New Cold Soak Test Method

8/12/2008

IP PM EA/08

COLD FILTRATION PROPERTIES OF FAME & BIO DIESEL
applying IP 387 Filter Blocking Tendency Test

As larger volumes of road transport diesel fuels are co-blended with bio esters, there is growing need to check that both raw bio components (FAME - fatty acid methyl ester) and the resulting blended fuel meet satisfactory operating criteria.

There are many different sources of FAME material and they have varying characteristics. Depending on the quality of the FAME and also the volume blended into the fuel mix, there is possibility that some bio components may precipitate from the blended fuel at low temperature. Also, that with subsequent elevation of temperature, the bio component may not re-solubilise back into the fuel. The resulting fuel mix may give rise to filter blocking and other engine operating problems.

As a result, industry standardization groups have reviewed how best to ensure that cold flow and filterability properties of B100 FAME and B5 Diesel blends are maintained within specification for the coming winter season.

Two areas are of particular concern. Firstly to ensure that B100 FAME meets approved characteristics including solubility into the fuel blend; and secondly that finished product meets operability demands with no likelihood of ester components dispersing into the fuel at cold temperature.

New IP PM EA/08 Cold Soak Test Method
FAME may contain up to 3.5% impurities and, although soluble at ambient temperature, these may precipitate when cooled down or dissolved in a less polar solvent such as diesel fuel. These materials, as well as conventional contaminants, can cause filter blocking.

An accelerated means of accessing this tendency was needed and an EI (IP) Industry test method task group has now developed and approved a test method to protect the operability of B100 to B5 diesel fuel blends that will be distributed to the road transport market this coming winter.

The objective of the task group was to develop a filtration test method that would initially “age” the sample through a cooling process and then to rate its filterability using the well established IP 387 (Procedure B) test method. The combination of the 2 test methods provides manufacturers, fuel blenders and suppliers with a means of checking operability for both B100 FAME materials and B5 or any other BX blended diesel fuels.

Following a new IP PM EA/08 Cold Soak Test Method, the sample is initially conditioned (cold soaked) at specified temperatures down to 5oC before being tested for filterability at 15oC. Filtration is tested following IP 387 (Procedure B) test method which uses a 1.6 micron GF/A filter.

This new industry method will be applied by all the key suppliers for B100 and blended biofuels for the winter season focusing on B100 (production) and BX bio diesel blends handled/blended. Key applications and industry testing will include:
* Manufacture of FAME B100
* Import and Export of FAME B100
* Filter Blocking at Service stations and onboard vehicles, including cold start issues.

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