Gulf Coast Conference – 2022 Posters

See below for our list of GCC 2022 posters!

October 11-12, 2022

 

#102

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Analysis of Cloud and Pour Points of Fuels Under Low Temperatures

In low temperature conditions, a fuel tends to experience a substantial increase in viscosity, which significantly impacts its flow characteristics and combustibility. An aid in identifying the proper operating conditions for that specific fuel is the determination of the cloud and pour points for that fuel. The cloud point represents the moment when a fuel undergoes a change from a transparent appearance to a hazy, or cloudy appearance. The cloud point is an important indicator of a fuel’s performance at lower temperatures. The pour point is the point at which the viscosity of a fuel is too high and the fuel ceases to pour or flow. In this poster, we will examine the K7700X Automatic Cloud and Pour Point Analyzer and its applications as an effective tool for the determination of the cloud and pour point of petroleum-derived products. The aim is to highlight the intuitiveness of this technology and the importance of ensuring that the appropriate fuels are being used in the correct environment.
 

#103

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The Significance of the Determination of Salt Content in Crude Oil

Crude oil often contains different inorganic salts, such as chlorides of sodium, calcium, and magnesium. These salts are typically in the form of salt crystals dissolved in the water that is emulsified in the crude oil and bring various problems to petroleum refining industries. The large concentration of salt in crude can contribute to the mechanical cogging of furnace tubes, condensers, and lines via the formation of deposits. To avoid complications and corrosion during transport or storage, it is important to analyze the salt concentration in crude, so that the crude can undergo an appropriate desalting process before further progressing in the refinery process. The Koehler K23060 Salt in Crude Analyzer is an innovative, handheld instrument that can be intuitively used to measure the concentration of salts in crude oil. The instrument measures the conductivity of a solution of crude oil in a polar solvent and compares the result with a calibration curve of known salt mixtures, which will determine the salt content in the crude sample in accordance with ASTM D3230.
 

#104

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Determination of the Tribological Characteristics of Materials with the Pin on Disk Tester

The science of tribology is concerned with the movement of surfaces relative to one another. This boils down to the three main areas of friction, lubrication, and wear. Determining the tribological characteristics of how materials interact allows us to evaluate the materials we use based on such characteristics. The Pin on Disk Friction & Wear Tester precisely and accurately determines the tribological data between materials under a wide range of temperatures and normal loads. The Pin on Disk Friction & Wear Tester has been around for a long time, but it is still being used to do cutting edge research. It functions with a stationary pin being held in contact with a disk that is rotating at a specified speed. The Pin on Disk Friction & Wear Tester can run both dry and flooded tests, meaning that the testing surface can be flooded with a desired lubricant, like oil, to run tests with desired materials. The speeds and normal force are set by the user, as well as the quantity and type of lubricant if necessary. Tribological data, such as the frictional force between the materials, is measured in real time; temperature and wear can be evaluated in relation to these test materials as well.
 

#105

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Applications of Flash Point Testing for the Safety and Transportation of Volatile Materials

Determining the flash point of a combustible liquid is a primary component of safety management. The data obtained from the closed-cup flash point test provides crucial information on how a flammable liquid should be stored and transported. The flash point is the lowest temperature at which a liquid’s vapor will briefly ignite with the presence of an ignition source. Flammable liquids tend to have a flash point under 38℃, while combustible liquids tend to have a flash point over 38℃, causing them to be hazardous materials, thus there are strict regulations implemented to ensure the materials are correctly managed. In the petroleum industry, gasoline and diesel are commonly used volatile substances, thus knowing their flash points is integral to avoid accidents and ensure safe operating conditions. Koehler Instrument Company’s K71000 Automatic Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Flash Point Analyzer is an automated flash point tester that determines the flash point of flammable substances, such as biodiesel or mixtures of petroleum liquids with solids. By utilizing the closed-cup method, all vapors evaporated from the liquid are contained. This simulates a scenario where a stored liquid is accidentally introduced to an ignition source in storage. This poster will highlight the importance of flash point testing and evaluate the operating procedures of the PMCC flash point instrument.
 

#106

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Design and Development for a New ASTM Test Technique to Study Fuel Corrosion

The accelerated iron corrosion test (AICT) is a method used to determine if an iron component is affected by corrosion in the presence of water. Determining possible corrosion while using certain petroleum products is crucial to ensure the safe transport and storage of fuels and oils. In the case where there is excess corrosion, consequences will arise causing serious damage to the pipeline and leading to unnecessary expenses. Koehler Instrument Company’s latest AIC tester can efficiently and accurately determine iron corrosion of petroleum products in accordance with ASTM D7548. The results produced can be compared with the standard test result to determine the degree of corrosion. Considerations, such as picking the appropriate material to store or transport fuels or adding the right amount of inhibitor to the pipeline, must be examined in an attempt to decrease the degree of corrosion. These corrective actions are implemented if the presence of rust formed during the test exceeds a certain threshold. This poster will highlight the importance of iron corrosion testing and describe the operating procedures for this AIC tester.
 

#108

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Significance of Measuring the Water Washout Characteristics of Lubricating Greases

The newly designed Water Washout test, which fully conforms to ASTM D1264, is used to measure the ability of a grease to remain intact in a bearing when the sample is either submerged or sprayed with a water jet. This test measures the percent of grease removal within a specified period of time under predetermined conditions. The results obtained from the water washout test are applied to the selection process of grease in order to enhance the life of a machine by allowing outdoor machinery to require less frequent replacement and repair. When exposed to water contamination, such as by rain, mechanical failures occur at an increased rate through corrosion, oxidation, rust, or bearing failure. These mechanical failures can be partially avoided if a proper water-resistant grease is used, which adheres better to surfaces and can thus prevent certain corrosion and rust. Grease can be water-resistant in three alternative ways, either by being water repellent, insoluble or by mixing with water without any changes to the chemical or physical properties. The newly designed Water Washout Tester finds the percentage of grease washed out from a ball bearing within an hour when under constant pressure from a water stream, thus the standard technique can be used to compare a variety of greases for how well they can withstand water exposure. This poster will showcase the usage of the water washout test and the importance of the test when applied to the life of a machine.
 

#109

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Assessment of the Wear Aspects of the Boundary Lubrication Properties via a Newly Designed Ball-on-Cylinder Lubrication Evaluator (BOCLE)

Determination of frictional wear is crucial as wear can become a major problem in vehicle engines as prolonged metal-metal exposure occurs. The frictional wear between the surfaces is advanced under high-speed rotation resulting in a permanently shortened lifespan of the engine components. In order to prevent wear and save unnecessary expenses, lubricant is applied to reduce the friction. Lubricity can be defined as how easy a lubricant such as oil or fuel can protect engine components from wear. The level of lubricity of an oil or fuel can be determined accurately using Koehler Instrument Company’s K94190 instrument. The instrument is pre-loaded with standard ASTM D5001 method that uses Ball-on-Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator (BOCLE) to determine the lubricity. Assessing the wear aspects and choosing a proper fuel and lubricant, allows for the prolonging of machinery lifespan in addition to a reduction in diagnostic and replacement costs. This poster will highlight the importance of lubricity testing and describe the innovations in the newly designed BOCLE instrument.
 

#110

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Determination of the Octane Number of Fuels Using a Near IR Technology Adopted into a Handheld Octane Analyzer

The newly developed handheld fuel analyzer helps determine the Pump Octane Number (PON), Research Octane Number (RON), and Motor Octane Number (MON) of unleaded gasoline, ethanol blended gasoline, leaded gasoline, and diesel fuels, as well as the Cetane Number. This handheld device has been shown to have excellent accuracy and repeatability comparable to ASTM engine test techniques (ASTM D2699, D2700). ASTM D2699 is a test method for the Research Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel, while ASTM D2700 is a test method for the Motor Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel. The octane number scale ranges from 0 to 120, while this test method’s working range for R.O.N. is between 40 to 120. Typical commercial fuels for spark-ignition engines have R.O.N ratings of 88 to 101. Testing of gasoline blend stocks or other process stream ingredients might result in R.O.N. ratings at various levels. Over 60 countries across the world utilize handheld octane analyzers, with about 45 states in the United States using them. This design can test the octane value of gasoline quickly, easily, and precisely without causing any damage to the sample. Handheld octane analyzers have dominated portable gasoline analysis in fuel labs, research institutions, repair shops, and pipelines, along with being extremely easy and convenient to use. Improved NearIR optics and a user-friendly interactive display have also made it possible to determine fuel quality quickly and accurately at the pump, rack, terminal, and in production. The details of this innovative technique will be discussed in this poster.
 

#111

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Determination of the Hard to Quantify Property of Tackiness for a Variety of Lubricating Greases Using a Newly Developed Tackiness Tester

The tackiness of a lubricant grease is defined as the cohesiveness or stickiness of the grease and its ability to form thread-like structures when being pulled apart. The simplest method to determine the tackiness is through the finger test. This test is conducted by placing a small amount of your sample to be squeezed between your thumb and index finger and slowly pulling them apart. This allows for the tester to gain a qualitative estimate of low, moderate, or high tackiness. However, the subjective nature of this test causes variability in test results and a lack of standardization. In this poster, we observe how the K95200 Tackiness Tester conducts a similar type of test as the finger test but will produce a quantitative result by calculating the amount of force exerted to separate the sample between its two metal plates after its compression. This innovative and easy-to-use instrument is able to produce accurate and repeatable quantitative results for grease tackiness through the use of a standardized technique.
 

#112

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Why EDXRF is a Unique Tool in the Petroleum Chemist Toolbox

The determination and analysis of the content of crude oils and and other petroleum products is an integral part of the refinement process, ensuring that the metal content of the crude oil is at an acceptable level. If the presence of certain metals in the crude oil is too high, it can create imperfections during the refining process. Additionally, it is imperative to monitor the chlorine content, as the presence of chlorine can lead to corrosion if it goes unchecked through refinement. The EDXRF Elemental Analyzer is equipped to make these determinations rapidly and with a great deal of qualitative detail and quantitative accuracy. The instrument is capable of determining the total sulfur content and total lead content in petroleum products, such as diesel fuel, jet fuel, kerosene, other distillate oil, naphtha, residual oil, lubricating base oil, hydraulic oil, crude oil, unleaded gasoline, and gasohol. The EDXRF features a high performance silicon drift semiconductor detector, peltier electronic cooling, and an optimum balance of spectral resolution and high count rate. Due to the EDXRF’s speed and precision, it can be used repeatedly at multiple points before refinement in order to ensure the most desirable content of crude oil. In addition to gathering such measurements, the EDXRF is fitted with a suite of software that enables thorough analysis of data.

 

#113

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Use of a Newly Designed Shear Stability Tester to Study Lubricants Subjected to Mechanical Shearing

Proper lubrication is critical for maintaining the integrity of industrial equipment and instrumentation. Majority of multigrade lubricants contain viscosity modifiers to raise the viscosity index (VI) and ensure that the lubricant can form a sufficiently thick coating to protect machinery from various forms of degradation. The majority of viscosity modifiers (VM) are composed of polymers that are vulnerable to shear thinning. Shear thinning can reduce the viscosity of a lubricant by an entire ISO grade, therefore putting moving parts at risk of deterioration. To guarantee the fluid’s viscosity is stable, shear stability tests are conducted to evaluate the fluid’s characteristics under shear stress and temperature changes. Determining the shear stability of a fluid is the capability of an oil or lubricant to maintain its viscosity characteristic over a series of applications due to mechanical shearing. The nature of these tests, describes the effects shearing has on viscosity parameters, whether change in temperature differences or on recurrence of machine use. Such use has the chance to result in a decrease in acceptance values for that specific fluid. When fluids and lubricants are subjected to varied temperature changes, testing methods are performed to ensure those of high viscosity index are still acceptable when placed under mechanical shearing. The newly designed Shear Stability Tester is an instrument designed to test oils and other fluids under shearing on intervals of 30 cycles up to 120 cycles starting from 0. Based on the results from each test, oils that experience a smaller viscosity reduction during the course of the test are considered to have greater shear stability compared to oils with a relatively significant decline. This poster discusses the new instrument and the ASTM technique developed to measure shear stability.
 

#114

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Significance of Reducing Air Contamination in Lubricants in Operating Machinery & How This Property Can Be Studied in the Laboratory

Air contamination in the fluid is a major concern that can cause severe damage to machinery and negatively influence its reliability. In most hydraulic and lubricating oil systems, lubricants will be polluted by contaminants in four main forms, dissolved, entrained, free, and foam. These contaminants can cause numerous problems, such as excessive noise, thermal degradation, and cavitation, and can also shorten equipment lifespan and compromise lubricant integrity. To avoid complications and corrosion when selecting lubricants for varied applications, it is important to measure their air-release properties, so that they can undergo an appropriate air releasing process prior to their application. The Koehler K88530 Air Release Value Analyzer is an innovative instrument that can be intuitively used to determine air-release property. Its highly integrated and automatic advantages lead it to become not only powerful but also user-friendly. With its high-performance screen, users can operate this machine precisely and read all necessary data easily. The analysis method this device used is ASTM D3427 Standard Test Method for Air Release Properties of Petroleum Oils. The unit heats samples to a specified test temperature before blowing them with compressed air. Subsequently, the instrument can measure the air bubbles’ “separation time” by the time required for the air contamination to decrease to 0.2% by volume after stopping airflow. Then it will give users the result directly and also provide further data storage and transmission support.
 

#115

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Standardized Assessment of Flow Properties of Lubricating Greases at Below Ambient Temperatures & Development of a New Grease Flow Tester

In the modern industrial world lubricating greases are a necessity for the assurance that vehicles and machinery are operating to their fullest potential. Lubricant greases are composed of base oil, thickeners, and additives which can yield varying performances given unique characteristics contingent on the type and proportion of each of the three components in each grease. However, most of these greases in practical use are optimized for ambient temperatures and would become viscous in low temperatures causing pumpability and machine performance to suffer due to decreased lubricating effect of the grease throughout a vessel. Commercial lubricant greases optimized for low temperatures are rare due to the lack of instruments able to properly test lubricants according to the DIN51805 Kesternich method to ensure validity of experimental results. The K95300 Low Temperature Grease Flow Tester has been developed in accordance with the Kesternich method in order to overcome this deficiency and provide an economic and safe way to measure the flow properties of various lubricating greases in extreme cold temperatures to find which are most suitable for operational use. This poster will examine how this instrument can reliably determine the flow properties of various lubricating greases at adjustable cold temperatures in a manner pursuant with the Kesternich Method.
 

#116

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Development of a Microscale Vapor Pressure Analyzer to Assess the Dangers of Fumes and its Possible Health Effects

Petroleum products are widely used throughout transportation and industrial manufacturing sectors, but are known to be associated with causing various health issues due to their emitted fumes. According to statistical data, there are multiple cases of deaths reported which were attributed to hydrocarbon gasses and vapors. Measurement of the vapor pressure of petroleum-derived products is essential for obtaining an indication of how a fuel will perform under different operating conditions. Various government agencies regulate the specification of petroleum products and maximum vapor pressure limits are legally mandated in certain areas for air pollution control. Acquiring accurate and reliable vapor pressure measurements is important for ensuring the proper transport and storage of petroleum products as well.The K24870 Automatic Microscale Vapor Pressure Analyzer can determine the total vapor pressure exerted in a vacuum by air-containing, volatile, liquid petroleum products, automotive spark-ignition fuels, hydrocarbons, and hydrocarbon-oxygenate mixtures in accordance with ASTM D5191 and D6378. This newly designed instrument utilizes the Triple-Expansion Principal for vapor pressure determination, which involves the volumetric expansion of tested samples by X times in three steps. By taking the difference of the total pressure after final expansion and the partial pressure from dissolved air, the vapor pressure of the sample is calculated. This innovative Microscale Vapor Pressure Analyzer is fully automated and only requires a small sample size of 1 mL for testing and 2.5 mL for rinsing. The instrument is easy-to-use and is the ideal tool for vapor pressure determination to avoid safety hazards and health implications and promote proper petroleum management.
 

#118

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Advances in Nanotechnology Related to the Chemical Industry

Nanotechnology is a type of technology that fits these three qualities; it must be between 1 and 100 nanometers, must be useful due to its size, and can be easily manipulated. Recently, nanotechnology has been found useful in a variety of industries like energy production, lubrication, medical problems, and agriculture. In this poster, the main focus is on the advances in nanotechnology in lubrication. It was found through the disc-on-disc test that the nanoparticles in lubricants allow for more efficient use as it decreases the coefficient of friction and reduces wear. It was discovered that when the lubricant contains nanoparticles, there has been evidence of the rolling effect, mending effect, polishing effect, and the formation of a protective film. With these effects, nanoparticles were able to help lubricants decrease the coefficient of friction and reduce wear. Additionally, the addition of nanoparticles is cheap which means that production costs will increase dramatically due to the addition of nanoparticles. Therefore, nanoparticles are cheap and efficient in lubrication.