Renewable fuel mixture

Abstract

A fuel composition comprising ethylene and alkyl esters, which may be used as a substitute for heating oil. In one embodiment, the mixture comprises 95% anhydrous ethanol and 5% B100 biodiesel. The mixture may further contain a lubricity agent.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 434,016 filed Dec. 16, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.[0002] This invention relates generally to a renewable fuel mixture and more specifically to a composition of ethanol and alkyl esters, suitable for use as a fuel oil substitute.[0003] Petroleum products are currently used in a number of applications. One such application is the use of fuel oil for heating spaces, such as homes and other buildings. Approximately 7.7 million homes in the United States consumed 6.7 billion gallons of #2 heating oil in the year 2000.[0004] The primary drawback to using heating oil is that the resource is not renewable. Continued heavy use of petroleum will eventually lead to expiration of the Earth's petroleum resources. Further, the demand for heating oil outweighs domestic production capacity, and the remainder must be imported from other countries.[0005] Burning fuel oil re...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The composition has been found to be a suitable substitute for fuel oils, such as #1 and #2 heating oils, and may be used in existing heating oil units without modification. All components are manufactured from renewable resources that are domestically available in virtually unlimited supply. The composition is non-toxic, virtually free of sulfur, and burns cleaner than heating oil.

Problems solved by technology

The primary drawback to using heating oil is that the resource is not renewable.

Continued heavy use of petroleum will eventually lead to expiration of the Earth's petroleum resources.

Further, the demand for heating oil outweighs domestic production capacity, and the remainder must be imported from other countries.

Burning fuel oil releases significant amounts of greenhouse gases into the environment, and sulfur emissions contribute to the production of acid rain.

Poor fuel quality and sulfur emissions can foul heating oil burners and boilers, which lowers heating system efficiency and requires frequent maintenance.

Fuel oil is also toxic, and storage tanks are required to have double-lining and leak detection devices.

A fuel oil spill will saturate the ground and contaminate nearby water supplies.

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