Hygroscopic fuel blends and processes for producing same

Abstract

A synthetic fuel is provided. The synthetic fuel includes a base fuel having a first energy density and a compound, the compound including a water absorbing agent for absorbing water from the base fuel to prevent poor combustion and an explosive agent having a detonative energy value that is sufficient so as to provide the compound with a second energy density equal to or greater than the first energy density.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuel additive comprising:
 a compound for adding to a base fuel to provide the base fuel with (1) hygroscopic properties and (2) detonative potential energy, the compound including:
 a polar protic agent in an amount from about 2% to about 10% by volume of the compound; 
 a polar aprotic agent in an amount ranging from about 10% to about 32% by volume of the compound; 
 an explosive agent in an amount ranging from about 15% to about 32% by volume of the compound; and 
 a nonpolar agent in an amount ranging from about 2% to about 10% by volume of the compound. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , wherein the polar protic agent includes one of methanol, ethanol, butanol, n-propanol, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , wherein the polar aprotic agent includes one of acetone, nitromethane, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , wherein the explosive agent includes one of nitroalkanes such as, for example, 2-ethylhexyl nitrate, dinitromethane, or trinitromethane, IsoOctane, acetone, acetone peroxide, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel additive of  claim 4 , wherein the detonative agent is 2-ethyhexyl nitrate. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , wherein the nonpolar agent includes one of petroleum distillates such as, for example, liquefied petroleum gas, naphtha, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel, heavy fuel oils, or lubricating oils, benzene derivatives such as, for example, phenol, toluene, aniline, or biphenyls, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional polar aprotic agent. 
     
     
         8 . A synthetic fuel comprising:
 a base fuel having a first energy density; and   a compound including:
 a water absorbing agent for absorbing water from the base fuel to prevent poor combustion, and 
 an explosive agent having a detonative energy value that is sufficient so as to provide the compound with a second energy density equal to or greater than the first energy density. 
   
     
     
         9 . The synthetic fuel of  claim 8 , wherein the synthetic fuel includes about 15% to about 85% by volume of the base fuel and about 15% to about 85% by volume of the compound. 
     
     
         10 . The synthetic fuel of  claim 8 , wherein the water absorbing agent having a lower energy density than the first energy density. 
     
     
         11 . The synthetic fuel of  claim 8 , wherein the water absorbing agent includes one of methanol, ethanol, acetone, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The synthetic fuel of  claim 8 , wherein the explosive agent includes one of nitroalkanes such as, for example, 2-ethylhexyl nitrate, dinitromethane, or trinitromethane, IsoOctane, acetone, acetone peroxide, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The synthetic fuel of  claim 8 , wherein the base fuel includes one of gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, jet fuel such as, for example, JP1, JP2, JP3, JP4, JP5, JP6, JP7, JP8, JP9, JP10, Jet A, Jet A-1, or Jet B, avgas, ethanol, methanol, butanol, naphtha, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The synthetic fuel of  claim 8 , wherein the compound further comprises:
 a polar protic agent; and   a polar aprotic agent.   
     
     
         15 . The synthetic fuel of  claim 14 , wherein the polar protic agent and the polar aprotic agent form a molecular cage for encapsulating the explosive agent within the compound. 
     
     
         16 . A method for using a synthetic fuel comprising:
 providing a synthetic fuel including:
 a base fuel, and 
 a compound including a water absorbing agent and an explosive agent; 
   combusting the base fuel to produce mechanical and thermal energy;   releasing, by an endothermic solvenation reaction initiated by the mechanical and thermal energy, the explosive agent from the compound; and   detonating, in the presence of the mechanical and thermal energy, the released explosive agent.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising injecting the synthetic fuel into a combustion chamber of an engine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of combusting further comprises producing a spark from a spark plug of the engine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of combusting further comprises pressurizing air in the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising absorbing, by the water absorbing ingredient, water in the synthetic fuel.