Heavy fuel oil (Bunker C) homogenizers 1

[21121956]

Hello everybody:

In our power plant we run with large Diesel engines burning Bunker C. Because of the quality of the fuel oil itself, we have been experiencing problems with filters (clogged), exhaust valves (burnt), turbochargers (deposits on nozzles blades), etc.

I have read a couple of papers about fuel homogenization and I think that, applying such technology, it can work out on the benefit of our engines.

I wonder if some of you have had experiences working with homogenizers and if is it possible to share them with me ?

Thanks

 

[orenda1168]

21121956:

Although I don't have any direct experience with heavy fuel homogenizers as such, I do have a background in heavy fuel combustion and the problems occuring from that process, including some of the difficulties you are now experiencing with the diesel internals.

It occurs to me that homogenization will simply better distribute the fuel contaminants within the body of the fuel consumed without effectively preventing the internal fouling from these materials, including asphalten hydrocarbons, ash components such as vanadium and nickle, and unburned fuel carbonaceous residues (among others).

While you may see some improvement with homogenization, a more cost effective approach might be to better pre-clean the fuel (e.g. centrifugation) and apply a selected fuel additive treatment (i.e. magnesium-based) to handle the inorganic contaminant loading. I guess it goes without saying that such items as fuel preheat, atomization, etc. must be maintained at optimum design conditions.

Orenda

Orenda

 

[0707]

HFO homogenisers don’t seem to be effective on your machine protection, please visit the site bellow.

http://www.bunkerworld.com/documents/doc4062dcbbddd85.pdf

In our power boilers burners we use magnesium-based additives with some benefits.

Regards

Luis Marques

 

[21121956]

Thanks to Orenda and Luis for your comments and opinions on this subject.

Luis, I have not been able to access to the site indicated by you; I am a newcomer in bunkerworld and maybe, if you give me another idea to find out that site, I could read that document.

Once again, thanks ¡

21121956

 

[0707]

Try to access

http://www.bunkerworld.com

then on the search box write CIMAC then click on the third link BUNKERWORLD-conferences-bunkers, marine fuel, bunking…
At last download the first PDF paper

Regards

Luis Marques

 

[jmw]

Let me copy my reply to your other post of this question:

"I will be interested to see what answers you get.

As I understand it the fuel treatment system should include centrifuges and filters. The need for homogenisers or fuel mills was, I understood, valuable where sludge is re-introduced and I shall be interested in the comments on this as I could well be very wrong.

However, if you are routinely experiencing problems with the standard fuel oil then it may be a problem with the fuel itself.
Fuel quality is a serious problem.
According to one report 13.7% of fuels do not meet the relevant fuel standards and this is said to be getting worse. It ought to be common practise to have commercial samples taken and analysed for every batch of fuel delivered. There are many problems of deliberate contamination and fuel oil is often used as a dumping ground for used motor oils, waste chemicals and the the like. Sometimes the problem is where the blend is from incompatible components and asphaltenes can be deposited.

Problems with deposits can include contaminents that are not normally tested for in the commercial sample analysis and which are only discovered after a problem is reported and the laboratories run an investigation to identify the problem. This has included polythene which blocks filters etc. For more information on this, especially for engines, the marine fuel websites are especially useful. This includes most of the test laboratory websites such as for DNV PS, Viswalab, Lintec, FOBAS, SGS and so on, as they all provide good information on the importance of the various fuel properties and issue "bunker alerts" when problems arise.

It may be, therefore, that your fuel is not to standard or is routinely contaminated as most engine fuel treatment systems are well able to handle most of the problems with fuel oils.

A fuel homogeniser may or may not solve the problem but the real problem might be fuel quality as supplied.

Some engine manufacturers now rely on digital viscometers for fuel oil heater control for the reason that these report a number of key fuel parameters and operational parameters such as the density at 98degC (the centrifuge operating temperature) density and 15degC and viscosity at 100degC (fuel quality parameters). This data also lets them compare with the suppliers data to see if the fuel being burnt is the fuel described."

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com