CEN/TR 16982:2016

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2016
Dizelske mešanice in goriva - Vprašanja glede hladnega filtriranja
Diesel blends and fuels - Cold filterability issues
Dieselkraftstoffe und Mischungen - Kaltefiltrierbarkeit Problematiik
Combustibles et blends pour moteurs diesel (gazole) - Problems avec filtrabilité en
temperatures bas
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 16982:2016
ICS:
75.160.20 7HNRþDJRULYD Liquid fuels
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

CEN/TR 16982
TECHNICAL REPORT
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
September 2016
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
ICS 75.160.20
English Version
Diesel blends and fuels - Cold filterability issues
Combustibles et blends pour moteurs diesel (gazole) - Dieselkraftstoffe und Mischungen - Kaltefiltrierbarkeit
Problems avec filtrabilité en temperatures bas Problematiik

This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 8 July 2016. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 19.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2016 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 16982:2016 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Background to this Technical Report . 5
3 Issues in specific European markets . 5
3.1 UK experience . 5
3.2 Sweden . 7
3.3 Italy. 11
4 Cold operability rig tests . 12
4.1 Infineum Freezer Rig . 12
4.2 PSA Filter Rig . 15
5 Filterability test developments . 17
5.1 Total contamination test (EN 12662, WG 31) . 17
5.2 CS-FBT (WG 31) . 18
5.3 Cold FBT (Energy Institute SC-B-5) . 18
6 Other experiences . 21
6.1 Afton investigations . 21
6.2 Argent experience with distilled TME . 24
6.3 Diesel fuel cold operability correlation (WG 34) . 26
7 Discussion and next steps . 28
Bibliography . 29

European foreword
This document (CEN/TR 16982:2016) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 19 “Gaseous
and liquid fuels, lubricants and related products of petroleum, synthetic and biological origin”, the
secretariat of which is held by NEN.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
At the plenary meeting in June 2015, CEN/TC 19 took Decision 45-2015 for new work under WG 24 to
produce a Technical Report titled “CEN/TR Diesel blends - Cold filterability issues” with the scope to
capture the key points raised in the presentations and discussions at the WG 24 Filter Blocking
Workshop held on 1 June 2015. Consequently, this Technical Report documents the findings,
interpretations and opinions of those involved in presenting the information, and these should not be
considered as the opinion of WG 24.
Introduction
During recent winters, a wide range of vehicles has been affected in specific European countries and
there is a possible link with FAME composition, base diesel quality, cold flow additives and oxidation
stability effects. In order to solve these issues, some countries have introduced new additional
requirements in their national fuel quality specifications or “best practice” market agreements:
• In the UK, a clear correlation between low temperatures and increased vehicle filter blocking was
reported, with ambient temperatures below 3 °C thought to be critical. The introduction by fuel
suppliers of a voluntary Filter Blocking Test limit of 2,52 in February 2014 seems to have improved
the situation, but has not solved the problem.
• In Italy, ENI recommended that ASTM D2709 could be an alternative method for fast evaluation of
contaminants in FAME. ENI also suggested, as an intermediate solution, a filtration step in
refineries or terminals to improve FAME quality if needed. In ENI’s experience, implementing this
quality control “best practice” in Italy, in collaboration with their biofuel suppliers, has resulted in
no further vehicle filter blocking incidents being reported in the last two years.
• In France, to solve the diesel fuel filter plugging when the decrease in temperature continues slowly
over several days, the saturated methyl ester content in FAME was limited in winter to a maximum
of 16 % (m/m) and in summer to a maximum of 30 % (m/m) in national law.
st
CEN/TC 19/WG 24 organized a workshop on the 1 of June 2015 in order to clarify the issue, to gather
relevant data and to propose recommendations to CEN/TC 19 with respect to changes to the EN 590
(regular B7 diesel), EN 16734 (B10), EN 16709 (B20/B30) and EN 14214 (B100) standards to protect
the market from filter blocking.
At the end of the workshop, it was agreed that a CEN Technical Report should be produced
documenting the WG 24 Filter Blocking Workshop held on 01 June 2015 (i.e. this report). It therefore
lays down the status-quo of the evidence on filter blocking issues in the European market at that point
in time. It should be read as such and later information will still be valuable for CEN/TC 19 specification
drafting.
1 Scope
This Technical Report provides the latest thinking described during a workshop on 1 June 2015 by
national experts involved in the investigations, and proposes possible solutions to solve the diesel fuel
filter plugging issues in these countries.
NOTE For the purposes of this Technical Report, the terms “% (m/m)” and “% (V/V)” are used to represent
respectively the mass fraction, µ, and the volume fraction, φ.
2 Background to this Technical Report
A filter blocking workshop was organized by CEN/TC 19/WG 24 on 01 June 2015 in London in response
to an increasing number of diesel vehicle filter blocking occurrences in several European countries
(Italy, Sweden and the UK), particularly during the winter period. The purpose of the workshop was to
share experiences and learnings from each affected country, identify common links and discuss possible
solutions. The workshop also considered the development status of the various rig and laboratory tests
designed to investigate and prevent low temperature filter blocking. The ultimate aim of the workshop
was to make recommendations to WG 24 with respect to changes to the EN 590, EN 16734 (B10),
EN 16709 (B30) and EN 14214 standards to protect the end user.
In his introductory comments, the WG 24 convenor advised that a wide range of vehicles is being
affected in several European countries and that there is a possible link with FAME composition, base
diesel quality, cold flow additives and oxidation stability effects. He also underlined the importance of
ensuring that the CEN diesel fuel specifications are robust and protect the consumer.
The workshop included a number of technical presentations on the topics that are described in the
Clauses 3 to 6 (order of presentation is followed). Publication of this Technical Report was one of the
agreed actions from the workshop (see Clause 7).
3 Issues in specific European markets
3.1 UK experience
A summary of the diesel vehicle filter blocking trends in the UK over the past few years was provided.
The monthly “baseline” level of diesel vehicle breakdowns due to filter blocking since 2009, as reported
by the Automobile Association (AA), was around 200. However, during the past three winters, filter
blocking breakdowns had risen to 5 times this level, with most of this increase occurring in the regions
of Northeast England, Central Scotland, East Anglia and Southeast England.
A clear correlation between low temperatures and increased vehicle filter blocking was reported, with
ambient temperatures below 3 °C thought to be critical. The introduction by fuel suppliers of a
voluntary FBT limit of 2,52 for Bx diesel in February 2014 seemed to have improved the situation, but
has not solved the problem. The UK experienced ~19 % reduction in the number of vehicle breakdowns
due to filter blocking in winter 2014/15 compared to the previous winter, despite winter 2014/15
having many more cold nights below 0 °C in the most impacted regions (the minimum nightly
temperature averaged for London, Glasgow and Middlesbrough was below 0 °C for 7 nights in winter
2013/14 compared to 30 nights in winter 2014/15).
Data from an extensive UK-wide retail diesel sampling program conducted by a major fuel retailer were
presented. In addition, test results from a UK Department for Transport nationwide retail diesel
sampling program undertaken between January 2015 to March 2015 were also presented. Data
reported by region from both sampling programs included FBT (both ambient by procedure B and cold
soak), Total Contamination, FAME content, saturated FAME content and particle counting. To provide a
broader European context, FBT results from another retail diesel survey conducted across 8 European
countries by a major international fuel retailer were shared.
A number of observations were made on the data from these fuel sampling programs:
a) Ambient FBT and Cold Soak FBT tests gave very similar results.
b) FBT results show several excursions above the UK voluntary limit of 2,52. In particular, the timing
of one cluster of excursions corresponded with a higher number of vehicle failures due to filter
blocking.
c) FBT results for diesel in other European countries are lower than in UK diesel (see Figure 1). Out of
111 samples, no FBT results were measured above 1,7 and most were below 1,1.
d) It was noted that the level of imported diesel fuel into the UK had increased considerably over the
time period. It was also highlighted that base diesel fuels can have an impact on FBT results.
e) FAME content of UK diesel was fairly static over the period 2011 to 2015 at an average of 3 % (V/V)
to 4 % (V/V). Regional differences exist with generally higher levels of FAME in Southeast England
and East Anglia, and lower levels in Scotland. It was also noted that FAME blending levels were not
the main trigger of occurrence of problems.
f) FAME used in the UK generally contains between (20 to 25) % (m/m) saturated FAME, however it
is sometimes up to ~40 % (m/m)
g) The highest saturated FAME levels in EN 590 diesel were found in samples from Southeast England
and East Anglia; whilst the lowest levels were measured in fuels from Scotland and the Midlands.
h) Particle count levels were high in some samples from the South East and East of England.

Figure 1 — Average and maximum FBT (right y-axis) by IP 387 Procedure B, average Total
Contamination in mg/kg and average FAME content in % (V/V) (left y-axis) from 111 samples of
diesel fuel collected from service stations in 8 European countries
The UK investigation also included analyses of deposits from blocked vehicle fuel filters and from the
Infineum freezer rig. The analysis of residues from blocked vehicle filters in winter 2012/13 found the
material to be mainly satura
...