US4640675A
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Method of burning low hydrogen content fuels
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1984-10-09
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Granted: 1987-02-03
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Expires: 2004-10-09
Abstract
Abstract Decreasing the viscosity of and improving the atomizing and burning characteristics of a hydrogen deficient fuel by dissolving a light, hydrogen rich hydrocarbon in the fuel.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary J. Green
- 👤 Harry A. McVeigh
- 👤 Joe E. Penick
- 👤 Tsoung Y. Yan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:40
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A process for improving the quality of a relatively low hydrogen content hydrocarbon fuel comprising dissolving in said fuel a hydrogen rich gas, comprising methane wherein said hydrogen rich gas is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the sooting tendency of said fuel and wherein a majority of said gas dissolves in said fuel at the temperature and pressure prevailing in the proximity of a burner atomizer used to atomize said fuel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A process for improving the quality of a relatively low hydrogen content hydrocarbon fuel comprising dissolving in said fuel a hydrogen rich gas, comprising methane wherein said hydrogen rich gas is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the sooting tendency of said fuel and wherein a majority of said gas dissolves in said fuel at the temperature and pressure prevailing in the proximity of a burner atomizer used to atomize said fuel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 1 wherein from 0.5 to 20 wt% of gas, on a gas-free fuel basis, is dissolved in said low hydrogen content fuel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 1 wherein from 1 to 10 wt% of gas, on a gas-free fuel basis, is dissolved in said low hydrogen content fuel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 1 wherein said fuel is selected from the group consisting of of residual fuel, coal liquids and oil derived from tar sands.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Process of claim 1 wherein said fuel has a hydrogen content not exceeding 13 wt%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process of claim 1 wherein said fuel has a hydrogen content of 10 to 13 wt%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 1 wherein said gas comprises a mixture of methane and ethane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
Process of claim 1 wherein said gas is a refinery offgas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process of claim 1, wherein said methane is admixed with a gas selected from the group consisting of ethane, ethylene, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
Process of claim 1, wherein the source of methane is natural gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a process for burning a heavy residual fuel by injecting said fuel into a burning zone via an atomizer and wherein said fuel has a viscosity at the atomizer of at least about 20 centistokes, the improvement comprising dissolving in said residual fuel 1 to 20 wt% of a light hydrogen rich hydrocarbon, which comprises methane and at least one other gas selected from the group consisting of ethane, propane, butane, ethylene, propylene and butylene, admixed with the methane, whereby the viscosity and sooting tendency of said fuel are reduced.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a process for burning a heavy residual fuel by injecting said fuel into a burning zone via an atomizer and wherein said fuel has a viscosity at the atomizer of at least about 20 centistokes, the improvement comprising dissolving in said residual fuel 1 to 20 wt% of a light hydrogen rich hydrocarbon, which comprises methane and at least one other gas selected from the group consisting of ethane, propane, butane, ethylene, propylene and butylene, admixed with the methane, whereby the viscosity and sooting tendency of said fuel are reduced.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Process of claim 11 wherein said fuel has a viscosity measured on a light hydrocarbon free basis, at the atomizer of at least about 100 centistokes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
Process of claim 11 wherein said heavy residual fuel has a hydrogen content of about 10-13 wt%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 11, wherein the source of said methane is refinery off gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 11 wherein the source of said light hydrocarbon is natural gas.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-02 | 1990-08-04 | 1991-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-02 | 1994-08-04 | 1995-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-02 | 1998-08-04 | 1999-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |