An experimental study of diesel fuel cloud and pour point reduction using different additives

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of four different additives on pour point and cloud point temperatures of a diesel fuel. Sample mixtures were prepared in different volumetric percentages of four different additives (Ethanol, Toluene, n-Heptane and Xylene) and diesel fuel mixture. Pour point and cloud point temperatures of the blends were measured using standard ASTM D2500 and ASTM D97-96a methods, respectively. Introducing the additives to the diesel fuel did not lead to a significant reduction in cloud point temperature of the fuel. In fact, the greatest obtained reduction in cloud point temperature was achieved using 20 vol% or more of Toluene-diesel fuel mixtures. Although cloud points did not change significantly, even the slightest amounts of additives caused a high reduction in the pour point temperature of the fuel. Ethanol was the most effective additive in lowering the pour point temperature of the fuel. A 20% ethanol-fuel mixture caused nearly a 30° reduction in the fuel pour point temperature. Therefore, knowing that none of the additives has a significant effect on cloud point temperature, while the greatest reduction in pour point temperature is achieved using ethanol even in low Vol%s, it can be concluded that the most efficient additive among these four additives to alter cold flow properties of a certain diesel fuel is Ethanol. Keywords: Cloud point, Pour point, Diesel fuel, Cold flow properties, Wax