Additives pump up winterized diesel performance

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Fuel Technology amp Management

OSTI ID:482423

Adler, K ^[1]

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1. ed.

With cooler weather just around the corner for North America and Europe, refiners and marketers again turn their attention to ensuring that diesel fuel performs properly under winter operating conditions. More often, opportunities are available for fuel refiners and marketers to use additives to enhance diesel fuel in a cost-effective manner and improve customer satisfaction. In cold weather, the heavy, paraffinic compounds in diesel fuel form a wax that precipitates out of the fuel. This can plug the fuel filter in a vehicle and impedes the flow of fuel to the engine. Recognizing this problem, state fuels regulators, engine manufactures, refiners and pipeline companies developed minimum standards for cold-temperature fuel performance for various parts of the country (based on historical climate conditions). Laboratory tests to measure cold-flow performance give a level of security to fuel users that their vehicles won`t be stopped in their tracks. For decades, the simplest way to handle cold-weather operability was to blend No. 2 diesel fuel with kerosene. Yet, kerosene blending has its downside. For one thing, kerosene can be more costly than low-sulfur No. 2 oil, sometimes by as much as 30 cents/gallon. Given these issues, additives are valued as another route to solving cold-weather operability concerns. The use of additives in diesel fuels is discussed.

• OSTI ID: 482423
• Journal Information: Fuel Technology amp Management, Journal Name: Fuel Technology amp Management Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 6; ISSN FTMAFH; ISSN 1087-4003
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
ADDITIVES
DIESEL FUELS
FLUID FLOW
PERFORMANCE
SEASONS
WEATHER