Fuels for cold start conditions

摘要

A fuel composition contains a liquid fuel and nano-sized zinc oxide particles. The nano-sized zinc oxide particles can be used to either improve cold start performance of internal combustion engines or lower a flash point temperature of a liquid fuel.

主权项

1. A method of improving cold starts of an internal combustion engine by lowering a flash point temperature of a liquid fuel, comprising:
providing the internal combustion engine with the liquid fuel selected from the group consisting of alcohol fuel and diesel; providing the internal combustion engine with a fuel additive, the fuel additive comprising from about 0.01 ppm to about 50 ppm of nano-sized zinc oxide particles to lower the flash point temperature by about 20%, where at least about 90% by weight of the nano-sized zinc oxide particles have a size from about 1 nm to about 50 nm, wherein the fuel additive further comprises a carrier liquid, the carrier liquid having a flash point temperature less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit and an auto-ignition temperature less than 400 degrees Fahrenheit; lowering the flash point temperature of the liquid fuel by at least about 10% compared to a same liquid fuel without the nano-sized zinc oxide particles, and increasing by about 20% engine speed and exhaust gas temperature during a cold start compared to a same liquid fuel without the nano-sized zinc oxide particles; and retaining at least 70 percent of the nano-sized zinc oxide particles in an engine oil in the internal combustion engine after combustion of the liquid fuel, thereby reducing sliding friction between a piston and a cylinder wall of the engine.