You can buy the most expensive, state-of-the-art system and equipment, but without clean, good grade fuel it cannot do its job. Stored diesel or other distillate fuel will quickly begin to degrade because of living microbial (bacteria) and fungi which thrive on impurities in the fuel, air, moisture and dust. Factors such as climate, weather, tank conditions or tank design influence how quickly these "bugs" develop into solids and sludge that clog fuel lines, fuel filters, damage engines and effect our environment. As the particulates develop, the slime they create sticks to the walls of the tanks and begin a corrosion process that can lead to tank damage and possible fuel leakage.
Where does the problem originate?
There are a number of sources beginning with the fuel itself. Required vents in tanks and floating roofs allow air, water and dust to enter the tank environment. Ground seepage, portable lines or cross contamination between systems (transfers) as well as human error or procrastination all contribute. There are ways to attack the problems, but the current methods are at best only temporary. Keeping stored fuel clean is a process and without constant attention, the contamination cycle repeats itself.
The most common remedy is fuel "polishing"
Polishing works in theory by pumping fuel from the tank through filtering equipment brought on site. It must be done routinely and has its drawbacks. Most polishing systems operate from hoses dropped to the bottom of the storage tank. The supply and return lines are in the same vicinity. The limited agitation point of this type of system may not affect sludge outside the immediate area or the tank walls. Scheduling is frequent and expensive.
Additives are biocides and are similar to "antibiotics" that kill fuel bacteria. But like human antibiotics, the right one must be used for each microbial, in the proper amounts and at proper intervals. Improper application is like stopping a human antibiotic treatment after a few days. The germs are still there, and will increase immediately. Some biocides are water soluble and actually breakdown with contact causing a problem. Even when successful, the effect of additives alone is only temporary and will not eliminate the sludge problem.
In some cases contaminated fuel must be removed for tank repair and the fuel replaced. Besides being expensive this "bad" fuel must be disposed of as hazardous material. Clean fuel is more efficient, burns safely and is kinder to the environment.
Why wait for problems to occur when they can be prevented?
Since no one can predict emergencies, the only safe method is to stop the problem before it starts. With the Allied Environmental Solutions Fuel Maintenance Plan diesel and distillate fuels are continuously maintained and treated at an optimum schedule. The Allied Environmental Solutions (AES) Fuel Maintenance Program is flexible and reliable and will quickly pay for itself and ensure fuel will always be safe and usable when needed. With AES' commitment to safety and the environment, anywhere diesel or distillate fuel is kept in storage you will soon find an AES Fuel Maintenance Program keeping it clean.
