Fuel compositions containing glycerol

Abstract

Fuel compositions containing fuels and glycerol are disclosed. The addition of glycerol increases the combustion value of the fuels, and enables combustion to take place more uniformly and with less slag formation. The use of glycerol for improving the combustion value and combustion efficiency of liquid or solid fuels is thus also disclosed.

1 ) A fuel composition comprising:
 (a) a fuel; and   (b) glycerol.   
     
     
         2 ) The fuel composition of  claim 1  wherein the fuel is a liquid or a solid. 
     
     
         3 ) The fuel composition of  claim 2  wherein the liquid fuel is selected from the group consisting of a fuel for spark-ignition or diesel engines, kerosene, a heavy oil for powering marine diesels, a heating oil and a fraction from refined petroleum. 
     
     
         4 ) The fuel composition of  claim 2  wherein the solid fuel is selected from the group consisting of coal, coal dust, wood, synthetic fiber waste, a polymer and a mixed load for the incineration of garbage. 
     
     
         5 ) The fuel composition of  claim 4  wherein the solid fuel is coal dust or synthetic fiber waste. 
     
     
         6 ) The fuel composition of  claim 1  wherein glycerol contains water and/or salts. 
     
     
         7 ) The composition of  claim 6  wherein the glycerol comprises:
 (1) about 0.1 to 15% by weight water,   (2) about 0.1 to 5% by weight salts and   (3) about 0.1 to 1% by weight other organic constituents.   
     
     
         8 ) The composition of  claim 1  wherein the fuel is present in an amount of from about 90 to 99.9% by weight and the glycerol is present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight. 
     
     
         9 ) The composition of  claim 1  which further comprises an emulsifier. 
     
     
         10 ) The composition of  claim 9  wherein the emulsifier is nonionic. 
     
     
         11 ) The composition of  claim 10  wherein the nonionic emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of an ethylene oxide addition product, an alkyl and/or an alkenyl oligoglycoside, a partial glyceride, a sorbitan ester, and a polyglycerol ester. 
     
     
         12 ) A process for improving the combustion value and performance of a liquid or solid fuel, which process comprises adding glycerol to the fuel to form a fuel composition and subjecting the composition to combustion. 
     
     
         13 ) The process of  claim 12  wherein the fuel is present in an amount of from about 90 to 99.9% by weight and the glycerol is present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight. 
     
     
         14 ) The process of  claim 12  which further comprises adding an emulsifier to form a fuel composition emulsion.