Department of Chemical Engineering Technology

CHE 2413 – Oil and gas processing technologies

Spring-2021

Lab 4: ASTM D6371 Cold Filter Plugging Point

Instructor: Dr. Muhammad Waqas Anjum / Hassan Saleemi

Group Members:
1. Huda Naser Alkhoori H00413783
2. Hamda Adel Almeraikhi H00373591
3. Mohammed Abdulhussain Al Marzooqi H00389171
4. Saif Abdulla Al Ali H00348661

CHE 2413_ Oil and Gas Processing Technologies: ASTM D6371 Cold Filter Plugging Point_2018. Page 1 of 6
 Objective:

To determine the lowest temperature where the fuel sample will plug using ASTM D6371 Cold
Filter Plugging Point of Diesel and Heating Fuel.

Apparatus and Materials

1. Cold Filter Plugging Point Apparatus

2. Liquid-in-glass Thermometer
3. Cooling Bath (cooling machine)
4. Vacuum Pump
5. Stopwatch
6. Beaker
7. Filter Paper
8. Mechanical filter
9. Laboratory Filter Stand
10. Glass funnel
11. Fuel sample tested (Kerosene and Petrol)
12. Graduated cylinder
13. 10 mL Pipette

Figure1. Kerosene sample used Figure2. Coolant (cooling bath) Figure3. Filtration stand

Introduction and Background

The components of crude oil range from methane and propane to gasoline, diesel, and bitumen.
Diesel fuel is usually produced by refining and distilling crude oil in a diesel engine with low-

CHE 2413_ Oil and Gas Processing Technologies: ASTM D6371 Cold Filter Plugging Point_2018. Page 2 of 6
temperature operability and can be used for diesel cloud point and cold filter plugging point low-
temperature filtration tests.

Biodiesel is one of the most common raw materials. Compared with conventional diesel, its cold
flow performance is lower. Also, the cloud point, pour point, and plugging point of the mean
filter are much higher for mixtures with a volume of less than 10% biodiesel. Similarly, although
cold flow enhancer additives can reduce PP and CFPP, these additives will not reduce CP by
more than 3-5°C. When stored in a low-temperature climate, the biodiesel should be regularly
monitored through ASTM standard tests due to the speed of analysis and the results' accuracy.

The two primary considerations for diesel operability in cold weather are cloud point (CP) and
cold filter plugging point (CFPP). The cloud point refers to the temperature at which the wax
(paraffin) begins to separate when the oil is cooled to a low temperature. It is an essential
indicator of functional performance in automotive applications at low temperatures. The Cold
Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) method is used to determine the low-temperature operability of
diesel fuel, biodiesel, blends, and gas oils. Fuel cold plug point (CFPP) is the highest temperature
at which a given volume of fuel fails to pass through a 45-micron screen within 60 seconds of
recording the specific temperature at which the last filtrate started. The cold fuel filter plugging
point (CFPP) is the lowest temperature at which fuel can flow without failure in some fuel
systems.

The tests according to ASTM D6371 show that a Cloud Point of +1 °C can have a CFPP −10 °C.

The sample is cooled under the specified conditions and then vacuumed into the pipette through
a standard wire mesh filter. Therefore, the procedure must be repeated every one °C lower than
the first test temperature. The test will continue until the number of wax crystals separated from
the solution is sufficient to stop or slow down the flow so that the time required to fill the pipette
exceeds 60 seconds or the fuel cannot be fully returned.

CHE 2413_ Oil and Gas Processing Technologies: ASTM D6371 Cold Filter Plugging Point_2018. Page 3 of 6
 Figure 1(A). cold filter plugging point (CFPP) Apparatus

Figure 2: Arrangement of Cold Filter Plugging Point Apparatus.

CHE 2413_ Oil and Gas Processing Technologies: ASTM D6371 Cold Filter Plugging Point_2018. Page 4 of 6
Procedure

1. Filter about 50 mL of the sample fuel (kerosene, Petrol) using dry clean filter paper.
2. Transfer about 45 ml of the filtered fuel sample into the jacketed test tube until it reaches
the mark specified in the test tube jar.
3. Position the insulating ring at the end of the jacket tube.
4. Place the spacers 15 to 75 mm above the end of the test tube.
5. Place your filter stand apparatus near the cooling bath.
6. Slowly insert the test jar into the coolant (cooling bath).
7. Generate the cooling bath temperature (Turn the main switch) to gradually cool starting
from 0 °C.
8. Place a thermometer in the right place of the cooling bath.
9. Take out your sample and filter it when the temperature reaches -10°C, -25 °C, -34°C,
and -51°C.
10. Observe and note down the difference of temperature between coolant and thermometer.
11. When filtering the sample, if the fuel sample plugged and didn’t drip.
12. Filter the sample again using the mechanical filter.
13. If it plugs in both filters, then report that temperature as CFPP.
14. If the fuel sample reached −51 °C without plugging, report as “Not plugged at −51 °C”.

CHE 2413_ Oil and Gas Processing Technologies: ASTM D6371 Cold Filter Plugging Point_2018. Page 5 of 6
Experimental Results

Table1. Kerosene CFPP results

Sample : Kerosene
Observation Plugged/Not Plugged
CFPP
(0C)

null null
0℃
-1 ℃ difference between
thermometer and the reading in Not plugged
-10 ℃
the cooling bath

- 2 ℃ difference Not plugged

-25 ℃

-34 ℃ -3℃ difference Not plugged

-51℃ -1 ℃ difference Not plugged

Table2. Petrol CFPP results

Sample : Petrol
Observation Plugged/Not Plugged
CFPP
(0C)

null null
0℃
-1 ℃ difference between
thermometer and the reading in Not plugged
-10 ℃
the cooling bath

- 2 ℃ difference Not plugged

-25 ℃

-34 ℃ -3℃ difference Not plugged

-51℃ -1 ℃ difference Not plugged

CHE 2413_ Oil and Gas Processing Technologies: ASTM D6371 Cold Filter Plugging Point_2018. Page 6 of 6
What is difference between Cloud Point (CP), Cold filter Plugging Point
(CFPP) and Pour Point (PP)?

The cloud point is the lowest temperature at which tiny solid hydrocarbon crystals can be
observed as the fuel cools and the wax (paraffin) appears and begins to separate from the oil.

The cold filter plugging point (CFPP) is the lowest temperature at which the fuel can flow
without failure in some fuel systems when cooled, and the fuel filter is connected to the fuel
components that have crystallized.

The pour point is the lowest temperature at which oil sample loses its flow characteristic when
cooled without stirring under standard cooling conditions under gravity's influence.

What is the significance of Cold Filter Plugging Point in Refining Industry?

The cold plug point (CFPP) method is used to determine the low-temperature operability of
diesel, biodiesel, blends, and gas oil. CFPP is an essential characteristic used to predict the
minimum temperature at which fuel flows freely in a diesel engine system. It’s also used as an
alternative to determine cloud point.

Write down the Summary of Test Method ASTM D6371.

The tests according to ASTM D6371 show that a Cloud Point of +1 °C can have a CFPP −10 °C.

The sample is cooled under the certain conditions and then vacuumed into the pipette through a
standard wire mesh filter. In addition, the procedure must be repeated every one °C lower than
the first test temperature. The test will continue until the number of wax crystals separated from
the solution is sufficient to stop or slow down the flow so that the time required to fill the pipette
exceeds 60 seconds or the fuel cannot be fully returned. Once the fuel sample plug when filtering
that temperature will be recorded as the CFPP, if temperature dropped to -51 °C without
plugging and it still goes through the filter paper this means fuel sample is not plugging.

CHE 2413_ Oil and Gas Processing Technologies: ASTM D6371 Cold Filter Plugging Point_2018. Page 7 of 6
Discussion

In this experiment, we have determined the CFPP of different sample fuels (Kerosene and
Petrol). by cooling the fuel samples in the cooling bath. We then removed the sample and
quickly filtered it to see whether it plugs or not at that certain temperature, repeating the filtering
process at specific temperatures until the fuel doesn’t drip (plug). When testing it in the filter, if
the fuel sample plugged in the filter, we re-test it using the mechanical filter. If it plugs in both
filters, this means that’s the CFPP.

The results showed no plugging for both fuel samples, kerosene, and petrol, and this is due to the
light weight of both fuel samples and the low content of aromatics present in them. This also
shows the excellent quality of these petroleum products, which showed that they don’t plug at
shallow temperatures and are suitable for cold weather countries under low temperatures. If we
have used heavy fuel samples such as unrefined diesel or heavy gas oil then it will plug at low
temperatures.

We observed a slight error with the temperature of the thermometer placed and the temperature
of the coolant. However, the temperature difference was about 1 to 2 °C.

Moreover, several tests are performed to determine the fuel quality under low temperatures,
testing for cloud point, which is the lowest temperature where wax forms a cloudy appearance to
indicate the point such that wax will block pipes. Also, the Cold filter plugging point is defined
as the lowest temperature at which fuel will still pass through a standard filter in a particular
condition. The Pour point indicates the lowest temperature where petroleum products will lose
their ability to flow. Cloud point temperature is higher than CFPP and PP. In contrast, PP has the
lowest temperature because it will solidify and lose its flowing characteristics.

CHE 2413_ Oil and Gas Processing Technologies: ASTM D6371 Cold Filter Plugging Point_2018. Page 8 of 6
 Conclusion

To conclude, when the fuel

sample has higher aromatic
content and high carbon
number, the Cloud Point will
be is high then obviously, the
fuel will plug faster than fuels
with low hydrocarbons
content. High CFPP of fuels
will cause troubles in the
refineries, and fuel will not
work in engines under low

Figure1. Kerosene and Petrol Figure2. Temperature difference

samples after cooling them at -51 °C between coolant and thermometer

temperatures. However, we can always use additives to reduce cloud point and CFPP of heavy
fuels.

Fuels with high CP and CFPP are more suitable for summer use, where low CP and CFPP is
ideal for cold weather countries and winter to make sure the fuel will not plug.

We have determined the CFPP of our samples and understand the significance of testing for CP
and CFPP. Also, CP and CFPP are affected by the fuel carbon number and aromatic content
since wax forms quickly in fatty oils, which might cause a shutdown and plugging when
operating in refineries and clogging in the vehicle engines.

References

Clariant Ltd. Basel. (2018, April 3). Cold Flow Improvers. Clariant Ltd.

https://www.clariant.com/en/Business-Units/Oil-and-Mining-Services/Refinery-Services/Cold-

Flow-Improvers

Cold Filter Plugging Point - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (2017). Science Direct.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/cold-filter-plugging-point

CHE 2413_ Oil and Gas Processing Technologies: ASTM D6371 Cold Filter Plugging Point_2018. Page 9 of 6
(PDF) The Evaluation of Flash Point and Cold Filter Plugging Point with Blends of Diesel and

Cyn-Diesel Pyrolysis Fuel for Automotive Engines. Available from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260567524_The_Evaluation_of_Flash_Point_and_Col

d_Filter_Plugging_Point_with_Blends_of_Diesel_and_Cyn-

Diesel_Pyrolysis_Fuel_for_Automotive_Engines

CHE 2413_ Oil and Gas Processing Technologies: ASTM D6371 Cold Filter Plugging Point_2018. Page 10 of 6