Patents Assigned to Swift Fuels, LLC
  • Publication number: 20180016509
    Abstract: Various compositions of matter, methods of making compositions of matter, and methods of using compositions of matter are disclosed. In some embodiments, compositions useful as aviation gasoline, sometimes called “avgas”, are disclosed. In some embodiments, mesitylene is used in compositions of matter. Additives may be employed in the disclosed compositions of matter. In some embodiments, the composition of matter has a motor octane number of about 99 or higher. In some embodiments, the compositions of matter have reduced or no heteroatom constituents, and/or may have reduced or no metal constituents. In some embodiments, compositions of matter disclosed herein may have certain performance characteristics equal to better than currently available 100LL compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: Swift Fuels, LLC
    Inventors: Chris D'Acosta, Thomas Albuzat
  • Patent number: 9816041
    Abstract: Describe are preferred formulations for Avgas meeting the requirements for use in aircraft, including requirements established under ASTM standards and by the Federal Aviation Administration. In one embodiment, a binary mixture of 1,3,5-trimethyl benzene (mesitylene) and isopentane is used to provide a MON of at least 100, and more preferably at least 102. In other embodiments, the amounts of mesitylene and/or isopentane may be changed, and other fuel components are included. These various Avgas formulations are thereby adjusted to meet a variety of requirements as to octane rating, RVP, cold start, and other fuel characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Swift Fuels, LLC
    Inventor: Chris D'Acosta
  • Patent number: 9593285
    Abstract: The present invention provides an unleaded, piston engine fuel formulation comprising a blend of mesitylene, pseudocumene and isopentane having a MON of at least 94 and an RVP of 38 to 49 kPa at 37.8° C. In certain aspects, the formulation comprises specific weight percentages of each of the mesitylene, pseudocumene and isopentane components, and varying MON ratings. In additional aspects, the formulations comprise a combination of mesitylene, isopentane, and one or more additional components selected from the group consisting of pseudocumene, toluene and xylenes. In certain embodiments, the formulations also include alkylates and or alkanes. The formulations have unusually high MON ratings, and desirable RVP and distillation curve characteristics for formulations not including additional components, particularly octane boosters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Swift Fuels, LLC
    Inventor: Chris D'Acosta
  • Patent number: 9145566
    Abstract: The present invention provides high-octane fuel, and a method of producing same. These fuels may be formulated to have a wide range of octane values and energy, and may effectively be used to replace 100 LL aviation fuel (known as AvGas), as well as high-octane, rocket, diesel, turbine engine fuels, as well as two-cycle, spark-ignited engine fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Swift Fuels, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Rusek, Mary-Louise R. Rusek, Jonathon D. Ziulkowski, Justin D. Zink
  • Patent number: 8907150
    Abstract: A method of producing from a biomass mesitylene-isopentane fuel is provided. A biomass may be fermented to form acetone. The acetone is converted in a catalytic reactor to mesitylene and mesityl oxide. The mesitylene is separated in a phase separator and the organic face containing mesityl oxide is sent to a dehydration reactor, then to a demethylation reactor, and finally to a hydrogenation reactor from which isopentane is recovered. This isopentane is then mixed with the mesitylene to form the final mesitylene-isopentane fuel. The catalytic reaction with acetone employs catalysts of either niobium, vanadium or tantalum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Swift Fuels, LLC
    Inventor: John J. Rusek
  • Patent number: 8852296
    Abstract: The present invention provides non-petroleum high-octane fuel which may be derived from biomass sources, and a method of producing same. The method of production involves reducing the biomass feedstocks to sugars, fermenting the sugars using microorganisms or mutagens thereof to produce ethanol or acetic acid, converting the acetic acid or ethanol to acetone, and converting the acetone to mesitylene and isopentane, the major components of the engine fuel. Trimerization of acetone can be carried out in the presence of a catalyst containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of niobium, iron and manganese. The ethanol can be converted to mesitylene in a dehydration reaction in the presence of a catalyst of zinc oxide/calcium oxide, and unreacted ethanol and water separated from mesitylene by distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Swift Fuels, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Rusek, Mary-Louise R. Rusek, Jonathon D. Ziulkowski, Justin D. Zink
  • Patent number: 8686202
    Abstract: The present invention provides high-octane fuel, and a method of producing same. These fuels may be formulated to have a wide range of octane values and energy, and may effectively be used to replace 100 LL aviation fuel (known as AvGas), as well as high-octane, rocket, diesel, turbine engine fuels, as well as two-cycle, spark-ignited engine fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Swift Fuels, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Rusek, Mary-Louise R. Rusek, Jonathon D. Ziulkowski, Justin D. Zink
  • Patent number: 8556999
    Abstract: The present invention provides non-petroleum high-octane fuel derived from biomass sources, and a method of producing same. The method of production involves reducing the biomass feedstocks to sugars, fermenting the sugars using microorganisms or mutagens thereof to produce ethanol or acetic acid, converting the acetic acid or ethanol to acetone, and converting the acetone to mesitylene and isopentane, the major components of the renewable engine fuel. Trimerization of acetone can be carried out in the presence of a catalyst containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of niobium, iron and manganese. The ethanol can be converted to mesitylene in a dehydration reaction in the presence of a catalyst of zinc oxide/calcium oxide, and unreacted ethanol and water separated from mesitylene by distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Swift Fuels, LLC
    Inventors: John J Rusek, Mary-Louise Rusek, Jonathon D Ziulkowski, Justin D Zink
  • Patent number: 8552232
    Abstract: The present invention provides fully renewable turbine and diesel fuels created from biomass sources. In one embodiment, the fully renewable turbine fuel is comprised of mesitylene and at least one alkane. Preferably, the turbine fuel comprises from about 50 to 99 wt % mesitylene and from about 1 to 50 wt % of at least one alkane. In another embodiment the diesel fuel comprises mesitylene, octadecane, and optionally octane or nonane. Preferably, the diesel fuel comprises from about 50 to 99 wt % mesitylene, and from about 1 to 50 wt % octadecane. These biomass derived fuels may be formulated to have a wide range of cetane values and differing freezing and boiling points. A preferred biogenic turbine fuel comprises one or more synthetic paraffinic kerosenes (SPK) and/or hydroprocessed renewable jet (HRJ) fuel; and between about 8 to 25 vol % of mesitylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Swift Fuels, LLC
    Inventors: John J Rusek, Jonathon D Ziulkowski, Philip J Catania, Donald L Bower
  • Patent number: 8344193
    Abstract: The present invention provides fully renewable turbine and diesel fuels derived completely from biomass sources. In one embodiment the fully renewable turbine fuel is comprised of mesitylene and at least one alkane. Preferably, the turbine fuel comprises from about 50 to 99 wt % mesitylene and from about 1 to 50 wt % of at least one alkane. In another embodiment the diesel fuel comprises mesitylene, octadecane, and optionally octane or nonane. Preferably, the diesel fuel comprises from about 50 to 99 wt % mesitylene, and from about 1 to 50 wt % octadecane. These biomass derived fuels may be formulated to have a wide range of cetane values and differing freezing and boiling points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Swift Fuels, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Rusek, Jonathon D. Ziulkowski, Philip J. Catania, Donald L. Bower
  • Patent number: 8313540
    Abstract: The present invention provides non-petroleum high-octane fuel derived from biomass sources, and a method of producing same. The method of production involves reducing the biomass feedstocks to sugars, fermenting the sugars using microorganisms or mutagens thereof to produce ethanol or acetic acid, converting the acetic acid or ethanol to acetone, and converting the acetone to mesitylene and isopentane, the major components of the renewable engine fuel. Trimerization of acetone can be carried out in the presence of a catalyst containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of niobium, iron and manganese. The ethanol can be converted to mesitylene in a dehydration reaction in the presence of a catalyst of zinc oxide/calcium oxide, and unreacted ethanol and water separated from mesitylene by distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Swift Fuels, LLC
    Inventors: John J Rusek, Mary-Louise Rusek, Jonathon D Ziulkowski, Justin D Zink