US1556047A - Process for the preparation of alpha carbureting fuel mixture for internal-combustion engines - Google Patents

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Paten ted O "UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

HENRI TERRISSE, OF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR 10' PRODOR FABRIQUE DE PRODUITS ORG-ANIQUES S. A., OF GENEVA, CANTON OF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, A

COMPANY or SWITZERLAND.

PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A CARBURETIN G FUEL MIXTURE FOR INTERNAL- COMBUSTION ENGINES.

I No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRI TERRISSE, a citizen of Switzerland, residing at Geneva,

Canton'of Geneva, in the Confederation of 5 Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for the Preparation of a Carbureting Fuel Mixture for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

In internal combustion engines in which the ignition is effected by means of sparking plugs, it has not yet been possible to use kerosene as a carbureting material, even when mixed in small proportions with petrol because it has an unfavourable influence upon the output of the engine and causes the latter to knock. Moreover, its lack of volatility prevents'the engine from restartv ing and slowing down in a satisfactory 2 manner. I The same trol is used and when the cooling water of the engine reaches a certain temperature, 80 C. for instance. It would be however 2 very advantageous to use heavy petrol mixed with a certain amount of kerosene or to utilize petrols distilled at higher temperatures than has been done hitherto.

I have found that it is possible to manu- 3 by using heavier products than ordinary petrol, for instance kerosene mixed with heavy petrol provided that a mixture of alcohol and acetaldehyde is added thereto; these two substances give with a heavy petrol, if necessary mixed with kerosene, a suf ficiently volatile carbureting substance which has in addition the advantage of not causing the engine to knock. It may be feared that the use f acetaldehyde would have the drawback 0 giving an insuflicie'nt stability to the carbureting substance, owing to the low boiling point of the" acetaldel1yde. We have noticed however that it is possible to stabilize the latter in a practically satisfactory way by operating asfollowsz.

If acetaldehyde and alcohol are mixed, a reaction is produced; the temperature is lowered by a few degrees for a few seconds,

Application filed March 28, 1923. Serial No. 628,357.

' at 51 C. and it is necessary to go up to thing happens when heavy pefacture very good carbureting substances I with the aldehyde that is, elther an aldolizapassing for instance from 15 0. to 11 0., then rises up to about 40 C. Once the reaction ended, the temperature becomes normal again but the density of the mixtureof alcohol-aldehyde is higher than that of its component'parts; it is about 0.900. This figurevariesslightly according to the rela tive proportions of acetaldehyde and alcohol. The product which is obtained does not distil at 21 C. and at 78 C. like the acetaldehyde and thealcoholbut it commences to distil very slightly,-for a mixture of two parts of alcohol and one part of acetaldehyde, at 46 C.; only 2% have passed 05 C. in order that 10% shall have distilled off 7 3% distil off up to 77 C. It is therefore seen that the acetaldehyde hasbeen somehow fixed; it has become less volatile which is important and in spite of this it .has not lost its qualities. It is advisable to make sure that the aldehyde is quite neutral. It happens sometimes that itoxidizes in the air and has an acid reaction to litmus paper on action, which does not take place after it has been mixed with petrols. If it has an acid reaction it is necessary to neutralize it.

The choice of the neutralizing substance is not immaterial; it is necessary to choose one which does not produce any reaction ful for the engine inthis that they do not become mixed with the oil, are not volatile. and render the valves dirty.- It is therefore absolutely necessary to avoid their formation and with this object in'view it is necessary to utilize a neutralizing substance which has nobasic reaction. Carbonate of lime is particularly suitable for this purpose.

It is also possible instead ofmixing alcohol and aldehyde to utilize directly the prod uot which is obtained. when alcoholic vapours are passed upon a catalyzer, such as copper-for instance. Part of the alcohol is converted into acetaldehyde, no water but hydrogen'is evolved, whilst the remaining part does not react. A mixture or a comb i 100 nation of alcohol and acetaldehyde is thus directly obtained, which mixture is added to the hydrocarbons. The partial conversion of the alcohol into aldehyde takes place with alcohol at 90 C. or at 95 C. or with absolute alcohol. But of course, it is necessary when the alcohol is to be mixed with petrol to use only a sufliciently anhydrous alcohol. 1

If benzol is used as hydrocarbon, alcohol at 95% may be used; if on the contrary petrol or kerosene is used. it is necessary to use more concentrated alcohol or even pure alcohol.

It is sufficient for instance to add of alcoholaldehyde mixture to the heavy petrol in order to prevent knockings of the engine and to obtain a very supple carbureting material which shall be strong and the consumption of which shall be approximately equal to that of the petrol.

A mixture such as for instance: 20% of kerosene, 60% of heavy petrol, 20% of alco hol-aldehyde (two parts of alcohol and one part of acetaldehyde) does not produce knockings even at high temperatures. Moreover this carbureting material has the same properties as a good petrol; the restartings and slowings down are easy and it behaves i very well for half-loads. Owing to the fact that the engine does not knock and that the combustion is more complete the power obtained is high in spite of the fact that liquids have been introduced into the mixture the heat of combustion of which is smaller than that of light petrol.

However, the quantity of aldehyde-alcohol which may be mixed to the petrol is not arbitrary. If the proportion of aldehydealcohol is increased too much, the etliciency of the carbureting substance is reduced; therefore it is preferable to keep to the proportions which are sufficient for preventing knocking of the engine and for producing a good ignition of the mixture; these proportions vary with the nature of the hydrocarbons to which aldehyde-alcohol is mixed.

The present invention applies not only to hydrocarbons derived from petroleum but to those which are obtained by the distillation of shale, coal tar, peat, etc. It is also possible to add paraldehyde to the hydrocarbon alcohol aldehyde mixture above described. This substance can become easily mixed with hydrocarbons and exerts also a favourable influence from the point of view 1 of knockings of the engine. It is also possible to add a substance facilitating the starting of the engine for instance, ether, gasolene, petrol, acetone, etc., either alone or mixedtogether to the products, above mentioned more particularly in winter.

Lastly if alcohol and acetaldehyde are added to the petrols usually employed for bureting substances for internal combustion engines, consisting in, adding ethylic alcohol and acetaldehyde to hydrocarbons heavier than ordinary petrol.

2. A process for the preparation of carbureting substances for internal combustion engines, consisting in mixing with each other alcohol and acetaldehyde and adding the mixture to hydrocarbons heavier than gasoline.

3. A process for the preparation of carbureting substances for internal combustion engines consisting in passing vapours of alcohol upon a catalyzer and in adding the. .mixture of alcohol and acetaldehydethereb obtained to hydrocarbons heavier than gasoline.

4. A process for the preparation of car bureting substances for internal combustion engines consisting in neutralizing acetaldehyde by means of a salt having no alkaline reaction, then mixing it with alcohol and.

adding the mixture to hydrocarbons heavier than gasoline.

5. A process for the preparation of carbureting fuel mixture for internal combustion engines, consisting in adding alcohol and acetaldehyde and a product facilitating the starting at low temperature to hydrocarbons hcavier than gasoline.

6. A process for the preparation of carbureting fuel mixture for aviation engines,

consisting in adding acetaldehyde and alcohol to heavy petrol.

7. A carbureting substance for internal combustion engines consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons heavier than ordinary petrol with alcohol and acetaldehyde.

8. A carbureting substance for internal combustion engines consisting of a mixture of kerosene, heavy petrol alcohol and acetaldehyde.

9. A carbureting substance for internal combustion engines comprising hydrocarbons, ethylalcohol, acetaldehyde and ether.

10. A carbureting substance for internal combustion engines comprising hydrocarbons, ethylalcohol, acetaldehyde and gasoene.

11. A carbureting substance for internal combustion engines comprising hydrocarbons, ethylalcohol, acetaldehyde and petrol. 12. A carbureting substance for internal combustion engines comprising hydrocarbons, ethylalcohol, acetaldehyde and acetone. 13. A carbureting substance for internal combustion engines comprising 20 per cent kerosene, 60 per cent of heavy petrol, 20 per cent of a mixture of two parts of alcohol and one part of acetaldehyde.

14. A process for the preparation of car 5 bureting substances for internal combustion engines consisting in adding to hydrocarbons which are heavier than ordinary petrol, a mixture of ethylic alcohol and acetaldehyde in such a proportion which is sufficient for giving to the whole product the necessary volatility for producing a good ignition of the same and for preventing knocking of the engine.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

HENRI TERRISSE.