Your diesel engine needs two essential supplies to be reliable:

           Air with an adequate oxygen content, (readily available, of course)

           and

           Clean, uncontaminated fuel.

If your fuel has been stored for anything longer than a few months without usage, there is a danger of contamination.  Stored fuel will deteriorate over time and the fuel suppliers only guarantee their products for SIX MONTHS when in bulk storage.

Contamination – Water
The most common contaminant is WATER, usually building up from condensation. The water molecules can infiltrate the fuel molecules leading to either, or both, a blockage of the filters and/or a reduction in the fuels performance. And water can seriously damage parts of your generator or engine such as the injectors or the seals and gaskets. At worst, the fuel will be too hydrolised to work at all.

Contamination – Bacteria
Water can also encourage the build-up of microbes, bacteria and even fungi which can develop many types of sludge and residue within the fuel. This biomass may drop to the bottom of the tank or it may suspend in the fuel. Either way, it will clog up the filters and lead to expensive damage to equipment, with breakdowns in power supply.

How bacterial content forms in diesel (middle distillate fuel)
For this experiment, diesel fuel was added to water and left in a sealed container at approximately 15 degrees centigrade. Over a short period of time, the bacteria has started to germinate, creating the biomass. This in turn “eats” the hydrocarbons in the fuel, creating the sludge as waste.
 

A close-up image of the biomass

Contamination – Oxidisation
All fuels will deteriorate over time, including the latest low-sulphur types. The most common effect is a sediment which forms in the tank. These build-ups will not pass through the filters on your generator and will lead to expensive damage and repair costs.

The Dangers: • Clogged filters • Slimy build-up • Excessive smoke • Algae or fungi • Sludge or waxy deposits • Hazy/misty fuel • Smell of ‘rotten eggs’ • Sputtering • Frequent filter changes • Corrosion of the engine parts • Damaged seals and gaskets • Reduced power output from the generator • Power supply breakdown!

What do the Fuel Companies recommend?
Until now, they have recommended draining the tank and replacing the fuel, at considerable expense for you, especially with prices rising so fast. They are beginning to recommend regular fuel polishing – to see a recent report by Shell click here.

What is the Best Solution?
DFC visit your premises with one of our mobile Fuel Polishing Systems. Our engineer will cycle the fuel through our machine where it is cleaned and conditioned, removing any water, contamination, bacterial growth or biomass. He returns the fuel to your tank re-optimised and ready for use. He will usually add a special fuel catalyst which will help to dissolve any build-up of sludge material and biomass. For details see ‘What is Fuel Polishing?’ and ‘Consumables’.

Is There an Alternative Solution?
Yes, you can purchase a Fuel Polishing machine from us.  We can install it in your premises, subject to certain site conditions. You would operate the machine periodically to ‘polish’ your fuel and maintain its permanent readiness. Usually, the machine is set to run automatically for up to six hours. It collects fuel from the bottom of the tank, conditions it, and returns it to the top of the tank, furthest from the collection point. If the machine detects a potential filter blockage, it will switch itself off and send a warning signal for your operator to carry out a simple service before restarting the machine.

Free Testing Service
See web page ‘Testing Service’