process claimed in claim 1 wherein said low octane normally liquid hydrocarbons is straight run naphtha.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improved process claimed in claim 1 wherein said zeolite is ZSM-5.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improved process claimed in claim 1 wherein said catalyst additionally contains an oxidation catalyst component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
175 words
A pre-engine converter comprising a reactor chamber; a zeolite catalyst therein, said zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 12, a constraint index of 1 to 12 and a crystal density of not substantially below about 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter; means for feeding a low octane number normally liquid hydrocarbon to said chamber; means for feeding to said hydrocarbon feed an oxygen-containing gas in about stoichiometric proportions for burning said hydrocarbon feed; means for splitting said oxygen-containing gas into a controlled portion stoichiometrically sufficient to burn only a portion of said hydrocarbon feed, means for mixing said controlled portion of oxygen-containing gas with said hydrocarbon feed to be contacted with said catalyst in said chamber; means for withdrawing from said chamber a product stream comprising gaseous light hydrocarbons of higher octane number and combustion products of said feed hydrocarbons; means for mixing said product stream with the remainder of said oxygen-containing gas; and means for feeding the resulting mixture containing the remainder of the oxygen-containing gas to an internal combustion engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
175 words
A pre-engine converter comprising a reactor chamber; a zeolite catalyst therein, said zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 12, a constraint index of 1 to 12 and a crystal density of not substantially below about 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter; means for feeding a low octane number normally liquid hydrocarbon to said chamber; means for feeding to said hydrocarbon feed an oxygen-containing gas in about stoichiometric proportions for burning said hydrocarbon feed; means for splitting said oxygen-containing gas into a controlled portion stoichiometrically sufficient to burn only a portion of said hydrocarbon feed, means for mixing said controlled portion of oxygen-containing gas with said hydrocarbon feed to be contacted with said catalyst in said chamber; means for withdrawing from said chamber a product stream comprising gaseous light hydrocarbons of higher octane number and combustion products of said feed hydrocarbons; means for mixing said product stream with the remainder of said oxygen-containing gas; and means for feeding the resulting mixture containing the remainder of the oxygen-containing gas to an internal combustion engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A pre-engine converter as claimed in claim 5 including thermostat means to control the proportion of oxygen-containing gas to be mixed with the liquid hydrocarbon feed to be contacted with the catalyst-containing chamber and which thermostat is a function of said engine temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A pre-engine converter as claimed in claim 5 including an oxidation catalyst in said chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-30 | 1981-08-01 | 1982-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-30 | 1985-08-01 | 1986-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-30 | 1989-08-01 | 1990-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |