Reducing friction in combustion engines through fuel additives

Abstract

Provided is a fuel composition for improving fuel efficiency. The fuel composition includes greater than 50 wt % of a hydrocarbon fuel boiling in the gasoline or diesel range, a minor amount a zinc chelator, and a minor amount of a friction modifier. The friction modifier includes at least one polar group.

1 . A fuel composition comprising:
 greater than 50 wt % of a hydrocarbon fuel boiling in the gasoline or diesel range;   a minor amount a zinc chelator; and   a minor amount of a friction modifier, wherein the friction modifier includes at least one polar group.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polar group is an alcohol moiety, an amide moiety, an amine moiety or an ester moiety. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metal chelator is present in 25 to 5000 ppm. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the friction modifier is present in 0.015 to 2.0 wt %. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the zinc chelator contains a dicarbonyl moiety, an ester moiety, an amide moiety, an amine moiety, an amino methyl moiety, a methyl pyridyl moiety, a quinolyl moiety, a pyrazyl moiety, a nitrogen heterocycle moiety, a pyrrole moiety, a pyrrolidine moiety, an imidazole moiety, an imidazoline moiety, a triazole moiety, or a carboxylate moiety. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the zinc chelator is acetyl acetone, ethyl acetoacetate, acetoacetic ester, acetoacetic amide, hydroxamic acid, hydrazide, squaric acid, carbamoylphosphonate, oxazoline, N-hydroxyurea, N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, histidine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, alanine, glycine, cysteine, hydroxyproline, γ-carboxyglutamate, citrulline, homoserine, norleucine, homoproline, proline, or 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine salt of 2-ethylhexanoic acid, or diethanolisostearamide. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the friction modifier is a glycerol monooleate, diethanolamide, diethanolamine or diisopropanolamine. 
     
     
         8 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , further comprising oxygenate, anti-knock agent, detergent, dispersant, antioxidant, metal deactivator, demulsifier, pour point depressant, flow improver, or cetane improver. 
     
     
         9 . A fuel concentrate composition comprising (1) from 90 to 30 wt % of an organic solvent boiling in a range of from 65° C. to 205° C. and (2) from 10 to 70 wt % of fuel efficiency improver including a zinc chelator and a friction modifier having at least one polar group. 
     
     
         10 . The fuel concentrate composition of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one polar group is an alcohol moiety, an amide moiety, an amine moiety or an ester moiety. 
     
     
         11 . The fuel concentrate composition of  claim 9 , wherein the zinc chelator contains a dicarbonyl moiety, an ester moiety, an amide moiety, an amine moiety, an amino methyl moiety, a methyl pyridyl moiety, a quinolyl moiety, a pyrazyl moiety, a nitrogen heterocycle moiety, a pyrrole moiety, a pyrrolidine moiety, an imidazole moiety, an imidazoline moiety, a triazole moiety, or a carboxylate moiety. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel concentrate composition of  claim 9 , further comprising oxygenate, anti-knock agent, detergent, dispersant, antioxidant, metal deactivator, demulsifier, pour point depressant, flow improver, or cetane improver. 
     
     
         13 . A method of improving fuel efficiency in a spark-ignited combustion engine, the method comprising:
 supplying to the engine a fuel composition comprising a zinc chelator and a friction modifier having at least one polar group.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one polar group is an alcohol moiety, an amide moiety, an amine moiety or an ester moiety. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the zinc chelator contains a dicarbonyl moiety, an ester moiety, an amide moiety, an amine moiety, an amino methyl moiety, a methyl pyridyl moiety, a quinolyl moiety, a pyrazyl moiety, a nitrogen heterocycle moiety, a pyrrole moiety, a pyrrolidine moiety, an imidazole moiety, an imidazoline moiety, a triazole moiety, or a carboxylate moiety. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the zinc chelator is acetyl acetone, ethyl acetoacetate, acetoacetic ester, acetoacetic amide, hydroxamic acid, hydrazide, squaric acid, carbamoylphosphonate, oxazoline, N-hydroxyurea, N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, histidine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, alanine, glycine, cysteine, hydroxyproline, γ-carboxyglutamate citrulline, homoserine, norleucine, homoproline, proline, or 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine salt of 2-ethylhexanoic acid, or diethanolisostearamide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the friction modifier is present in 0.015 to 2.0 wt %. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the zinc chelator is present in 25 to 5000 ppm of the fuel composition. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises oxygenate, anti-knock agent, detergent, dispersant, antioxidant, metal deactivator, demulsifier, pour point depressant, flow improver, or cetane improver. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the engine operates between 1000 to 3000 rpm.