Fuel economy
AssigneeShell USA, Inc.
InventorAlastair Graham Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Use of a viscosity increasing component in a diesel fuel composition, for the purpose of improving the fuel economy of an engine into which the fuel composition is or is intended to be introduced, or of a vehicle powered by such an engine, wherein the viscosity increasing component is a viscosity index (VI) improving additive, wherein the VI improving additive comprises a linear block copolymer, which contains one or more monomer blocks selected from ethylene, propylene, butylene, butadiene, isoprene and styrene monomers and wherein the VI improving additive is used at a concentration of from 0.001% w/w to 0.05% w/w.
Claims11
A method for improving the fuel economy of an engine or of a vehicle powered by such an engine, comprising introducing into a combustion chamber of the engine a (diesel) fuel composition comprising a viscosity increasing component, wherein the viscosity increasing component is a viscosity index (VI) improving additive, wherein the VI improving additive comprises a polystyrene-polyisoprene linear block copolymer, wherein the viscosity increasing component is used in an amount sufficient to increase the kinematic viscosity of the diesel fuel composition at 40° C. by at least 0.005 mm2/s to about 0.018 mm2/s, and wherein the percentage increase in fuel economy is at least 0.5% compared to the fuel economy of an engine or of a vehicle powered by such an engine fueled by an analogous fuel composition prior to incorporation of the viscosity increasing additive.
A method for improving the fuel economy of an engine or of a vehicle powered by such an engine, comprising introducing into a combustion chamber of the engine a (diesel) fuel composition comprising a viscosity increasing component, wherein the viscosity increasing component is a viscosity index (VI) improving additive, wherein the VI improving additive is linear polystyrene-polyisoprene block copolymer, wherein the viscosity increasing component is used in an amount sufficient to increase the kinematic viscosity of the diesel fuel composition at 40° C. by at least 0.005 mm2/s, and wherein the percentage increase in fuel economy is at least 0.5% compared to the fuel economy of an engine or of a vehicle powered by such an engine fueled by an analogous fuel composition prior to incorporation of the viscosity increasing additive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.