Diesel Carbon Residue Discussion Document
Making a Submission
The Ministry welcomes comments on the proposals outlined in this document. Please send your comments to: Philippa Blunden Fuels & Crown Resources Group Ministry of Economic Development PO Box 1473 Wellington New Zealand
or alternatively by email in a suitable electronic format to fuelspecs@med.govt.nz.
Please note the deadline for submissions is: 30 October 2006
Confidential Information
Respondents should note that written submissions or comments provided to the Ministry of Economic Development on the discussion paper will be subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA requires the information to be made available unless there is good reason, pursuant to the Act, to withhold the information; and that good reason outweighs the public interest in making the information available.
Background
The Ministry of Economic Development (“MED”) is responsible for policy relating to energy resources and energy markets. In undertaking these responsibilities MED administers the Petroleum Product Specifications Regulations 2002 (“the PPSR”) established under the Ministry of Energy (Abolition) Act 1989.
The PPSR set out standards affecting the performance of fuel, enabling consumers to purchase petrol and diesel to a quality standard appropriate for New Zealand's vehicle fleet. They include provisions limiting components that can be harmful to public health and vehicle systems.
Diesel Carbon Residue
The diesel carbon residue property is a measure of the tendency of diesel to form carbonaceous deposits in engines which can lead to stress, corrosion or cracking of components. The deposits of most concern are those which build up in the nozzles of fuel injectors. The amount of carbon in the fuel can be correlated with a tendency to form deposits, hence the use of a carbon residue test.
A technical issue presently exists with the current diesel specification for carbon residue (on 10% distillation residue) in the Petroleum Products Specifications Regulations 2002 (PPSR).
The diesel specification in the PPSR requires that the carbon residue (on 10% distillation residue) be 0.25% mass maximum when tested by ASTM D4530.
However, the ASTM D4530 requires the reporting of carbon residue to the nearest 0.1% mass only.
Consequently, in order to be consistent with the reporting required for ASTM D4530, the PPRS requires amendment, so that the specified maximum for diesel carbon residue is either 0.2% maximum or 0.3% maximum. This consistency with the ASTM requirements is important for the sourcing and supplying of diesel.
The Australian Diesel Standard requires the carbon residue to be 0.2% mass maximum. The European specification, EN590, sets the limit at 0.3% maximum. The World Wide Fuel Charter requires a diesel carbon residue of maximum of 0.3% mass for category 2 vehicles and 0.2% mass for category 3 and 4 vehicles. The New Zealand diesel vehicle fleet could be considered as a mix of category 2 and category.
Proposal
It is proposed that the PPSR diesel specification be amended to specify the diesel carbon residue (on 10% distillation residue) specification of 0.2% mass maximum, ASTM D4530 test method.
Questions
What are your views on the proposed diesel carbon residue (on 10% distillation residue) specification of 0.2% mass maximum, ASTM D4530 test method? You might like to comment on the following:
- Impact on sourcing diesel from regional and local refineries.
- Impact on the use of some pre-market/refining additives in diesel.
- Impact on the retail 5% biodiesel blends – 5% biodiesel blends would be required to comply with the PPSR diesel carbon residue specification of 0.2% mass maximum.
- Impact on vehicle operability.