Fuel formulations to extend the lean limit (law770)

A method for reducing phi in a liquid fueled, port-injected engine without increasing torque fluctuations, comprising adding in the fuel at least one species having a laminar flame speed greater than isooctane's laminar flame speed, laminar flame speed being measured at a Φ ranging from about 0.4 to about 0.8, said fuel having a T50 less than about 77° C., a FBP less than about 160° C., and IBP greater than about 32° C., and an oxygen content less than about 2.6 weight percent of oxygen from an oxygen containing species defined as.

• R1—O—R2
• where R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, linear, branched, cyclo alkyl, and aryl or alkyl, aryl, and the total number of carbon atoms range from about one to about six wherein the total of said species comprises greater than about ten percent (10%) of the fuel.

A fuel for extending the lean burn limit in internal combustion engines, said fuel comprising a blend of constituents having a T50 less than about 77° C., FBP less than about 160° C., an IBP greater than about 32° C., and less than about 2.6 weight percent of oxygen from an oxygen containing species defined as follows:

• R1—O—R2
• where R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, linear, branched cyclo alkyl, and aryl or alkyl aryl, and the total number of carbon atoms range from about one to about six.

A method for concurrently extending lean burn limit in, and reducing the emissions from, an internal combustion engine, by operating said engine on a fuel having a T50 less than about 77° C., a FBP less than about 160° C., an IBP greater than about 32° C., and a sulfur content less than about 130 ppm, and an oxygen content less than about 2.6 weight percent of oxygenate from an oxygen containing species defined as follows:

• R1—O—R2
• where R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, linear, branched cyclo alkyl, and aryl or alkyl aryl, and the total number of carbon atoms range from about one to about six.

A fuel for concurrently extending lean burn limit in, and reducing the emissions from, an internal combustion engine, by operating said engine on a fuel having a T50 less than about 77° C., a FBP less than about 160° C., an IBP greater than about 32° C., and a sulfur content less than about 70 ppm, and an oxygen content less than about 2.6 weight percent of oxygenate from an oxygen containing species defined as follows:

• R1—O—R2
• where R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, linear, branched cyclo alkyl, and aryl or alkyl aryl, and the total number of carbon atoms range from about one to about six.