Low foaming distillate fuel blend

Abstract

A distillate fuel composition having low foaming characteristics and process for making the composition is described. The composition and process uses Fischer Tropsch distillates to reduce the foaming in distillate fuels. The use of Fischer Tropsch distillates to control foaming in distillate fuels reduces or eliminates the need to use silicon anti-foam agents. A preferred composition comprises at least 20 vol. % of a petroleum derived distillate having a foam vanishing time greater than 20 seconds; and at least 5 vol. % of a Fischer-Tropsch derived distillate having a foam vanishing time of less than 15 seconds; where the resulting distillate fuel blend has a foam vanishing time of 15 seconds or less in the absence of an antifoam additive.

1 . A distillate fuel blend, comprising: 
 at least 20 vol. % of a petroleum derived distillate having a foam vanishing time greater than 20 seconds; and    at least 5 vol. % of a Fischer-Tropsch derived distillate having a foam vanishing time of less than 15 seconds;    wherein the resultant distillate fuel blend has a foam vanishing time of 15 seconds or less in the absence of an antifoam additive.    
   
   
       2 . A process for making a distillate fuel blend, comprising: 
 selecting a petroleum derived distillate having a foam vanishing time greater than 20 seconds; and    blending an amount of a Fischer-Tropsch derived distillate having a foam vanishing time of less than 15 seconds sufficient to achieve a distillate fuel blend having a foam vanishing time of 15 second or less.    
   
   
       3 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the petroleum derived distillate has a foam vanishing time in excess of 25 seconds.  
   
   
       4 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the petroleum derived distillate has a foam vanishing time in excess of 30 seconds.  
   
   
       5 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the petroleum derived distillate has a foam vanishing time in excess of 40 seconds.  
   
   
       6 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived distillate has a foam vanishing time of less than 12 seconds.  
   
   
       7 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived distillate has a foam vanishing time of less than 10 seconds.  
   
   
       8 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived distillate has a foam vanishing time of less than 8 seconds.  
   
   
       9 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the petroleum derived distillate has a foam vanishing time in excess of 50 seconds.  
   
   
       10 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the resultant distillate fuel blend is diesel fuel.  
   
   
       11 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the resultant distillate fuel blend is jet fuel.  
   
   
       12 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the Fischer Tropsch derived distillate contains less than 1 ppm nitrogen, less than 1 ppm sulfur and less than 100 ppm oxygen as oxygenates.  
   
   
       13 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the Fischer Tropsch derived distillate fuel contains less than 25 ppm oxygen as oxygenates.  
   
   
       14 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  comprising between 5 vol. % and 30 vol. % of a Fischer-Tropsch derived distillate.  
   
   
       15 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  comprising between 5 vol. % and 20 vol. % of a Fischer-Tropsch derived distillate.  
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 2  wherein an antifoam additive is added to the distillate fuel blend having a foam vanishing time of 15 second or less.  
   
   
       17 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1 , further comprising addition of an antifoam additive to the resultant distillate fuel blend.  
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived distillate has a foam vanishing time of less than 12 seconds.  
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the petroleum derived distillate has a foam vanishing time in excess of 25 seconds.  
   
   
       20 . A distillate fuel blend according to  claim 1  wherein the resultant distillate fuel blend is a dual use fuel.