FUELS AND METHODS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION

Abstract: A fuel comprises an emulsion of coal and water with a distillate fuel oil or water with a distillate fuel oil which is rendered stable by blending a residual oil with the distillate fuel oil component of the emulsion. The use of surfactants is in this way avoided.

Description: This invention is concerend with fuels which comprise emulsions of coal and water with distillate fuel oil or water with a distillate fuel oil. A fuel of the first kind is described in my United States patent 3,941,552 as is a technique for rendering the emulsion stable. A fuel of the second kind is described in my United States patent No. 3,749,318 issued July 31, 1973. In each of those patents and as is generally recognized, there is a need for the fuel to be rendered stable i.e. to stabilize the emulsion so that it may be transported, stored and burned effectively. The usual technique to achieve this end is to add to the com¬ ponents of the emulsion one or more surfactants such as described, for example, in United States patent No. 3,210,168 issued October 5, 1965 to Arnold J. Morway. The problem is that these surfactants are relatively expensive and detract from rather than add to the calorific value of the fuels. The present invention seeks to provide fuels in emulsion form which are stable and which do not include costly surfactants. Brief Summary of the Invention According to this invention, there are provided emulsions of coal and water with distillate oil or water with distillate oil which are emulsified and which are stabilized by blending a residual oil with the fuel. In particular one can obtain an emulsion using No. 2 fuel oil blended with a residual oil such as No. 4 or No. 6. The 4 or 6 oil (or mixtures of those and other residual oils) are generally in the proportion of less than 10% by weight of the distillate oil. Description of a Preferred Embodiment A fuel of this invention comprises a mixture of about 50% by weight coal particles of about 200 mesh size; 20% water; 25% No. 2 distillate oil; and 5% of No. 4 residual oil. In producing the fuel a slurry is formed of the water and coal and the oils are blended. Thereafter the blended oil is united with the slurry of coal and water and the resultant mixture is subjected to agitation to cause the formation of an emulsion. The agitation may be sonic agitation or an homogenizer or other mixing means as, for example, described in my aforementioned patent No. 3,941,552. Another fuel according to this invention is produced by blending 5% of No. 6 residual oil with 80% of No. 2 fuel oil then admixing the resultant blend with water, the water comprising 15% by weight of the mixture. The mixture is then agitated to form an emulsion. In each of the fuels described hereabove, the emulsion is stable having a so-called shelf-life of at least 1 week before any appreciable deterioration of the emulsion can be discerned.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS 1. A fuel comprises an emulsion of coal and water with a distillate oil or of water with a distillate oil which emulsion is rendered stable by admixing a residual oil with said distillate oil component of the emulsion. 2. A fuel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said residual oil comprises between 1% and 30% by weight of said distillate oil. 3. A fuel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said distillate oil is No. 2 fuel oil. 4. A fuel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said residual oil is No. 4 oil. 5. A fuel as claimed in claim 2 wherein said residual oil is No. 4 oil. 6. A fuel as claimed in claim 3 wherein said residual oil is No. 4 oil. 7. A fuel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said residual oil is No. 6 oil. 8. A fuel as claimed in claim 2 wherein said residual oil is No. 6 oil. 9. A fuel as claimed in claim 3 wherein said residual oil is No. 6 oil. 10. A method of making a f el which comprises making a mixture of coal and water with a distillate oil or water with a distillate oil, adding a residual oil and thereafter subjecting the mixture to agitation to form a stable emulsion. 11. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said residual oil is mixed with said distillate oil prior to making said mixture with coal and water or with water alone.

Inventors: COTTELL E
Applicants: COTTELL E
Application year: 1978
Main classification: C10L1
IPC codes: C10L1