Study of the N-Paraffins Addition Effect on the Effectiveness of Depressant Additives for the Production of Low-Freezing Diesel Fuels

Abstract

The use of depressant additives is the most common method for producing diesel fuels with improved low-temperature properties. However, the depressants effectiveness largely depends on the composition of the diesel fuel, in particular on the content of n-paraffinic hydrocarbons, which to the greatest extent determine the low-temperature properties of the fuel. The work revealed the regularities of the n-paraffins addition influence on the depressant additives effectiveness. It was found that the addition of n-paraffins to blends of diesel fuels with depressants in low concentrations (0.05–0.50% wt.) enhances the depressants effectiveness in relation to the cold filter plugging point: maximum at 6–16 °C depending on the diesel fuel sample. It is shown that the effect is observed for DF of various compositions, various depressants, and also n-paraffins of various compositions. It was established that the positive effect of adding n-paraffins increases with the heavier added n-paraffins. Recommendations have been developed for obtaining diesel fuels with improved low-temperature properties and enhancing the depressant additives effectiveness: for a sample of straight-run diesel fuel F1, it is recommended to use a blend of fuel, depressant A1 and 0.50% wt. n-paraffins, separated from heavy gasoil; for a sample of straight-run diesel fuel F2, it is recommended to use a blend of fuel, depressant A2 and 0.50% wt. n-paraffins, separated from heavy gasoil or a blend of fuel, depressant A1 and 0.05% wt. n-paraffins, separated from highly paraffinic oil fraction. The revealed patterns and the developed recommendations will allow increasing the production of low-freezing DF brands, and also offer a resource-efficient option for using heavy gas oil fractions. The results obtained in the work contribute to expanding the understanding of the mechanism of interaction between diesel fuel hydrocarbons and the active ingredients of depressant additives.

Keywords

• diesel fuel
• low-temperature properties
• depressant additive
• n-paraffins
• cold filter plugging point