A New Approach to Determining the Blending Octane Number of Gaseous Components of Motor Gasolines

Abstract

The octane number for gaseous components (GC) is currently determined using the calculation method proceeding from the hydrocarbon composition. The method provides determination of the research octane number (RON) only. A discrepancy between the actual and predicted values of the octane number thus determined leads to an overestimated introduction of these components into the fuel which results in the reduced fuel performance and economic indicators of the production. In this regard, the development of a new approach to the determination of the blending octane number of low-boiling components is extremely important for designing optimal formulations of motor fuels. A method for determining the blending octane numbers (both RON and MON) of motor gasoline gaseous components has been improved owing to preliminary sample preparation by bubbling which provided taking into account the proportion of involvement of fractions of C₄ hydrocarbon and pentane–amylene along with the chemical nature of the base fuel components. It is shown that the value of the blending octane number for gaseous components depends on the hydrocarbon composition of the base component. Application of the developed method to determining the blending octane number of gaseous components of motor fuels allowed us to obtain optimal formulations of gasoline with the involvement of low-boiling by-products and increase the accuracy of forecasting the composition of fuels, thus improving the economic performance of the production.