AM-98-38 EFFECTIVE USE OF CLOUD POINT DEPRESSANTS CAN IMPROVE REFINERY PROFITABILITY

Description:

Practically all US refiners need to satisfy maximum cloud point specifications in their middle distillate fuel products. ASTM and virtually all the pipeline companies impose these maximum cloud point specifications that vary according to the season. The cloud point, along with the pour point, are designed to give middle-market fuel customers a relative idea of the cold temperature “flowability” of distillate fuel stocks. Downstream of the refinery, most distillate fuels will be sold as No. 2 diesel, and cold weather flowability will be measured by “operability” tests such as the Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) and Low Temperature Flow Test (LTFT) that are designed to mimic the filtration pluggage issues associated with actual diesel engines. For refiners, the cloud point specification represents an entrance hurdle into downstream markets. Therefore, the cloud point of middle distillate fuels is routinely measured in the refinery fuel lab, and is reported with every batch of fuel that is sold to downstream customers. Many refiners manage their middle distillate blending operations and fractionation economics around the cloud point specification.