PRODUCT FAMILY
Cold Finger CF
Analyzing wax and paraffin deposits in crude oil
The Cold Finger is a high-precision laboratory instrument for examining wax and paraffin deposits in crude and petroleum oils. It is used worldwide for evaluating and screening wax and paraffin inhibitors.
This proven method is firmly established in the petroleum and petrochemical industries and is standard equipment in every modern wax and paraffin laboratory. As a specialist in flow assurance laboratory equipment, PSL Systemtechnik offers four different Cold Finger models – perfectly suited to different requirements and applications.
All PSL Cold Fingers benefit from our unique PSL Cold Finger Technology, which ensures maximum precision and repeatability. With reproducibility of over 95%, our instruments set standards in reliability and performance – and are therefore unmatched on the market.
The right instrument for every application
- Multi-Place Cold Finger CF6 - the 'Proven' with water bath
- Multi-Rack Cold Finger CF15 - the 'Professional' for many simple measurements with dry bath
- Coaxial-Shear Cold Finger cC6 - the 'Specialist' with rotating finger for shear forces
- mobile Cold Finger mCF2 - the 'Independent' for mobile use with 2 measuring stations
Application Areas for Cold Finger
The Cold Finger laboratory device is used to determine wax and paraffin deposits in crude oil, determine the total wax content, optimize paraffin inhibitors and carry out quality controls. The laboratory device is used to simulate the environmental conditions during transportation in the pipeline and storage.
Examine wax and paraffin deposits
Determine Wax Appearance Temperature WAT
Determine Wax Precipitation Temperature WPT
Develop and select wax inhibitors
Optimize inhibitor concentration
Determine total wax content
Our customer J&L Laboratories from Texas has tested the Cold Finger
Sam Pruitt of J&L Laboratories interviews Eric Trevino, who explains the process for developing wax and paraffine inhibitors.
Watch the full video and find out why leading laboratories worldwide rely on the PSL Cold Finger.
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More Information"And there is a reason that this is what all the labs, whoever ran cold fingers, this is the unit that they want – is the PSL Cold Finger."
Eric Trevino
Director of J&L Laboratories
The general measuring principle
The measuring principle of the cold finger simulates the temperature difference between the crude oil sample and an external wall, e.g. pipeline. This simulates the ambient conditions.
The cold finger as a laboratory device is constructed as follows: a metallic cooling finger is placed in a stirred and tempered crude oil sample. The wax contained in the oil begins to deposit on the surface of the cold finger.
The amount of wax deposits is weighed. The cold finger is removed either once or several times at fixed intervals and the amount of wax deposits is weighed.
The PSL Cold Finger Technology
PSL Cold Finger technology has been developed with the highest precision and user focus. Every single feature is designed to maximize efficiency, accuracy, and user-friendliness in the testing process.
The following overview shows how to translate technical features directly into practical benefits for users.
Overview of the benefits of PSL Cold Finger technology
Thanks to this clever overall design, PSL Cold Fingers deliver exceptionally accurate results with a repeatability of over 95%—even for samples with a wax content of just 1%. No other device on the market achieves this proven accuracy and superior reproducibility.
These features enable reliable product selection, significantly reduce the number of cold finger measurements required, and noticeably shorten your project lead times.
| PSL Cold Finger feature | User benefit |
|---|---|
| Repeatability > 95% at 1% wax content (depending on model) | Reduces measurement repetitions and shortens project durations |
| Ergonomic lifting unit / lift system | Increases work safety through safe and easy handling |
| Removable (weight-calibrated) finger sleeves | Precise wax determination (+/– 0.01g) without waste of material |
| Reusability of the sample saves valuable material | |
| Easy, safe handling and cleaning | |
| Temperature measurement directly under the surface of the finger | Highest precision in temperature control |
| Pt100 temperature sensor | Stable and precise measurements over long periods of time |
| Compact design | Space-saving and easily accessible for finger changes |
| Fixed and guided positions of probe and finger | Reproducible, user-independent results |
| Sealed sample cup | Prevents condensation for stable test conditions |
IN USE WORLDWIDE
Used by Leading Labs
Aim and benefits of cold finger measurements
The aims of the cold finger tests are to measure the wax precipitation temperature WPT, the total wax content, the wax appearance temperature WAT for practitioners and the influence of shear on the amount of wax deposited. The comparison of untreated and treated samples provides information on the effectiveness of the inhibitors used.
Possible Cold Finger Tests
- Determine Wax Deposition Temperature WDT
- Determine Wax Appearance Temperature WAT for best practice
- Amount of wax deposits over time at a constant temperature
- Total wax content of the crude oil sample
- Shear effects depending on the flow velocity
- Compare measurement results of untreated and inhibited samples
- Carry out reference measurements
- Developing, testing and optimizing wax and paraffin inhibitors
- Monitoring and avoiding wax deposits
The Construction
Proven with water bath or innovative with dry bath
The devices differ significantly when it comes to tempering the oil sample. The original/classic cold finger method uses an open water bath. This has limitations in terms of temperature range, handling and workplace safety.
PSL Systemtechnik revolutionised the design of the cold finger in 2011. With the Multi-Rack Cold Finger CF15, the method was modernised and adapted to the state of the art. PSL Systemtechnik thus created a new standard in cold finger measurement for petroleum laboratories.
One part of the innovation is the dry bath, an electrical temperature control of the sample. This enables a wider temperature range with greater work safety. In addition, the samples have been integrated into drawers. This significantly simplifies handling and allows further measurement options.
Online Demo for Cold Finger
During the product demonstration, you will gain many insights into how it works. You can follow the measuring process live and discuss your questions with our experts.
Software for Cold Finger product family
If you have connected the Cold Finger to the CFC software via a PC, you can use the computer to check the temperature and save the measured data from the scale directly. The software is connected to the thermostat, the controllers and the scale. You use the software to set the desired parameters, which are also documented immediately.
You can later analyse the experiment with its data and record individual measurements as well as interval measurements. This allows you to observe the wax deposits over time or at different temperatures in an experiment.
Important Data at a Glance
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Multi-Place Cold Finger CF6 - The Proven - |
Multi-Rack Cold Finger CF15 - The Profi - |
Coaxial Shear Cold Finger cCF6 - The Specialist - |
Mobile Cold Finger mCF2 - The Independent - |
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| Number of Fingers | 6 | 5, 10 or 15 | 6 | 2 |
| Temperature Range Sample | +30 .. +90 °C (+86 .. + 194 °F) |
+30 .. +120 °C (+86 .. +248 °F) -10 .. +80 °C (+14 .. +248 °F) - optionally |
+30 .. +90 °C (+86 .. + 194 °F) | +30 .. +100 °C (+86 .. +212 °F) |
| Temperature Range Cold Finger | -10 .. +65 °C (+14 .. +149 °F) |
-5 .. +65 °C (+23 .. +149 °F) -20 °C (-4 °F) - optionally |
-5 .. +65 °C (+23 .. +149 °F) | -5 .. +65 °C (+23 .. +149 °F) |
| Sample Volume | 80 ml or 220 ml | 80 ml | 220 ml | 80 ml |
| Stirrer speed in sample | 100 .. 2,000 1/min | 100 .. 2,000 1/min | 100 .. 2,000 1/min | 100 .. 2,000 1/min |
| Rotation Cold Finger | - | - | 100 .. 400 1/min | - |
| Tempering | water bath | dry bath | water bath | dry bath |
| Sample throughput | low up to medium | low up to high | low up to medium | low |
| Good to Know | Liftsystem for easy use, cost-effective entry model | automated, expandable, many options, up to 172 bar (2,500 psi) | rotating cool finger | portable, minimum space requirements |
| Maximum wax quantity difference | +/- 0,01 g | +/- 0,01 g | +/- 0,01 g | +/- 0,01 g |
| Repeat accuracy at ≥ 1% wax content | > 93 % | > 95 % | > 90 % | > 95 % |
| Evaporation water bath | < 10 % / h at 80 °C | 0 | approx. 20 % / h | 0 |
| PSL Cold Finger Technology | ||||
| Temperature sensor | Pt100 | Pt100 | Pt100 | Pt100 |
| Temperature measurement | Directly beneath the surface of the finger | |||
Cold Finger Product Family
THE PROVEN
Multi-Place Cold Finger
CF6
The ‘Proven’ with 6 measuring stations with water bath and innovative lift system for easier operation. The affordable entry-level model for low to medium sample throughput.
THE PROFESSIONAL
Multi-Rack Cold Finger
CF15
The ‘Professional’ in the laboratory with maximum flexibility, accuracy and safety. From 5 to 15 places with a wide temperature range, many options and used by leading laboratories.
THE SPECIALIST
Coaxial Shear Cold Finger
cCF6
The ‘Specialist’ with 6 rotating cooling fingers with water bath and lift system. It simulates the coaxial shear in the pipeline and measures the effects on the wax deposits.
THE INDEPENDENT
Mobile Cold Finger
mCF2
The ‘Independent’ with 2 measuring stations for mobile use or for low sample throughput. The PSL technology from its big brother has been implemented here in the smallest of spaces.