Method for producing superheavy oil emulsion fuel and fuel produced thereby

Abstract

A method for producing a superheavy oil emulsion fuel comprising the steps of (i) preparing a liquid mixture comprising a superheavy oil, water, one or more nonionic surfactants having an HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) of 13 to 19, and optionally one or more stabilizers, and then agitating the resulting liquid mixture with a high shear rate of 1000/sec to 60000/sec, to give an oil-in-water (O/W) type emulsion fuel having a superheavy oil concentration of from 74 to 82% by weight; and (ii) adding at least one of ionic dispersants, and optionally water, to the emulsion fuel obtained in step (i), and then blending and agitating the resulting liquid mixture with a shear rate of 10/sec to 10000/sec, to give an oil-in-water (O/W) type emulsion fuel having a superheavy oil concentration of from 68 to 79% by weight. In step (i), the nonionic surfactants are contained in an amount of from 0.1 to 0.8% by weight of the emulsion fuel obtained in step (i), and the stabilizers are contained in an amount of from 0.001 to 0.5% by weight of the emulsion fuel obtained in step (i). In step (ii), the ionic dispersants are contained in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of the emulsion fuel obtained in step (ii).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.