Diesel Fuel Polishing (Filtering) Solution

[nicholasbw]

I purchased a steel Bruce Roberts ketch used and it sat for quite some time prior to my decision. She holds a considerable amount of diesel fuel in steel tanks built into the steel hull. I’m seeking a diesel fuel polishing solution that would remove water, sludge, and bio waste that has developed in the diesel. Does anyone have any long term proven solution to this current and probably ongoing problem?

 

[robind]

Fit an Alfa laval fuel seperator. these were used in the dairy industry to seperate fat from milk. Or a wolfsberg (A.L. are plastic /Wolfs, stainless) most larger cruisers and tugs have them as standard and use them between the main tanks and the day tank polishing the fuel as it is "lifted up" it will cost about 3 k but will save any fuel problems from installation on.
Rob

 

[Anonymous]

My boat is fitted with a Separ 2000 seperator - I don't think it's quite the same as the Alfa Laval mentioned by Robind (I seem to remember that has a centrifugal chamber, rotated by a motor), but the Separ spec looks good and it appears suitable for what you want to do and is probably a bit less expensive. It's available in the USA.

 

[LeytonC]

Have you tired soltron - cos it designed to do everything that you want.

And, it does what is says on the tin, cos i use it.

 

[oldharry]

[ QUOTE ]
And, it does what is says on the tin, cos i use it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Questionable.... but glad it works for you. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[LeytonC]

I have used it all season, and its cleaned my tanks out great - and i have not suffered any bugs, so IMHO it works.

 

[brianhumber]

Re: Alpha Laval Seperators - Milk

You are bringing back memories. These ones were 6foot long and rotated at something like 25,000rpm. Spectacular when the bearings went or they got out of balance. We used them for turbine oil seperators.
Fuel 'polishers' started to come on the scene just as I left the MN.Great in principal but we found the rate of wear on fine tolerance pumps and injectors unacceptable. Ended up on one job after 6 months using these butchering fuel pump odd plungers into barrels just to keep the job running.

 

[Coppershield]

This may work for you

Hi Nicholas,
I have been using a fuel polishing system for about 14 years , which has served me well.
Ask your local NAPA parts dealer for electric fuel pump that is suitable for diesel fuel (the one they sold me package said. It was for gasoline , but the dealer told me it was OK to use on diesel and so far so good. It was about $30) purchase a RACOR fuel filter suitable for diesel fuel with the water separating filter. I believe it is the one with the 2 mu. rating.
Also purchase the water sensor from RACOR . if money is no object, You can also purchase RACOR brand vacuum gage , which is about $50 but if you like to tinker. You can also purchase 0-30 vacuum gage with the suitable connectors and use it instead. The pump should be installed on the discharge side of the RACOR. If I remember correctly RACOR filters have two discharge ports you can use the extra port to supply your engine with additional filtering capabilities. If you use a regular vacuum gage instead of RACOR is brand. Keep in mind between 8-10 is the time to change the filter.
Besides the above explanations. I have also installed additional valving for other purposes.
If you install a electrical switch , near the filter. It will come handy when it's time to change the filter. You will not have to fill the filter with fuel before installation , because with the switch you can purge the system.

I am reluctant in recommending this type of things because quality of components. Sometimes changes for the worse.
Also keep in mind , if you are not very experienced with the fuel systems you should consider having the fuel lines , made up by Company. Like Goodyear or any other industrial hose supplier
and installed by experienced tradesmen and which you should consider asking for advice from your surveyor.
Only thing I would like to make change in my system will be installing dedicated pickup tube that will extend within 3/8 of 1 in. to the bottom of the tank.
Specially when we have a choppy conditions I leave my system on for extended periods which is not very good idea if you are not a board to keep an eye on it.
Please keep in mind fuel spill penalties are quite high. You must consider and discuss the above information with not only your surveyor. But as well with your insurance company and make your own decisions.
Good luck. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Muzaffer.

PS besides the electrical switch by the filter. You may also consider installing another switch that is independent of the other one that has a timer and use this switch when you won to polish your system, so you don't accidentally forget to turn it off. This happened to me several times , once almost a month.

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Nicholas,

Check your local filter specialist, most of them have fuel scrubbers, you simply drop a pick up line into the tank and drain it into a container (or several 44 gallon drums) it's pumped through about 6 filters on the way, each one finer than the last.

We have used this system twice with very good results; just remove the drain plug and flush the tanks when empty and blow out the fuel lines.

Meantime keep the filtering going by placing the pick up and discharge lines in the same drum. When all is cleaned, pump the fuel back in via the filtration system to ensure it's really clean.

Andavagoodweekend.

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
I purchased a steel Bruce Roberts ketch used and it sat for quite some time prior to my decision. She holds a considerable amount of diesel fuel in steel tanks built into the steel hull. I’m seeking a diesel fuel polishing solution that would remove water, sludge, and bio waste that has developed in the diesel. Does anyone have any long term proven solution to this current and probably ongoing problem?

[/ QUOTE ]If she has sat undisturbed as long as you infer, all the water and sludge will have settled to teh bottom of the tank where you should have a sump and drain cock. The drain cock is for draining the bottom of the tank, that is the water and sludge. Failing that (no sump and drain) you can possibly siphon / pump the water and bio debris out by running a suction pipe to the bottom of the tank through either the filler or possibly the diesel spill return point. Ultimate solution is to remove the tanks and steam them out but removing them may be more trouble than it is worth if it is possible at all.

I have removed the water etc from my tank by using a vacuum type lub oil extractor and feeding the suction line into the tank through the spill way return fitting on the top of the tank.

A good dose of diesel treatment / biocide will keep the fuel "sweet" but you still have the water problem so regular removal of the water is necessary although some additives claim to disolve teh water in the fuel - I would prefer to remove it rather than pump it through my fuel pump and injectors.

Above is a damn sight cheaper than installing fuel polishers.
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[Freebee]

Re: This may work for you

You will get longer life from the filter elements, if you place the filter on the discharge side of the pump,change the elements when the manufacturers maximum differential pressure is reached or when flow drops noticeably, if there are concerns about debris passing through the pump then place a y type suction mesh strainer on the pump inlet.