Everything about The Cloud Point totally explained
The
Cloud point of a fluid is the temperature at which dissolved solids are no longer completely soluble, precipitating as a second phase giving the fluid a cloudy appearance. This term is relevant to several applications with different consequences.
In the petroleum industry, cloud point refers to the temperature below which
wax in diesel or biowax in
biodiesels form a cloudy appearance. The presence of solidified waxes thickens the oil and clogs fuel filters and injectors in engines. The wax also accumulates on cold surfaces (for example pipeline or heat exchanger
fouling) and forms an
emulsion with water. Therefore, cloud point indicates the tendency of the oil to plug filters or small orifices at cold operating temperatures.
In crude or heavy oils, cloud point is synonymous with
wax appearance temperature (WAT) and
wax precipitation temperature (WPT).
The cloud point of a nonionic
surfactant or
glycol solution is the
temperature where the mixture starts to phase separate and two phases appear, thus becoming cloudy. This behavior is characteristic of non-ionic surfactants containing
polyoxyethylene chains, which exhibit reverse solubility versus temperature behavior in water and therefore "cloud out" at some point as the temperature is raised.
Glycols demonstrating this behavior are known as "cloud-point glycols" and are used as
shale inhibitors (see Talk). The cloud point is affected by
salinity, being generally lower in more saline fluids.
Measuring cloud point of petroleum products
The test oil is required to be transparent in layers 40mm in thickness. The wax crystals typically first form at the lower circumferential wall with the appearance of a whitish or milky cloud. The cloud point is the temperature at which these crystals first appear.
The test sample is first poured into a test jar to a level approximately half full. A cork carrying the test thermometer is used to close the jar. The thermometer bulb is positioned to rest at the bottom of the jar. The entire test subject is then placed in a constant temperature cooling bath on top of a gasket to prevent excessive cooling.
At every 1°C, the sample is taken out and inspected for cloud then quickly replaced. Successively lower temperature cooling baths may be used depending on the cloud point.
Further Information
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