Contamination is one of the most common problems with fuel. Particles found in typical fuels come from a range of sources including but not limited to dust, water, algae, pump wear, caps, and corrosion debris from bulk storage tanks. Although larger particles are removed through dispenser and primary vehicle filters, there remains a vast quantity of particles less than 10 microns and that will report to the fuel injection system. Removal of contaminants and water are vital to ensure that only clean fuel is introduced into the fuel injection system.
All tanks must be vented to the atmosphere to avoid a partial vacuum when volumes change. Moisture from the ambient atmosphere will condense to liquid phase inside the tank. Since water has a greater specific gravity than most petroleum products, water that enters the tank will gradually collect at the bottom. Aerobic fungus, bacteria and yeast hydrocarbon utilizing micro-organisms will tend to grow at the fuel/water interface. Such sediments will form at the bottom of the tank as the organisms go through life processes. As fuel oxidizes, asphaltenes form, conglomerate and fall out of suspension. Water and contaminants form a non-uniform deposit of material that builds up progressively over time and is referred collectively as “sludge”. These contamination problems can be magnified with the introduction of renewable fuel constituents such as ethanol and biodiesel.
Unfortunately, these processes are occurring in the very area where the fuel pickup lines are located – at the bottom of the tank. Wouldn’t it make more sense to locate the fuel pickup line higher in the column of fluid, away from the contaminated zone and still be able to access the entire inventory? This can be done by utilizing floating suction. Floating suction elevates the pickup line in the fuel. Floating suction lines drastically decrease the number of contaminants and water delivered to the engine as compared to conventional pickup lines. Floating suction is the first step in improving fuel quality to the internal combustion engine.
Improved fuel quality reduces:
- Carbon monoxide CO emissions
- Nitrogen Oxide NOx emissions
- Sulfur Dioxide SO emissions
- Un-burnt Hydrocarbons HC emissions
- Smoke emissions
- Slow flow at the pump
- Filter replacement
- Maintenance costs
Improved fuel quality also enhances:
- Engine performance
- Fuel efficiency
- Torque
- Combustion
Floating suction always delivers the cleanest fuel from the storage tank. It maintains its position relative to the fuel as the volume changes, giving full access to the inventory. It is mechanical so it only depends on physics to work.
- Rises and falls with the level of the fuel
- Pulls fuel from the area of least possible contamination
- Improves system reliability
- Environmentally friendly
- Energy efficient
- Consumer protection
Slow flow:
As filters clog during normal dispenser operation, the flow of product decreases. This can be a negative experience for customer satisfaction.
Pump out of order:
Have you ever seen yellow bags on dispenser nozzles? Generally, that is a result of clogged dispenser filters. If the pump is not in use, then it is not providing income. To make matters worse, the facility must call a petroleum equipment distributor to schedule time to fix the problem, meaning additional downtime as well as the associated cost of a site visit.
Fuel injectors:
Have you ever heard the term “killing a car”. This is the result of contaminated fuel getting into the vehicle tank and blowing the fuel injectors. This is an expensive repair and provides negative press for the facility.
State inspections:
In most states the Department of Agriculture is the regulating authority for fuel quality. If a fuel sample fails a state inspection, then that tank is taken out of service until remediation procedures are performed.
All these scenarios can be minimized using floating suction. Unless the tank is run down to the level of contamination, no contaminates will be pumped out of the tank.
Floating suction is used exclusively in aviation fuel dispensing. It is also utilized in electric generation for gas turbines. It is recommended for emergency generators. It has not been common in retail fuel distribution because it requires a manned entry into the tank to attach the floating line to the submersible turbine pump (STP). There is a new product called the TopFLO floating suction line that will fit through a 4”riser that can be attached to a STP with minimal downtime and expense.
By using floating suction, a company will be caring for the environment by dispensing better quality fuel, satisfying the customer to keep the pumps running and providing consumer protection as only the cleanest fuel is dispensed. A simple addition of including floating suction in fuel dispensing infrastructure will have a major impact at the pump.
