Presentation Profile
Development of Innovative Automatic Instruments for Cloud and Pour Point Testing as Advanced Alternatives to Referee Methods
Currently Scheduled: 10/11/2023 - 12:20 PM - 12:40 PM
Main Author
Raj Shah - Koehler Instrument Company, Inc.
- Vincent Colantuoni - Koehler Instrument Company Inc.
- William Streiber - Koehler Instrument Company Inc.
Abstract:
Petroleum products are subjected to various operating temperatures and must demonstrate optimal performance across this temperature range. Achieving superior quality fuels and lubricants is crucial to ensure efficient functionality. The characterization of petroleum products' behavior at low temperatures commonly involves assessing their "cold flow properties." Key properties in this regard include the cloud point, pour point, freezing point, and cold filter plugging point. Operating near or below the cloud and pour points can result in equipment damage, making these properties critical indicators of a product's utility at lower temperatures. Therefore, it is imperative to accurately determine the cloud and pour points to prevent suboptimal conditions during operation.
The test methods employed for determining cloud and pour points have a long-standing history in the industry, with ASTM D97 being initially approved in 1927. Referee test methods, such as ASTM D2500 and D97, are conventionally utilized to determine the cloud and pour points, respectively. However, recent advancements have led to the development of new test methods and instruments for cloud and pour point analysis, harnessing modern technology and offering numerous advantages over referee methods, including automated test procedures. Notably, ASTM D5771 and D5950 represent two such methods, specifically designed to determine the cloud and pour points of petroleum products utilizing optical detection stepped cooling and automatic tilt techniques, respectively. This research poster presents the development of novel instruments compliant with ASTM D5771 and D5950, elucidating the significant advantages these instruments offer in comparison to referee methods for cloud and pour point testing.
