News
FAME – more awareness of issues
UNDER THE RENEWABLE TRANSPORT FUELS OBLIGATION (RTFO), THE PERCENTAGE OF RENEWABLE CONTENT IN THE UK’S
FUEL POOL WILL BE UP TO 9.75% BY JANUARY 2020. THIS MEANS THAT FAME CONTENT IN BOTH OFF-ROAD AND ON-ROAD
FUEL IS BEING PUSHED TO THE MAXIMUM LIMIT PRESCRIBED BY THE FUEL STANDARD – 7% BY VOLUME.
W
ith reports of ‘farmers struggling with diesel quality
problems’ appearing in the press, in mid-October,
UKIFDA reissued its guidelines and information as to the
management and storage of sulphur free gas oil (SFGO).
“Our advice has always been to give the tank a specialist clean
before taking delivery of any biofuel,” explained Tony Brown, UKIFDA
technical manager.
• Fuel should be kept clean and dry with regular tank checks carried
out
• Remedial action should be taken if any water, dirt, mould or growth
is present
• Filters, pipework and seals should be checked on a regular basis
• Filters should be replaced after every two/three deliveries
• Storage time of FAME blended fuels should be limited
• Tanks should be kept topped up to reduce air which can draw
moisture
• If sediment or bacterial growth is found, seek professional help
Home remedies such as fungicides or microbiological killers may do
more harm in the long run. Those that do work may kill the bacteria but
the dead growth on the bottom of the tank can also build up and cause
issues.
Looking into the matter further, Fuel Oil News contacted Neil
Ryding, managing director at Fuel Additive Science Technologies (FAST)
who reported that the company is ‘busy responding to a continuing
stream of enquiries relating to blocked fuel filters on tractors’.
“We received our first phone calls reporting blocked filters, stable
foam, scum, white blobs and ‘sheen’ at the end of July, with the first
samples received on 2nd August,” said Neil.
“Between then and October we were sent over 100 fuel samples
from fuel distributors or end-users.
“Whilst for the most part the fuel samples we are receiving look clear
and bright, with nothing obviously wrong; closer inspection is revealing
lots and lots of particulate matter.”
“This is being seen not just on the samples from vehicle and local
tanks but further back in the supply chain too.
“Initially the samples came from the south east and East Anglia,
but south Wales, Somerset and Dorset also seem to be badly affected.
Latterly, complaints from Scotland are growing by the day,” added Neil.
Reports of ‘massive problems’ due to particulates in fuel filters
resulting in tractor fuel starvation in many areas, saw FAST scrape
off the contents of many fuel filters for closer analysis. Such was the
demand for fuel filters that stocks were running low at some tractor
manufacturers.
“Analysis of the filter contents is proving to be difficult and is taking
longer than expected – there is, apparently, no single common cause of
filter blocking. To date, therefore, we have been very reluctant to jump to
a conclusion or to offer a solution.”
Speaking to Neil on 18th November, it was hoped that FAST, and
others who are carrying out similar test work, would shortly be able to
report more fully.
“The origins of the problems do seem to coincide with the dramatic
increase in FAME content of off-road fuel,” explained Neil.
“The limit of 7% by volume is now being approached consistently
and sporadic problems are now also being reported in road diesel. Being
a powerful solvent, FAME comes with a strong detergent cleansing effect
but whether this is the only or root cause of the issue remains to be
confirmed.”
Alternative fuels such as HVO and Shell GTL are available, although
not as widely as those containing FAME, with an additional cost.
Gas oil & biofuel workshop
Taking the initiative and holding a gas oil and biofuels workshop at
the Grangemouth refinery last month, the Petroineos workshop was
designed to cover all aspects of gasoil fuel quality, with particular
focus on the addition of biofuel in gas oil.
See the January 2020 issue for a full report.
A great line up at the UKIFDA dinner
C
elebrating the 40th anniversary of the former Federation of Petroleum Suppliers, members of the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association
(UKIFDA) came together at Level Twenty-Five at the Cube in Birmingham to enjoy a celebratory dinner at the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse
framed by panoramic views of the city.
Past presidents –
David Prince (Prince Petroleum),
David Hodge (Ribble Fuel Oils),
Malcolm Hunt (Brisih Benzol),
Nick Hayes (Nick Hayes
Oil Products),
Duncan Grant, (Certas Energy),
Mark Nolan (Nolan Oils) and
Steve Davis (Midland Fuel Oils)
4 Fuel Oil News | December 2019