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(11) | EP 0 472 353 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Low water content semi-solid ethanol based fuel |
| (57) A solid or semi-solid fuel having an approximate formulation of 81% to 93% ethanol,
8% to 3.5% stearic acid, 1.5% to .25% of 50% solution of sodium hydroxide; and 0%
to 7% methanol or isopropyl alcohol used to denature the ethanol. |
Field of the Invention
[0002] There are many patents which teach inventions relating to solid or semi-solid hydro-carbon fuels. Some related patents are U.S. Patents 1,581,001, 1,844,754, 3,964,880, 4,908,044 and Philippine Utility Model 4823. None of these patents teach what is disclosed in the present inventive product.
[0003] Products currently available range from Sterno (a registered trademark of Colgate Co.) to napalm which is used by military forces around the world. While these products are useful in one way or another, they all have serious defects. Sterno, for example, is too volatile for safe use in many environments. The nation's largest scouting organizations either prohibit or restrict the use of Sterno as a cooking fuel on scout outings. In addition, sterno has a relatively short shelf-life because of its high volatility. Sterno tends to burn with a colorless flame which leads to potentially dangerous situations.
[0004] Other solid or semi-solid fuels are well known as starters for charcoal fires or as wood fire-place fire starters. These products generally burn with some unpleasant residue and once started are difficult, if not impossible, to extinguish and then re-use.
[0005] The general public, the scouting world, and the military, among others, have long sought a solid or semi-solid fuel which is non-volatile, environmentally safe having no hazardous residual wastes, has long shelf-life, can be easily started and safely stopped and which burns with a visible color and essentially no residue.
summary of the Invention
[0006] The present inventive product relates to a novel solid or semi-solid fuel produced entirely from ethanol with the addition of stearic acid and a small amount of caustic soda. The present inventive product is a semi-solid alcohol based fuel having an approximate formulation of 81% to 93% ethanol, 8% to 3.5% stearic acid, 1.5% to 0.25% of 50% solution of sodium hydroxide; methanol or isopropyl alcohol may be used to denature the ethanol.
[0007] The intensive product is intended in one application to be placed in cans having a fluid capacity of up to about 8 ounces. The cans are easily opened and resealed. Larger volumes of cans can be used but are not presently believed to have much commercial significance.
Brief Description of the Drawing
[0009] Figure 1 shows a flow chart showing the novel steps which form a part of the present inventive process.
Description
[0010] The present inventive processes and products are most easily understood by referring to Figure 1 which is a flow chart showing the basic inventive steps for producing the inventive product.
[0012] Step 2, shown in block 2, is to mix the éthanol with the stearic acid at a temperature of between 110-165 degrees fahrenheit for between five to fifteen minutes in a first mixing chamber rotating at between 30-100 r.p.m.
[0013] Step 3, shown in block 3, is to mix the ethanol-stearic acid solution with a sodium hydroxide solution for five to fifteen minutes at 140 degrees F to 165 degrees F in a second mixing chamber rotating at between 30-100 r.p.m.
[0014] Step 4, shown in block 4, is to remove the mixture to cool to room temperature, from about 60 degrees F to about 90 degrees F at which time it will solidify.
[0015] When the inventive product is intended for use in a closed can with a removable top, the product has demonstrated a shelf life in excess of one year. Also in that configuration, when the product in the can is burning, the can be turned upside down and no product will spill out. In addition, the flame can be extinguished, without hazard to the person, by merely replacing the cover on the can. While burning the can does not become too warm to be handled by an uncovered hand.
[0016] The inventive product can be intended for use to start charcoal brickettes or fireplace logs. In those physical embodiments, the product will lose shape and flow when ignited, but will not flash back, sputter or pop as the other products do.
[0017] Further, if air to the fired product is removed, the present inventive product will cease burning, will not smolder and will not exceed a temperature much above ambient. The inventive product can be formed into virtually any shape, including that to simulate a fireplace log. Naturally, on burning the product will not produce the pollutants which a burning log will produce.
[0019] The product thus produced comprises a semi-solid alcohol based fuel having an approximate formulation, in one embodiment, of 81% to 93% ethanol, by weight, 3-5% to 8% stearic acid, by weight, 0% to 7% methanol, and 0.25% to 1.5% of a fifty percent solution of sodium hydroxide, by weight. The pH of the finished product in deionized water ranges from 5.0 to 7.0 which does not require a hazardous warning label.
[0020] The approximate center of the range disclosed is a product having the following formulation:
86.88% by weight ethanol:
5.58% by weight methanol;
6.66% by weight atearic acid;
0.88% by weight sodium hydroxide, 50% solution.
1. A semi-solid fuel consisting essentially of:
81% to 93% by weight ethanol;
0% to 7% methanol, by weight;
3.5% to 8% by weight stearic acid; and,
0.25% to 1.5% by weight fifty percent solution of sodium hydroxide.
81% to 93% by weight ethanol;
0% to 7% methanol, by weight;
3.5% to 8% by weight stearic acid; and,
0.25% to 1.5% by weight fifty percent solution of sodium hydroxide.
2. A semi-solid fuel comprising in combination:
86.88% by weight ethanol:
5.58% by weight methanol;
6.66% by weight stearic acid;
0.88% by weight sodium hydroxide, 50% solution.
86.88% by weight ethanol:
5.58% by weight methanol;
6.66% by weight stearic acid;
0.88% by weight sodium hydroxide, 50% solution.