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Expert advice on protecting equipment from corrosion and clogs
By Mark Stellmach, Fuel Management Services Inc.
efits of ultra-low heating oil will improve
the health of our industry on many levels.
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While the benefits outweigh the
negatives, there are issues with ultra-low
sulfur fuel that need to be understood and
subsequently addressed. There is plenty of
documentation and industry-wide expert
agreement that ultra-low fuels have caused
corrosion problems on metallic fuel dis-
pensing equipment.
Recently at the National Institute
for Storage Tank Management (NISTM)
conference in Albany, N.Y., there were two
presentations dedicated to the subject of
ULSD and its corrosive effects on petroleum
dispensing equipment. The point here is
that ultra-low fuels require different and
more stringent quality assurance/quality
control (QA/QC) and housekeeping prac-
tices than do higher sulfur fuels.
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While the corrosion and fouling prob-
lems are well documented and ongoing,
there are simple and effective house-
keeping and preventive maintenance
measures that can help the heating oil
Considering ULSD has a greater affinity
for moisture, the process of keeping fuel
and storage systems free and dry of water
is very important. Periodic fuel analysis as
part of a solid QA/QC program of stored
fuel in tanks is another important and
necessary step to eliminate the problem.
In addition to these two steps, the use and
treatment of an additive package that keeps
water out of fuel, provides film-forming
corrosion inhibition and helps establish
an unfavorable environment for microbe
growth is also necessary.
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In fact, the Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance
states that ULSD needs to be treated with
additives containing corrosion inhibitors to
prevent the known issues with corrosion.
Additive treatment with the correct com-
ponents has been shown through extensive
field use to reduce and eliminate the cor-
rosion and equipment fouling problems
caused by ULSD.
It is vitally important for our heating oil
industry to understand that ultra-low fuels
are different chemically and have different
properties and characteristics. With that
understanding, a plan of action should
Fuel Quality
industry to
not
experience what the other
ULSD markets have experienced over the
last six years or so.
follow to ensure that our heating oil industry
avoids the negative operational issues and
maximizes the positive operational
benefits of ultra-low fuels. There is
much information available on the
subject – with which we would be
happy to provide you.
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characteristics of ultra-low sulfur diesel are
demonstrating unwanted consequences,
contributing directly to accelerated corro-
sion and chronic fouling of diesel dispensing
equipment.
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With the introduction of ULSD and
subsequent expansion throughout the
various U.S. diesel markets, the air we all
breathe is cleaner with respect to sulfur
particulate emissions. In addition, as the
heating oil market transitions to ultra-low
heating oil the benefits of reduced sulfur are
great. A reduction in emissions is a real and
measurable benefit worth promoting to our
customer base. The use of very high effi-
ciency heating equipment can now become
a reality because of the negligible amount of
sulfur in heating oil.
Historically sulfur content has limited
the use of high efficiency combustion equip-
ment, which has, unfortunately, provided a
competitive advantage for the use of natural
gas heating. No longer is that the case, as
other heating oil states begin to follow the
lead of New York State with the exclusive
use of ultra-low sulfur heating oil. The ben-
Fuel quality problems are a persistent thorn in the side of fuel marketers, and the challenges will only increase as more states transition
to reduced-sulfur fuels for heating.
Oil & Energy
recently reached out to fuel quality specialists and solicited advice on handling, storing
and treating distillates and biofuel blends. Numerous companies answered the call, and you’ll find their expert advice in these pages.
Fuel Proof
