Water and algae in my fuel!

[Rares]

There is a new technology available that cleans the tanks ultrasonically. No need to pressure wash, acid wash or remove the tanks. A special ultrasonic device is introduced inside the tank with a frequency modulated to the specific thickness and type of material of the tank and ultrasonic waves propagate inside removing everything from the bottom and the walls. The diesel is then processed to a filtration unit that removes water (free and emulsified), sludge and threats the fuel with a cell disruption unit (UV and ultrasonic) that removes any type of contamination. The tanks and fuel are left virtually free of any type of contamination. www.cleandiesel.com.au

 

[eianm]

Thank you Rares- have just called them-i will post the outcome of the meeting with him.

 

[wally123]

Hi All the other thing i did was i have set up a 12v fuel polishing system with up on a 24hr timer that runs for 2 hours every two days. It terns over the entire fuel load. Its been going for six months now, zero problems.

 

[RoyS]

In my opinion, the concept that the tank must be full of fuel to prevent water condensation is in error. I did some calculations based on a fifty gallon tank 3/4 full of fuel with the rest full of air at maximum humidity at 100F then reduced to -20F. The result is that you can obtain no more than 1/4 fluid once of water under any conditions. Again, in my opinion, if you have water in your tank it came from somewhere else.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Mainesail had posted a note on this some time ago and came to the same conclusion. I took a quick look at vapor pressures and arrived at an even a lower water content in the air due to the partial pressure of the diesel vapor in the air. Varies with the air temperature but does further reduce the ability of the air to hold water vapour. Pretty safe to say he addition of water to the fuel via condensation is pretty much negligible.

 

[jssailem]

I bet the o-ring on the fuel inlet cap may be worn or none existent. Water invades fuel through the most accessible path. If it is not in the fuel already.

 

[eianm]

just thought i would update you all-I a i the process of cutting in 2 x inspection ports that will allow full and free access to the entire tank - both sides of the full length baffle. ALso about to embark on an aluminum water tank refirb- stay tuned!

 

[SFS]

Keep us posted, and pictures are really quite helpful.

 

[JamesG161]

The result is that you can obtain no more than 1/4 fluid once of water under any conditions

I can confirm this. I did the Temperature condensation calculations too (2 tablespoons in my 50 gal tank and BTW that will dissolve in the diesel).
I now suspect any separate phase water is mainly from algae eating the diesel to form CO2 and Water.
Kill the algae, minimize the separated water!
Jim...

Trivia: Ultrasonic vibrational cleaning is not new. You every wonder why cream doesn't separate from whole milk.? Milk is ultrasonically Homogenized. Jewelers clean jewelry without disassembly in an Ultrasonic bath.

 

[Charles Erwin]

Presently concluding installation of clean out/inspection port and cleaning a 40 year old aluminum tank. This tank is in the keel, submerged in pour-foam, with the motor mounted 6 inches above. Never been cleaned before.

The point I want to make is that nearly any tank interior can be made very clean.

Incidentally, the material is probably not algae and the by-products of these symbiotic organisms are far more threatening to injectors and the injector pump than plain old H2O.

See http://www.hpcdfuel.com/pdf/DOWfuel_training.pdf for an accurate description of the problem.

Charles

 

[eianm]

UPDATE- the "Clean Diesel" guy came today and installed his custom inspection ports- I am really impressed- just have a look at the pictures attached. We have not been able to do the cleaning and polishing today as it was raining, but he reached down into the tank and found 2+ inches of sludge- see picture attached- but the tank hasn't been cleaned in 25 years!
His inspection plates feature a water pick up drain- see the pic- all you do is attach a suction pump to the outlet and open the small gate valve and starting sucking to see if you have any water. Please note - as my tank has a straight and level front edge- which is the lowest point- he positions the water pick up tubes in the far right and left hand corners of my tank .He also found that the factory fuel pick up is only about 2mm off the tank floor in the middle of the tank and that this pick up was surrounded by this sludge- I was SOOOOO lucky not to have had a problem while underway! I will do another update after he has cleaned the tank and polished the fuel- such a wonderful tradesman- shame for all you guys that he is in Sydney , Australia! But he does sell these inspection plates and installation is simply done with a jig saw. I am a happy camper!

 

[JamesG161]

the by-products of these symbiotic organisms are far more threatening to injectors and the injector pump than plain old H2O.

Wow! Real Science! Thanks Charles!

Algae and Fungi appear to be the main culprit of engine system fouling. My principle diesel fuel supplier has algaecide in it.

I will now take a small bottle of algaecide, when on long cruises that may require refueling at transient fuel docks. "an ounce of prevention is worth pound of cure".

BTW you can't stop dissolved water in diesel, economically.

Jim...