Improved performance at low temperatures

Normal paraffins can comprise up to 30 per cent of a typical diesel fuel.

These paraffins are the least soluble constituents in a fuel, and can give rise to operability issues as a fuel’s temperature is lowered. These issues include the formation of wax crystals, which can block fuel lines and filters.

Gulf Chemical’s next generation cold flow improvers (CFIs) offer an economic and high quality method to improve the low temperature performance of fuels.

Low temperature issues

The low temperature performance of middle distillates can be specified by three key properties:

• Cloud Point: The temperature at which wax crystals are first visible
• Pour Point: The lowest temperature at which fuel will flow
• Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP): An indication of vehicle low temperature operability.

Gulf Chemical’s CFI additives provide reductions in all three of these key areas.

Performance improvement in all measures

Our range offers cloud point depressants which solubilize paraffin nuclei as they begin to crystallize from the fuel – lowering the fuel’s cloud point.

Our pour point depressants modify paraffin crystals’ growth as they precipitate. This means that fuel can be cooled to lower temperatures before they gel.

In addition, our CFPP additives ensure the production of smaller crystals in middle distillates. These crystals have a much lower tendency to block fuel lines and filters.

Working together for optimal performance

CFI performance is highly dependent on the properties of the fuel being treated. To achieve optimum performance, additives need to be matched to the paraffin distribution of the base fuel.

Our technical experts work closely with refiners to ensure the optimum additive is selected for the unique requirements of the fuels they produce.