Hydrocarbon fuel with improved laminar burning velocity and method of making

Abstract

A hydrocarbon fuel such as a gasoline exhibiting substantially improved laminar burning velocity and method of making. The hydrocarbon fuel may comprise a paraffinic fraction, an olefinic fraction, and an aromatics fraction. The aromatics fraction may comprise methyl aromatics and non-methyl alkyl aromatics wherein the percentage of non-methyl alkyl aromatics in the aromatics fraction is at least 30% by volume. The fuel may comprise a methyl aromatics fraction comprising xylenes wherein the percentage of ortho- and para-xylene in the xylene fraction is at least 60% by volume.

1 . An unleaded hydrocarbon fuel comprising a paraffinic fraction, an olefinic fraction, and an aromatics fraction, wherein said aromatics fraction comprises methyl aromatics and non-methyl alkyl aromatics and the percentage of non-methyl alkyl aromatics in said aromatics fraction is at least 30% by volume.  
     
     
         2 . The hydrocarbon fuel of  claim 1 , wherein said paraffinic fraction is in an amount of 90% or less by volume, said olefinic fraction is in an amount of 30% or less by volume, and said aromatics fraction is in an amount of 70% or less by volume.  
     
     
         3 . The hydrocarbon fuel of  claim 1 , wherein the percentage of non-methyl alkyl aromatics in said aromatics fraction is at least 50% by volume.  
     
     
         4 . The hydrocarbon fuel of  claim 1 , wherein the percentage of non-methyl alkyl aromatics in said aromatics fraction is at least 70% by volume.  
     
     
         5 . The hydrocarbon fuel of  claim 1 , wherein said methyl aromatics fraction comprises xylenes and the percentage of ortho- and para-xylene in said xylene fraction is at least 60% by volume.  
     
     
         6 . The hydrocarbon fuel of  claim 1 , wherein said methyl aromatics fraction comprises xylenes and the percentage of ortho- and para-xylene in said xylene fraction is at least 75% by volume.  
     
     
         7 . The hydrocarbon fuel of  claim 1 , wherein said methyl aromatics fraction comprises xylenes and the percentage of ortho- and para-xylene in said xylene fraction is at least 90% by volume.  
     
     
         8 . The hydrocarbon fuel of  claim 1 , further comprising benzene in an amount of 1% or less by volume, and sulfur in an amount of 30 ppm or less by weight.  
     
     
         9 . An unleaded hydrocarbon fuel comprising a paraffinic fraction, an olefinic fraction, and an aromatics fraction, wherein said aromatics fraction comprises a xylene fraction and wherein the percentage of ortho- and para-xylene in said xylene fraction is at least 60% by volume.  
     
     
         10 . The hydrocarbon fuel of  claim 9 , wherein the percentage of ortho- and para-xylene in said xylene fraction is at least 75% by volume.  
     
     
         11 . The hydrocarbon fuel of  claim 9 , wherein the percentage of ortho- and para-xylene in said xylene fraction is at least 90% by volume.  
     
     
         12 . The hydrocarbon fuel of  claim 9 , further comprising benzene in an amount 1% or less by volume, and sulfur in an amount of 30 ppm or less by weight.  
     
     
         13 . A method for making a hydrocarbon fuel having an improved laminar burning velocity the method comprising: 
 providing a hydrocarbon fuel comprising a paraffinic fraction, an olefinic fraction, and an aromatic fraction wherein said aromatic fraction comprises methyl aromatics and non-methyl alkyl aromatics; and    controlling the percentage of said non-methyl alkyl aromatics in said aromatics fraction to at least 30% by volume.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising controlling the percentage said of non-methyl alkyl aromatics in said aromatics fraction to at least 50% by volume.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising controlling said percentage of said non-methyl alkyl aromatics in said aromatics fraction to at least 70% by volume.  
     
     
         16 . A method for making a hydrocarbon fuel having an improved laminar burning velocity the method comprising providing a hydrocarbon fuel comprising a paraffinic fraction, an olefinic fraction, and an aromatic fraction comprising methyl aromatics and non-methyl alkyl aromatics, wherein said methyl aromatics fraction comprises xylenes; and 
 controlling the percentage of ortho- and para-xylene in the xylene fraction to at least 60% by volume.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising controlling the percentage of ortho- and para-xylene in the xylene fraction to at least 75% by volume.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising controlling the percentage of ortho- and para-xylene in the xylene fraction to at least 90% by volume.