Combustion of viscous hydrocarbons

Claim 1

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion using an effective amount of a surfactant package comprising at least one water-soluble surfactant, said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion (1) comprising a hydrocarbon characterized by API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 1000 centipoise or greater at 212° F., a paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and, an aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (2) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.

Claim 2

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion using an effective amount of a surfactant package comprising at least one water-soluble surfactant, said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion (1) comprising a hydrocarbon characterized by API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 1000 centipoise or greater at 212° F., a paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and, an aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (2) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.

Claim 3

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using an effective amount of a surfactant package comprising at least one water soluble surfactant and at least one water-soluble bioemulsifier, said hydrocarbosol (1) comprising a hydrocarbon characterized by API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 1000 centipoise or greater at 212° F., a paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and an aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (2) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosol.

Claim 4

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using an effective amount of a surfactant package comprising at least one water soluble surfactant and at least one water-soluble bioemulsifier, said hydrocarbosol (1) comprising a hydrocarbon characterized by API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 1000 centipoise or greater at 212° F., a paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and an aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (2) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosol.

Claim 10

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using a surfactant package in a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:20,000 by weight based on hydrocarbon, (1) said surfactant package comprising (a) at least one water-soluble surfactant, an effective amount of which surfactant promotes emulsification of a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater into an aqueous phase to form a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion wherein the proportion of hydrocarbon to aqueous phase is about 90:10 by volume or less, the viscosity of which emulsion is reduced by at least a factor of about 10 compared to the viscosity of the hydrocarbon; and (b) a water-soluble bioemulsifier, derived from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, which predominantly resides at hydrocarbon/water interfaces to substantially surround hydrocarbon droplets in hydrocarbon-in-water emulsions, an effective amount of which bioemulsifier stabilizes a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion formed with a hydrocarbon as in (a) by maintaining viscosity reduced by at least a factor of about 10 for a period of at least about a day under static conditions, (2) said hydrocarbosol (b) comprising a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (b) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosol.

Claim 11

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using a surfactant package in a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:20,000 by weight based on hydrocarbon, (1) said surfactant package comprising (a) at least one water-soluble surfactant, an effective amount of which surfactant promotes emulsification of a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater into an aqueous phase to form a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion wherein the proportion of hydrocarbon to aqueous phase is about 90:10 by volume or less, the viscosity of which emulsion is reduced by at least a factor of about 10 compared to the viscosity of the hydrocarbon; and (b) a water-soluble bioemulsifier, derived from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, which predominantly resides at hydrocarbon/water interfaces to substantially surround hydrocarbon droplets in hydrocarbon-in-water emulsions, an effective amount of which bioemulsifier stabilizes a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion formed with a hydrocarbon as in (a) by maintaining viscosity reduced by at least a factor of about 10 for a period of at least about a day under static conditions, (2) said hydrocarbosol (b) comprising a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (b) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosol.

Claim 13

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using a surfactant package in a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:20,000 by weight based on hydrocarbon, (1) said surfactant package comprising (a) from about 1% to about 50% by weight of α-emulsion; and (b) from about 50% to about 99% by weight of a polyoxyalkylated amine represented by the formula R x N y (CH 3 ) 2 wherein R represents an oxyalkyl group containing from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, x represents the number of oxyalkyl groups ranging in number from about 4 to about 500 and y represents the number of nitrogen atoms ranging from about 1 to about 2, (2) said hydrocarbosol (a) comprising a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (b) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosal.

Claim 14

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using a surfactant package in a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:20,000 by weight based on hydrocarbon, (1) said surfactant package comprising (a) from about 1% to about 50% by weight of α-emulsion; and (b) from about 50% to about 99% by weight of a polyoxyalkylated amine represented by the formula R x N y (CH 3 ) 2 wherein R represents an oxyalkyl group containing from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, x represents the number of oxyalkyl groups ranging in number from about 4 to about 500 and y represents the number of nitrogen atoms ranging from about 1 to about 2, (2) said hydrocarbosol (a) comprising a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (b) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosal.

Claim 15

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using a surfactant package in a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:20,000 by weight based on hydrocarbon, (1) said surfactant package comprising (a) from about 10% to about 20% by weight of α-emulsan; and (b) from about 90% to about 80% by weight of a water-soluble anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of (i) a sulfated ethoxylated alkyphenol represented by the formula RC 6 H 4 (OC 2 H 4 ) n OSO 3 M wherein R represents an aliphatic group containing at least about 8 or 9 carbon atoms, n represents the number of ethoxy groups ranging from about 1 to about 100, and M is ammonium, sodium, potassium, calcium or triethanolamine; (ii) an ethoxylated alcohol sulfate represented by the formula R(OC 2 H 4 ) n OSO 3 M wherein R represents an aliphatic group containing from about 6 to about 16 carbon atoms, n represents the number of ethoxy groups ranging from about 0 to about 4, and M is ammonium, sodium, potassium, calcium or triethanolamine; and (iii) an alkylarysulfonate represented by the formula R n Ar m (SO 3 ) x M wherein Ar is an aromatic group which is benzyl, naphthyl, phenyl, tolyl, xylyl or ethylphenyl, R is a linear or branched chain alkyl group containing about 2 to about 16 carbon atoms, n is 1 or 2, m is 1 or greater, x is at least about 1, and M is ammonium, sodium, calcium, potassium or triethanolamine, (2) said hydrocarbosol (a) comprising a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (b) having a hydrocarbon: water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosol.

Claim 16

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using a surfactant package in a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:20,000 by weight based on hydrocarbon, (1) said surfactant package comprising (a) from about 10% to about 20% by weight of α-emulsan; and (b) from about 90% to about 80% by weight of a water-soluble anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of (i) a sulfated ethoxylated alkyphenol represented by the formula RC 6 H 4 (OC 2 H 4 ) n OSO 3 M wherein R represents an aliphatic group containing at least about 8 or 9 carbon atoms, n represents the number of ethoxy groups ranging from about 1 to about 100, and M is ammonium, sodium, potassium, calcium or triethanolamine; (ii) an ethoxylated alcohol sulfate represented by the formula R(OC 2 H 4 ) n OSO 3 M wherein R represents an aliphatic group containing from about 6 to about 16 carbon atoms, n represents the number of ethoxy groups ranging from about 0 to about 4, and M is ammonium, sodium, potassium, calcium or triethanolamine; and (iii) an alkylarysulfonate represented by the formula R n Ar m (SO 3 ) x M wherein Ar is an aromatic group which is benzyl, naphthyl, phenyl, tolyl, xylyl or ethylphenyl, R is a linear or branched chain alkyl group containing about 2 to about 16 carbon atoms, n is 1 or 2, m is 1 or greater, x is at least about 1, and M is ammonium, sodium, calcium, potassium or triethanolamine, (2) said hydrocarbosol (a) comprising a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (b) having a hydrocarbon: water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosol.

Claim 17

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using a surfactant package in a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:20,000 by weight based on hydrocarbon, (1) said surfactant package comprising (a) about 17% by weight of whole broth α-emulsan; (b) about 50% by weight of an ethoxylated monooctylphenol with about 70 ethoxy groups, (c) about 33% by weight of an ethoxylated monononylphenol with about 70 ethoxy groups; and (2) said hydrocarbosol (a) comprising a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (b) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosol.

Claim 18

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using a surfactant package in a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:20,000 by weight based on hydrocarbon, (1) said surfactant package comprising (a) about 17% by weight of whole broth α-emulsan; (b) about 50% by weight of an ethoxylated monooctylphenol with about 70 ethoxy groups, (c) about 33% by weight of an ethoxylated monononylphenol with about 70 ethoxy groups; and (2) said hydrocarbosol (a) comprising a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (b) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosol.

Claim 19

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using a surfactant package in a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:20,000 by weight based on hydrocarbon, (1) said surfactant package comprising (a) about 14% by weight of whole broth α-emulsan; (b) about 43% by weight of an ethoxylated monooctylphenol with about 40 ethoxy groups, (c) about 29% by weight of an ethoxylated monononylphenol with about 40 ethoxy groups; and (d) about 14% by weight of a salt of a lignosulfonate, and (2) said hydrocarbosol (a) comprising a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and an aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (b) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosol.

Claim 20

A method for utilizing viscous hydrocarbons as combustible pre-atomized fuels, comprising: (A) forming a hydrocarbosol using a surfactant package in a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:20,000 by weight based on hydrocarbon, (1) said surfactant package comprising (a) about 14% by weight of whole broth α-emulsan; (b) about 43% by weight of an ethoxylated monooctylphenol with about 40 ethoxy groups, (c) about 29% by weight of an ethoxylated monononylphenol with about 40 ethoxy groups; and (d) about 14% by weight of a salt of a lignosulfonate, and (2) said hydrocarbosol (a) comprising a hydrocarbon with API gravity of about 20° API or less, viscosity of about 100 centipoise or greater at 150° F., paraffin content of about 50% by weight or less and an aromatic content of about 15% by weight or greater, and (b) having a hydrocarbon:water ratio from about 60:40 to about 90:10 by volume; and (B) burning the resultant hydrocarbosol.