Composition for cleaning combustion engine systems.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Examples of the disclosure relate to compositions for cleaning combustion engine systems, and particularly for cleaning combustion engine systems used to power vehicles and other devices.

BACKGROUND

Combustion engine systems are commonly used to power vehicles and other machines. In some examples, a combustion engine system comprises a fuel storage system, an internal combustion engine, a fuel injection system for introduction of fuel into the engine, a catalytic converter and an exhaust system.

Over time, deposits build up on these components which reduces performance of, and increases emissions from, the combustion engine system. Compositions are known which reduce or remove such deposits, but such compositions have a relatively low flash point, and are therefore hazardous to use and problematic to transport and store.

It is desirable therefore to provide cleaning compositions for combustion engine systems which have an increased flash point.

All proportions referred to in this specification are indicated as % by volume of the total composition, unless indicated otherwise.

BRIEF SUMMARY According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a composition for cleaning a combustion engine system, wherein the composition comprises:

a hydrocarbon, wherein the hydrocarbon comprises respective first and second hydrocarbons, wherein the first hydrocarbon comprises a lubricant, wherein the lubricant has a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of less than 80°C, wherein the second hydrocarbon comprises an aromatic hydrocarbon, wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon has a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of less than 60°C; and

an oxygen donor, wherein the oxygen donor comprises respective first and second oxygen donors, wherein the first oxygen donor comprises a carbonyl group and has a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of from 10°C to 80°C, and wherein the second oxygen donor comprises a hydroxyl group and has a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of from 10°C to 50°C.

The composition may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of at least 21 °C. The composition may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of at least 23°C, or may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of at least 30°C, or may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of about 30°C.

The first oxygen donor may comprise an individual chemical compound, or may comprise a plurality of different chemical compounds. The second oxygen donor may comprise an individual chemical compound, or may comprise a plurality of different chemical compounds.

The first oxygen donor may have up to seven carbon atoms in an individual chemical compound. The first oxygen donor may have at least three carbon atoms in an individual chemical compound. The first oxygen donor may have from three to seven carbon atoms in an individual chemical compound.

The carbonyl group may comprise a ketone or ester. The first oxygen donor may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of at least 15°C, or may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of at least 20°C, or may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of at least 22°C, or may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of 22°C.

The first oxygen donor may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of from 15°C to 60°C, or of from 20°C to 40°C.

The first oxygen donor may have a boiling point of from 100°C to 200°C, or may have a boiling point of from 120°C to 160°C.

The first oxygen donor may be selected from the group comprising: butyl acetate, n-butyl acetate (butyl ethanoate),pentan-2-one, 2-methyl-3-pentanone, 3- methyl-2-pentanone, 4-methylpentan-2-one, hexan-3-one, 2-methyl-3-hexanone, hexan-2-one, 4-methyl-3-hexanone, hexan-2-one, 4-methylpent-3-en-2-one, heptan- 2-one, 3-hydroxybutanone, 1-methoxy-2-propanyl acetate, 4-hydroxy-4-methylpent- 2-one, 1-hydroxypropan-2-one, cyclopentanone and 1-phenylethan-1-one.

The first oxygen donor may comprise one or more of: butyl acetate, n-butyl acetate (butyl ethanoate), pentan-2-one, 2-methyl-3-pentanone, 3-methyl-2- pentanone, 4-methylpentan-2-one, hexan-3-one, 2-methyl-3-hexanone, hexan-2-one, 4-methyl-3-hexanone, hexan-2-one, 4-methylpent-3-en-2-one, heptan-2-one, 3- hydroxybutanone, 1-methoxy-2-propanyl acetate, 4-hydroxy-4-methylpent-2-one, 1- hydroxypropan-2-one, cyclopentanone, or 1-phenylethan-1-one.

The first oxygen donor may comprise butyl acetate, which may comprise n- butyl acetate (butyl ethanoate).

The first oxygen donor may be selected from the group consisting of: butyl acetate, n-butyl acetate (butyl ethanoate), pentan-2-one, 2-methyl-3-pentanone, 3- methyl-2-pentanone, 4-methylpentan-2-one, hexan-3-one, 2-methyl-3-hexanone, hexan-2-one, 4-methyl-3-hexanone, hexan-2-one, 4-methylpent-3-en-2-one, heptan- 2-one, 3-hydroxybutanone, 1-methoxy-2-propanyl acetate, 4-hydroxy-4-methylpent- 2-one, 1-hydroxypropan-2-one, cyclopentanone and 1-phenylethan-1-one. The first oxygen donor may be butyl acetate, which may be n-butyl acetate (butyl ethanoate). The first oxygen donor may consist of butyl acetate, which may be n-butyl acetate (butyl ethanoate).

The second oxygen donor may have up to five carbon atoms in an individual chemical compound, or may have from one to five carbon atoms in an individual chemical compound. The second oxygen donor may be miscible in water.

The second oxygen donor may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of at least 20°C, or may have a flash point, measured according to

ASTM D93, of at least 25°C, or may have a flash point, measured according to

ASTM D93, of at least 30°C, or may have a flash point, measured according to

ASTM D93, of at least 32°C, or may have a flash point, measured according to

ASTM D93, of 32°C.

The second oxygen donor may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of from 15°C to 35°C.

The second oxygen donor may have a boiling point of from 60°C to 140°C, or may have a boiling point of from 100°C to 130°C.

The second oxygen donor may be selected from the group comprising: methoxy propanol (1-methoxy-2-propanol), 2-methylpropan-2-ol, methanol, propan-2- ol, ethanol, 2-methylbutan-2-ol, propan-1 -ol, butan-2-ol, 2methylpropan-1-ol, pentan- 2-ol, 3-methyl-2-butanol, butan-1-ol, 2,2-dimethylpropan-1-ol, 2-methoxyethanol, pentan-3-ol, 1-ethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methylbutan-1-ol, 2-ethoxyethanol, pentan-1-ol, and 2-methylbutan-1-ol.

The second oxygen donor may comprise one or more of: methoxy propanol (1-methoxy-2-propanol), 2-methylpropan-2-ol, methanol, propan-2-ol, ethanol, 2- methylbutan-2-ol, propan-1 -ol, butan-2-ol, 2methylpropan-1-ol, pentan-2-ol, 3-methyl- 2-butanol, butan-1-ol, 2,2-dimethylpropan-1-ol, 2-methoxyethanol, pentan-3-ol, 1- ethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methylbutan-1-ol, 2-ethoxyethanol, pentan-1-ol, or 2- methylbutan-1-ol.

The second oxygen donor may comprise methoxy propanol (1-methoxy-2- propanol).

The second oxygen donor may be selected from the group consisting of: methoxy propanol (1-methoxy-2-propanol), 2-methylpropan-2-ol, methanol, propan-2- ol, ethanol, 2-methylbutan-2-ol, propan-1 -ol, butan-2-ol, 2methylpropan-1-ol, pentan- 2-ol, 3-methyl-2-butanol, butan-1-ol, 2,2-dimethylpropan-1-ol, 2-methoxyethanol, pentan-3-ol, 1-ethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methylbutan-1-ol, 2-ethoxyethanol, pentan-1-ol, and 2-methylbutan-1-ol.

The second oxygen donor may be methoxy propanol (1-methoxy-2-propanol), or may consist of methoxy propanol (1-methoxy-2-propanol).

The first hydrocarbon may comprise an individual chemical compound, or may comprise a plurality of different chemical compounds. The second hydrocarbon may comprise an individual chemical compound, or may comprise a plurality of different chemical compounds.

The lubricant may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of up to 80°C, or of up to 70°C, or of up to 65°C. The lubricant may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of less than 70°C, or of less than 65°C. The lubricant may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of from 20°C to 80°C, or of from 20°C to 70°C, or of from 30°C to 70°C.

The lubricant may be selected from the group comprising: kerosene, odourless kerosene, mineral oil, white spirits, hydrodesulphurized heavy naphtha (petroleum), solvent-refined heavy naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated heavy naphtha (petroleum), hydrocarbons Cg-Cn isoalkanes, hydrocarbons C10-C12, isoalkanes, and hydrocarbons C1 1-C12, isoalkanes. The lubricant may comprise one or more of: kerosene, odourless kerosene, mineral oil, white spirits, hydrodesulphurized heavy naphtha (petroleum), solvent- refined heavy naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated heavy naphtha (petroleum), hydrocarbons Cg-Cn isoalkanes, hydrocarbons C10-C12, isoalkanes, or hydrocarbons C1 1 -C12, isoalkanes.

The lubricant may comprise odourless kerosene.

The lubricant may be selected from the group consisting of: kerosene, odourless kerosene, mineral oil, white spirits, hydrodesulphurized heavy naphtha (petroleum), solvent-refined heavy naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated heavy naphtha (petroleum), hydrocarbons C9-C1 1 isoalkanes, hydrocarbons C10-C12, isoalkanes, and hydrocarbons C1 1 -C12, isoalkanes.

The lubricant may be odourless kerosene, or may consist of odourless kerosene.

The aromatic hydrocarbon may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of equal to or less than 50°C, or of up to 60°C, or of up to 50°C, or of up to 40°C, or of up to 35°C. The aromatic hydrocarbon may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of from 5°C to 60°C, or of from 5°C to 50°C, or of from 5°C to 40°C, or of from 5°C to 35°C, or of from 10°C to 50°C, or of from 25°C to 50°C, or of from 5°C to 35°C.

The aromatic hydrocarbon may be selected from the group comprising: xylene, toluene and mesitylene.

The aromatic hydrocarbon may comprise one or more of: xylene, toluene, or mesitylene. The aromatic hydrocarbon may comprise xylene.

The aromatic hydrocarbon may be selected from the group consisting of: xylene, toluene and mesitylene.

The aromatic hydrocarbon may by xylene, or may consist of xylene. The ratio of hydrocarbon to oxygen donor may be from 5:5 to 7:3, or may be

6:4.

The composition may comprise 50 to 70 % by volume hydrocarbon, or may comprise 60 % by volume hydrocarbon. The composition may comprise 40 to 60 % by volume aromatic hydrocarbon, or may comprise 50 % by volume aromatic hydrocarbon. The composition may comprise 5 to 15 % by volume lubricant, or may comprise 10 % by volume lubricant.

The composition may comprise 30 to 50 % by volume oxygen donor, or may comprise 40 % by volume oxygen donor. The composition may comprise 10 to 30 % by volume of the first oxygen donor, or may comprise 20 % by volume of the first oxygen donor. The composition may comprise 10 to 30 % by volume of the second oxygen donor, or may comprise 20 % by volume of the second oxygen donor.

The composition may comprise a biocide. The biocide may comprise Methylisothiazolinone. The biocide may comprise a mixture of Methylisothiazolinone and Chloromethylisothiazolinone. The composition may comprise 0.015 to 6 % by volume biocide, or may comprise 0.05 to 2 % by volume biocide, or may comprise 0.05 to 1 % by volume biocide.

Possibly, the lubricant comprises odourless kerosene and the aromatic hydrocarbon comprises xylene; and the first oxygen donor comprises butyl acetate and the second oxygen donor comprises methoxy propanol, and wherein the composition may have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of about 30°C. The composition may comprise 10 % by volume odourless kerosene, 50 % by volume xylene, 20 % by volume butyl acetate, and 20 % by volume methoxy propanol.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method of cleaning a combustion engine system, wherein the method comprises: passing a composition into an engine of the combustion engine system, wherein the composition is according to any of the preceding paragraphs.

In some examples, the composition may be passed directly into the engine. In other examples, the composition may be introduced into the fuel tank and be passed into the engine from the fuel tank.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there may be provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding of various examples that are useful for understanding the detailed description, reference will now be made by way of example only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A composition for cleaning a combustion engine system is described, wherein the composition comprises a hydrocarbon and an oxygen donor.

The hydrocarbon comprises respective first and second hydrocarbons. The first hydrocarbon comprises a lubricant, wherein the lubricant has a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of less than 80°C. The second hydrocarbon comprises an aromatic hydrocarbon, wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon has a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of less than 60°C.

The oxygen donor comprises respective first and second oxygen donors. The first oxygen donor comprises a carbonyl group and has a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of from 10°C to 80°C. The second oxygen donor comprises a hydroxyl group and has a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of from 10°C to 50°C. Advantageously, compositions accordingly to examples of the disclosure have a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of at least 21 °C.

One example of the disclosure is described in table 1 below.

Example 1

The composition of example 1 has a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of 30°C.

The hydrocarbon in example 1 comprises a first and a second hydrocarbon. The first hydrocarbon is odourless kerosene and the second hydrocarbon is xylene. Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon. Odourless kerosene acts as a lubricant, i.e. odourless kerosene is a lubricant.

The oxygen donor of example 1 comprises a first and a second oxygen donor. The first oxygen donor comprises butyl acetate, and the second oxygen donor comprises methoxy propanol. Butyl acetate is an ester, and therefore comprises a carbonyl group. Methoxy propanol is an alcohol, and therefore comprises a hydroxyl group.

In some examples, kerosene may be dearomatized. In other examples, kerosene may comprise aromatic structures. Odourless kerosene may be desulphurised. The flash point of kerosene is estimated to be over 62°C with no definitive upper limit, but generally likely to be no more than 80°C. Kerosene may be a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons varying in carbon chain length from C7 to C18 (or in some examples from C12 to Cie). In some examples, the carbon chain is branched, or straight chained (aliphatic), or cyclic (cycloalkanes). In other examples, the carbon chain comprises aromatic structures, for example, benzene and derivatives thereof. Xylene according to example of the disclosure may comprise a mixture of at least xylene, ethylbenzene (up to 20%) and toluene (up to 2%).

Xylene may also comprise a mixture of xylene isomers, namely: 1 ,2- Dimethylbenzene (O-Xylene), 1 ,3-Dimethylbenzene (m-Xylene) and 1 ,4- Dimethylbenzene (p-Xylene).

Alternatives to xylene comprise, for example, toluene or mesitylene. Mesitylene may comprise a mixture of isomers, namely: 1 ,3,5-Trimethylbenzene (Mesitylene), 1 ,2,4-Trimethylbenzene (Pseudocumene), and 1 ,2,3-Trimethylbenzene (Hemimellitene).

To clean a combustion engine system, a composition according to examples of the disclosure is passed into an engine of the combustion engine system.

The combustion engine system may comprise a two or four stroke engine, and may be used, for example, to power vehicles such as cars or boats or other machines such as lawnmowers.

In some examples, the composition is passed directly into the engine. In such examples, the fuel line to the engine is disconnected and the engine is connected to a means for passing the composition directly into the engine.

In other examples, the composition is introduced into the fuel tank and is passed into the engine from the fuel tank. In such examples, the fuel tank may already contain a quantity of fuel. The amount of composition added is predetermined by the quantity of fuel contained in the tank, and wherein the amount of composition added is in the range of 0.5 to 0.75 litres per 15 litres of fuel. In use, the composition passes into the engine through the fuel injection system during normal operation of the combustion engine system.

From the engine, the combustion products of the composition pass through the catalytic converter and out through the exhaust system. It is understood that the composition generates an organic acid vapour on combustion in the engine, for example, which comprises a carboxylic acid vapour.

It has been found that compositions according to the disclosure used as described above improve performance of, and decrease emissions from, combustion engine systems.

Combustion engine systems are commonly used to power vehicles and other machines. In some examples, a combustion engine system comprises a fuel storage system, an internal combustion engine, a fuel injection system for introduction of fuel into the engine, a catalytic converter, and an exhaust system.

It is understood that compositions according to the disclosure improve performance of, and decrease emissions from, combustion engine systems by reducing or removing deposits from, for example, the fuel storage system, the internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system for introduction of fuel into the engine, the catalytic converter, and/or the exhaust system.

It is understood that a contributing factor in the removal or reduction of deposits from the catalytic converter and exhaust system is the action of the organic acid vapour which results from the combustion of the composition in the engine.

The flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which the material will ignite, when given an ignition source. Accordingly, flash point is used as a measure to classify whether a volatile material is flammable, highly flammable or extremely flammable.

The correspondence between flash point and flammability classification may differ depending on the jurisdiction and regulatory code of practice. However, the lower the flash point, the more flammable the liquid.

By way of example only, in one such regulatory code of practice‘Extremely flammable’ liquids have a flash point lower than 0°C,‘Highly flammable’ liquids have a flash point below 21 °C (but which are not extremely flammable), and flammable liquids have a flash point equal to or greater than 21 °C and less than or equal to

55°C.

By way of example only, in another such regulatory code of practice ‘flammable’ liquids have a flash point equal to or greater than 23°C and less than or equal to 60°C in the occupational safety and health administration’s (OSHA’s) hazard communication standard, which is a category 3 liquid.

A composition having a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of at least, for example, 21 °C covers compositions having a flash point equal to, or greater than 21 °C. Accordingly, a composition having a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of at least 23°C covers compositions having a flash point equal to, or greater than 23°C. A composition having a flash point, measured according to ASTM D93, of at least 30°C covers compositions having a flash point equal to, or greater than 30°C.

By the above measure, compositions according to the disclosure are at least classified as ‘flammable’ rather than ‘highly flammable’ or‘extremely flammable’. Accordingly, such compositions are significantly less hazardous to use and less problematic to transport and store than known compositions which are classified as either‘highly flammable’ or‘extremely flammable’. However, use of compositions according to examples of the disclosure results in a broadly similar or improved reduction in emissions and improvement in performance over existing compositions.

In known compositions the oxygen donor comprises low flash point solvents such as acetone (first oxygen donor) and isopropyl alcohol (second oxygen donor). Accordingly, such known compositions have a relatively low flash point, and are therefore hazardous to use and problematic to transport and store.

Example first oxygen donors of the present disclosure have a relatively higher flash point than known first oxygen donors, but have a comparable solvency. Solvency power is typically measured by the Kauri-Butanol Value (KB value) of the solvent. The KB value is a measure of solvency power whereby the higher the KB value, the higher the solvency power.

Example second oxygen donors of the present disclosure have a relatively higher flash point than known second oxygen donors, but have a comparable solubility in water.

There is thus described a composition and method with a number of advantages as detailed above.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For instance, each of the aromatic hydrocarbon, the lubricant, the first oxygen donor, and the second oxygen donor could be a mixture of different compounds, for example, selected from the groups specified.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

The term “comprise” is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use “comprise” with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to“comprising only one...” or by using“consisting”. In this brief description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term“example” or “for example” or“may” in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some of or all other examples. Thus“example”,“for example” or“may” refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub class of the class that includes some but not all of the instances in the class. It is therefore implicitly disclosed that features described with reference to one example but not with reference to another example, can where possible be used in that other example but does not necessarily have to be used in that other example.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon. l/we claim: