Power Generation: Site Design, Installation, and Connection

[ChadD]

I know that fuel can go bad, so what's a good method for me to check the quality of my diesel fuel?  What kinds of things should I be ckecking for?  And, how often should I check?

[tmcadams]

I would start by sampling the fuel every month if you suspect a problem and you would need to send the sample off to a lab to check for particulate and microbial growth in the tank. Or home diagnosis would be to put some product in a clear clean mason jar and let it set for a couple hours to check for particulate separation and water.

[ChadD]

Thank you for the advice!

[Tech1]

Depending on the size and location of your fuel tank it may be easier to use a water indicating paste on a stick that you dip into the tank, As previously posted fuel sampling is a good idea at least once a year( at time of service).There are several additives on the market to help with the stability of the fuel(slows down the oxidation process)and slowing down the formation of particulate and reducing the likelihood of fuel varnishing on injection components. the fuel sampling should check for algae growth,particulate and water. 

[CraigArnold]

In my experience diesel fuel deterioration is a combination of moisture, algea growth and the fuel quality issues due to the way modern diesel fuels are no longer simply distillate fuel, but rather a blend of cracked and distillate fuel.  There are different problems if you are using your fuel or if it is just standing in the tank - so there isnt a simple one size fits all solution.  Again this is only my personal experience from the 3000 odd diesel generator installations that our company operates and maintains, but diesel fuel conditioning is a hugely under-rated area in generator application engineering.  The best company I have found for dealing with the various problems is Algae-X - you can track down their web address through google and find a local distributor who should be able to help you define your needs

[Meijer]

Sorry, but forget all expensive testing of diesel fuels.

Just go to an olde dutch trick as used on the internal waterways.

Guess you know the Melita coffee filter system??

These are filters to make coffee.

Get a package of white paper ones.

(Not the brown environmental friendly ones!!)

Take a single drop from the diesel fuel to be tested and let if fall on the filter material while the filter lays horizontal.

Do not move or fumble with the coffee filter aftwerwards, Leave it alone and only look at it.

Leave the filter for about an hour alone!!!!

You will see the drop spreading out.

The drop will show up in several rings.

With different colours for the various substances in the fuel.

The eventual water in the fuel will spread out more to the outside.

Dirt remains in the middle and Algea will spread out abit further as the dirt, but will remain as well close to the cneter.

Try around with several tests, mix some water, mix some dust and dirt and mix with some other used lub oil for example.

You have to learn how to look at the cringles whit the pollution as well.

Try to do the same with the lubricating oils in the engine.

Do the test every time you bunker fuels.

Do it as well by draining fuels from filters, before and after the filter.

Get used to the system and learn how to read the circles.

Have fun,

Hans 

[alebraz-energy]

hi ,this is alebraz-energy,

i am fuel specialist :

start like this:

 order an qualified fuel...

pick an extendet bunker sheet with your supplier,

take 3-4 samples ,when bunkering takes place,amount,minimum 5 liters each,

check this samples with your lab,or qualified clab

prepare your bunkerline to settling tank  with an dubbel -duplex,change over filter,with an filter mesh of 100 micron!!!!!

and the layout must be dubbel the flow rate of the supply pump,f.ex.:pumpflow max:20 m3/h,filter calculation must be for 40 m3/h!!!! with automatik change over device,and alarm

and now you need very clear separate your fuel oil,diesel,or HFO,with heat:  diesel oil--at about,45-50°C, and HFO,at about 98°C!!!!

after that you have an most clean fuel ,you need,after wards you can carry out other tests,if you like,but its mostly not nessecary

have success

juergen from manaus

[catman4567]

I have been around diesel generator and marine engines for some 25 years and you name it we tried it algae is the enemy

of fuel tanks when tanks sweat form heat to cold there is a thin line between the water and fuel. Water has a heaver viscosity and settles

to the bottom of the tank.  One of the best products I encounter while working in the parts operation was a product call made

by penray and is call fireprep 1000 this will disperse the algae without plugging the filters.  if the problem has completely gotten out of control

most marine shops has a machine that has a big cylinder with 6 replaceable 1000 racor filter that are 2 micron with hose inlet and

outlet fuel is moved thru the racor machine and then returned cleaned back into the motor vessel or large fuel tank. somewhat expense

try the fireprep first.  In my years of parts and sales i am scared to death of snake oil brands and had a many customer create a night

mare over this.  Preray has their on chemist and do not rebrand this product to anyother vendors.  hope this helps.  jim.

{Personal information removed to prevent spam}

Message Edited by IanSee on 12-29-2008 03:18 PM

[docdsl]

For distillates such as Gas Oil (DMA, DMX) and Diesels (DMB, DMC) first priority is to maintain tank bottoms as dry as possible by routine stripping to eliminate micro-bacteriological contamination.  Bacteria need a water interface to develop and the light distillates, particularly DMA and DMX are most likely to be affected.  The slightly higher sulfur content of DMB and DMC fuels tends to inhibit such growth.  In severe situations such as tropical environments the use of biocide's are recommended or continuous recirculation of storage tanks through centrifugal separators or coalescing filters.  It does not hurt ro run a routine analysis to ISO-8217 standards particularly in the case of standby generators serving critical needs. This will give a total picture of the fuels suitability.  Handy self test kits are available for bacteriological testing.  Once bacteriological contamination has set in it is generally not possible to recover the fuel.  This is usually indicated by foul odor (H2S) or a slimy, milk shake like consistency to the oil.  In such cases, tanks must be drained, cleaned and thoroughly dried prior to topping up again.  For those in the power generation or marine sectors routine analysis is also required to ensure the fuels on hand meet the particular sulfur level requirements for the areas you are operating in.

[FrictionRX]

Lubrication Engineers , Inc. has a product called " BTU2410 which is the complete formula including winterizing or BTU2420 sold minus the winterizers.Either one will remove the oxygen bubbles where your fuel meets water and without oxygen you cannot have any algae. Some machine owners and mechanics will tell of a nasty stringy glue-like mess found in fuel strainers, this is algae dissolved by the fuel. L.E. 's products contain proprietary lubricants and oxidation stabilizers and additives that will make the fuel combust completely for performance and economy. A recent visit to a fleet manager for one of the biggest oil field service companies in the world revealed an great success with BTU2420 on a C12 CAT where the fuel mileage went from 3.6 to 6.1. Check them out, there are a lot of great products out there but these two seem to deliver better than anything else.