It seems appropriate, on the 50^th anniversary of the first effective winter fuel additive (by modifying the wax crystals) that enabled the economic optimisation of distillate fuel production, to discuss the factors affecting the crystallization of conventional fuels and the differences which biofuel (e.g. fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)) have  introduced into the complex crystallization behaviour.

Nucleation of waxes from diesel fuels is very important to control. To this end, the pre-nucleation clustering of wax molecules (n-alkanes) has been investigated by small-angle scattering techniques. The preliminary data will be discussed and the future work proposed.

The crystal structures of n-alkane waxes have been reported in-depth and the crystal structures of biofuel components are also referenced  in the literature. New data will be discussed which shows significant differences with previously published data.

Finally, the science behind the practical application of diesel vehicle operation will be discussed with reference to the critical failure point in the fuel sysem, viz. the fuel filter. It is the blockage of these filters with wax crystals which stops the vehicles at low temperatures. In order to fully control the fuel flow, the filter porosity and flow tortuosity needs to be fully understood. X-Ray Tomography has been utilized to elucidate the complete filter structures. The first part of this work will be reported.

The economic low temperature operation of these fuels can only be guaranteed by the use of specially designed additives. Refineries could not operate without the use of thse additives and the work discussed form the background for the design of future advances.

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