Method of inhibiting deposit formation in a jet fuel at high temperatures

Abstract

A method of inhibiting deposit formation in a jet fuel at temperatures above 150° C., whilst not substantially adversely affecting the water separability of the jet fuel. The method includes the step of adding at least one copolymer, terpolymer or polymer of an ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or a derivative thereof to the jet fuel; wherein the copolymer, terpolymer or polymer of an ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or derivative thereof is copolymerized with a nitrogen-containing, amine-containing or amide-containing monomer; or the copolymer, terpolymer or polymer of an ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or derivative thereof includes nitrogen-containing, amine-containing or amide-containing branches.

1 . A method of inhibiting deposit formation in a jet fuel at temperatures above 150° C. whilst not substantially adversely affecting the water separability of the jet fuel; the method consisting of,
 retrieving a jet fuel composition from a storage facility; 
 supplying the jet fuel composition to the aircraft; and 
 adding at least one copolymer, terpolymer or polymer of an ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid which includes nitrogen-containing, amine-containing or amide-containing branches formed from the copolymerization of a polymer of methacrylate ester of a C 8  to C 14  alcohol and a methacrylate ester of an N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl alcohol which does not contain amide-containing monomers or amide-containing branches to the jet fuel, 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the copolymer, terpolymer or polymer of an ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or derivative thereof has a number average molecular weight of about 5,000 to about 100,000. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the copolymer, terpolymer or polymer of an ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or derivative thereof includes about 0.01 to about 5 wt. % nitrogen. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the copolymer, terpolymer or polymer of an ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or derivative thereof is used in an amount of about 5 to about 1,000 ppm (by weight). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of using ground-based water separation means to reduce the amount of water in the jet fuel composition to an acceptable level; 
     
     
         6 . A method of improving the thermal-oxidative stability of a jet fuel at temperatures above 150° C., whilst not substantially adversely affecting the water separability of the jet fuel; the method consisting of
 adding at least one copolymer, terpolymer or polymer of an ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid which includes nitrogen-containing, amine-containing or amide-containing branches formed from the copolymerization of a polymer of methacrylate ester of a C 8  to C 14  alcohol and a methacrylate ester of an N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl alcohol which does not contain amide-containing monomers or amide-containing branches to the jet fuel; and 
 adding at least one of the following to the jet fuel: antioxidant, or a dispersant, 
 
       or a metal deactivator, or a lubricity additive, or a corrosion inhibitor, or an anti-icing additive, or a biocide, or an anti-rust agent, or an anti-foam agent, or a demulsifier, or a detergent, or a cetane improver, or a stabiliser, or a static dissipater additive. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , in which the anti-oxidant is an aminic or phenolic antioxidant.