A new short stability test of hydrocarbon fuels for storage prediction

Oxidation stability assurance of fuels for internal combustion engines is important not only for the end users but much more in terms of strategic fuel stockpiling. Our new short storage test is a very interesting and fast analytical tool for stability characterization of hydrocarbons originated from different sources. In addition to petro-diesel hydrocarbons, the test can be very useful for describing the properties of alternative fuels, such as hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), synthetic power-to-X products or products from pyrolysis of waste plastic/ tires. Because of hydrocarbon nature of these fuels the test is useful for all types of liquid hydrocarbon fuels for diesel engine. Our analytical evaluation is able to identify the onset of hydrocarbon oxidation during storage. Three hydrocarbon diesel fuels of winter quality were aged during the screening tests at temperatures of 80-110 & DEG;C for 20 days. Following parameters were monitored: appearance, viscosity, density, water content, acid number, peroxide value, Conradson carbon residue, PetroOxy oxidation stability, and oxidation index by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra Red) spectroscopy. Aging at 110 & DEG;C and peroxide value, PetroOxy stability, and FTIR oxidation was found as the best for rapid comparison of oxidation stability of the samples within 7 days.