PULUODY PLD-510A Petroleum Pour and Cloud Point Tester

Overview

The PULUODY PLD-510A Petroleum Pour and Cloud Point Tester is a precision-engineered instrument designed for the standardized determination of pour point and cloud point in crude oils, distillates, lubricants, and other petroleum-based fluids. It operates in strict compliance with ASTM D97 (equivalent to GB/T 510 in China), enabling laboratories to assess low-temperature flow behavior critical for transportation, storage, and operational safety in cold climates. The instrument employs a dual-stage refrigeration architecture—comprising a cascade compressor system—to achieve stable, controllable sub-zero thermal environments. Its measurement principle relies on visual observation of sample phase transition under controlled cooling rates: cloud point is identified as the temperature at which wax crystals first become visible upon cooling; pour point is defined as the lowest temperature at which the sample remains fluid enough to flow under gravity when held horizontally for five seconds. This methodology forms the basis of international specifications for fuel winterization, refinery blending control, and quality assurance in downstream petrochemical operations.

Key Features

• Two-tier cascade refrigeration system ensures rapid, uniform cooling from ambient to –68 °C (PLD-510A-B configuration), minimizing thermal gradients across the cold bath
• Digital PID temperature controller with ±1 °C stability and real-time display, calibrated against traceable NIST-traceable reference thermometers
• Stainless-steel cold bath (200 × 90 × 120 mm) optimized for simultaneous testing of up to three standard ASTM D97 sample tubes with minimal cross-contamination risk
• Low-power consumption design (<800 W) compliant with IEC 61000-3-2 harmonic emission limits for laboratory equipment
• Integrated safety interlocks including over-temperature cut-off, compressor high-pressure shutdown, and condensate overflow detection
• Modular construction enables field-replaceable refrigeration components and simplified maintenance per ISO 13374 condition monitoring guidelines

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The PLD-510A accommodates standard 34-mL or 50-mL ASTM D97 glass test tubes and supports a broad range of hydrocarbon-based samples—including diesel fuels, heating oils, base oils, and residual fuels—with viscosities up to 1000 cSt at 40 °C. It meets the mechanical and thermal performance requirements outlined in ASTM D97, ISO 3016, and GB/T 510. All temperature sensors are certified to IEC 60751 Class B accuracy. The unit’s electrical design conforms to IEC 61010-1 for laboratory equipment safety, while its thermal management architecture aligns with ISO 8502-2 for low-temperature test apparatus validation. For regulated environments, the system supports manual audit trails required under GLP and GMP frameworks, though it does not include electronic signature or 21 CFR Part 11-compliant software natively.

Software & Data Management

The PLD-510A operates via embedded firmware with no external PC dependency. Temperature setpoints, hold times, and cooling ramp profiles are configured directly through the front-panel keypad and LCD interface. Real-time bath temperature is continuously displayed with 0.1 °C resolution. While the base model lacks automated data logging, optional RS-232 or USB-to-serial interfaces enable connection to third-party LIMS or SCADA systems for time-stamped temperature capture. Users may export session metadata—including start/stop timestamps, final observed pour/cloud points, and operator ID—via CSV-compatible serial output. Calibration records and maintenance logs must be retained manually per ISO/IEC 17025 documentation requirements.

Applications

• Refinery QC labs performing routine pour point verification on diesel blends prior to winter-grade certification
• Independent testing laboratories conducting ASTM D97-compliant assessments for API RP 1172 pipeline flow assurance studies
• Lubricant manufacturers evaluating wax inhibition efficacy of pour point depressants (PPDs)
• Marine fuel testing per ISO 8217 Annex A for cloud point compliance in arctic shipping zones
• R&D departments correlating low-temperature rheological behavior with compositional analysis (e.g., saturates/aromatics/resins/asphaltenes ratios)
• Government metrology institutes performing interlaboratory comparison trials under ILAC MRA protocols

FAQ

What standards does the PLD-510A comply with?
It fully satisfies the apparatus requirements of ASTM D97, ISO 3016, and GB/T 510 for manual pour and cloud point determination.
Can the PLD-510A be used for automatic detection?
No—it is a manually operated visual assessment system; automated optical detection requires add-on modules not included in the base configuration.
Is calibration certificate included with shipment?
A factory calibration report is provided; however, users must perform initial verification using certified reference oils (e.g., NIST SRM 2721) before first use.
What maintenance intervals are recommended for the cascade refrigeration system?
Compressor oil and filter replacement every 12 months or 2000 operating hours, whichever occurs first, per manufacturer service bulletin SB-PLD510A-REV3.
Does the cold bath accommodate non-standard sample containers?
Only ASTM D97–specified cylindrical glass tubes (34 mL or 50 mL) are supported; custom holders require mechanical adaptation and void warranty coverage.