A New Approach to Formulating Low-Viscosity Marine Fuels

A new approach to formulating low-viscosity marine fuels is proposed, based on a comprehensive analysis of experimental data and means of mathematical modeling. The approach is based on established patterns of mixing medium and heavy distillates from oil refining that form fuels which are more than 95% aromatic and paraffinic-naphthenic hydrocarbons in a ratio of approximately 1 : 2. A combinatorial scheme of testing is used to determine the hydrocarbon composition of the components and fuels. The obtained data are used to create a mathematical model for calculating the formulas of low-viscosity marine fuels according to their components’ composition of hydrocarbons without the need for additional research on the latter in a wide range of indicators. The set of identified patterns and approaches to modeling validate the expansion of a fuel’s raw material base by replacing up to 70% of its valuable components with lower-margin petroleum products.