Microbial Fuel Problem

with microbial contamination...
of fuel presumably (as per thread title )
....but what fuel? Where when how?
In what way is it a problem?

What continent are you on?

Quality of answers will be directly proportional to quality of information.

Del

<...frequent fuel filter change...>

The job of a filter is to block, otherwise it wouldn't be needed.

Change the supplier of <...High Speed Diesel fuel...>, as the current one is not producing stuff of an acceptable quality. Putting pressure on the current supplier to improve will help other users, as well as the supplier.

Another option is to install duty/standby <...fuel filter...> units on mission-critical equipment. One of them can be operating while the other is being cleaned.

Another option is to alter the <...fuel tank...> filling regime so that the <...rust and sludge in fuel tanks...> doesn't get stirred-up to the point where the <...fuel...> blocks the <...fuel filter...>.

Another option is to duplicate the <...fuel tank...> so that one <...tank...> can be cleaned while the other is in service.

Another option is to replace the <...fuel tank...> with one made from compatible materials so that the <...rust and sludge in fuel tanks...> does not occur. If there is <...rust...> being generated, then it is only a matter of time before the existing <...tank...> will fail, with outlay, damage to business and damage to reputation implications.

Each one of these options has its own cost/benefit ratio, on which only the original poster's organisation has sufficient information to enable judgements to be made; the forum cannot get involved in that sort of thing.

Magnetic bacterial controllers also contain large traces of nut, they also need a quantity of sucker.....you, to buy them.

They are useless.

Bacteria can be controlled in a few ways.

1 fine filtering

2 heat

3 UV light

4 cellular shear (very violent mixing)

5 poisons..low does cell killers

6 caustics...high dose cell killers

if thiss is process cooling water then UV light cells are routinely used to kill off the bugs.

Watch out for growth on the quartz window cell the water goes through as yu can get scum that can block the UV. There are sellers of these that have a knowledge base, ask them.

The other ways....depends on your application.

Here in Panama, we have had excellent results with magnetic bacterial controllers. There is a significant difference between types, however. Our best results have been with a product from New Zealand called DeBug. I was skeptical until actually testing them. There is more involved than just a strong magnetic field- flow rate also seems to matter. They work for diesel fuel.

Bacterial contamination implies water infiltration. Identify where the water is coming in from and seal it up before doing anything else, otherwise the problem will just keep recurring.

When water is the result of condensation from humid atmosphere, it is extremely difficult to seal the fuel supply, because a fuel tank must be vented to allow proper fuel flow.

the fuel may be getting old, either your distributer may be selling you diesel past it's expiration date or your facility needs to buy smaller quantites more often. Water contamination could be happening in your storage or equipment. This is probably the likely cause considering the operating conditions.

Biodiesel will flush the crud out , but may plug filters & injectors initally. a small percentage 5-10% will keep things cleaner in the long term.

Good answer! To the point with suggestions as to how to correct.

Also backed with a bit of expierence.

let it settle for 15 minutes.

What I do, is take a sample of fuel, before refuelling, and allow it to stand for about 30-60 seconds and check the clarity of the fuel. If it is clear it is okay, if cloudy, it is contaminated. Really it doesn't matter what it is contaminated with, it is contaminated and could affect fuel injection equipment and engine if allowed to run for extended periods.

Thanks Skippy Supurb idea on taking a sample pcs. this guy is ready to do the excersise will take afew pcs on trial and keep u informed. By the the products name is FUEL MAG from New Zealad.any idea if it is auththentic.

They have been around a few years now. I know several fishermen that actually fitted them, with mixed results.

The 3 pics show claims, various sizes and where to fit them.

Thanks Mobi ,

Perfect result they also claim to have certifiction from B.V marine classcfication body.

They seem very promising no harm in trying cause they are quiet cheap.( cost around Rs.3000/- INR) around USD 75 $.

Thanks Again

I assume you are referring to a petro fuel such as diesel. jet , etc. In all likely hood the contaminate is an algea, which lives in water and feeds on the petroleum product. Water is introduced in pipeline systems in using water as blocks between various fuels being pumped through the pipeline, or from other sources. So, water is usually the real culpret.

There are filter systems, that work similar to reverse osmosis filters used in water systems, these filters strip water from the fuel and automatcally dumps the condensate. Unfortunately, some fuels contain dispersants (wetting agents) which effectively destroys the surface tension of the water such that the water mixes with the fuel, making it harder to separate the water. You shouldn't use a biocide which would contaminate the fuel, also, the algea would become resistant to the biocide, requiring alternating with a different biocide. Biocide is not a good idea. Strainers ahead of the pumps would clear any solids which might be in the fluid. Magnetic devices probably wouldn't work, unless thecontamines were ferric or iron particles in the fluid, but these would be relatively easy to remove with filters.

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When I ponder, I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.

g scott

If distillate (diesel fuel).

Back in the "good old" days Automotive distillate had a shelf life of about 3 years for marine applications and longer (4 years, I think) for shore based applications.

Come the mid seventies, oil companies were doing it "extremely" hard for a few dollars profit......ha,ha,ha...... so they wondered how they could get more product out of the crude oil.

Enter Catalytic Crackers, aha, by adding a catalyst to the crude oil ....object achieved.....and we can reclaim 99,9% of the catalyst. However this very small percentage of catalyst that could not be reclaimed (catalytic fines) caused many problems......... however not for the oil companies, but for the end user.

Large slow Marine Diesels suffered extremely bad corrosion problems from bunkers (which is now like tar) and as for the Automotive distillates their shelf life went down to 6 months at sea and 12 months ashore. This was because the catalytic fines accelerated bacterial and fungal growth between the interface of water and fuel, or even if no water is present the fuel still degrades reasonably quickly.

Catalysts used are/were silica alumina or a silica magnesia ..............by the way this is what happens in layman's terms. Just the basics.

The best way to treat these problems is to ensure fuel tanks are scrupulously clean and remain that way. Some of the palliatives cause more problems than any contaminated fuel.

Hi MOBI.

Silver kills all known bacteria, this is common knowlege now, so mabe if they put silver strands in their fuel tank this will solve the problem?

Spencer.

Point taken, personally I have not even thought about its use in fuel and have not seen anything about it.

I am aware however of its use in the medical field.I actually know someone whose child had contracted golden staph in hospital after a fairly basic operation.

Government restrictions prevent the use of colloidal silver except topically. The child started going down hill fairly rapidly and against doctors wishes the child was given colloidal silver by his father and..................guess what............the child remarkably recovered. I think that they started treatment with silver in the late 1930s.

Hi MOBI.

Here in the UK they are experimenting with super fine silver threads woven into undergarmarments, this is to keep dangerous microbes at bay!

Also, in Japan and here in the UK, they have been experimenting with coloidal silver added to the washing machine detergent to kill off any bacteria in our clothes!

The use of coloidal silver in plasters and bandages is also a well known fact, and as you pointed out was exprimented with in the 1930s. As a safe non toxic disinfectant, silver is the best known to man, but why they don't use it so often is a complete mystery to me?

It was noted way back in 1894 that silversmiths who cut themselves while at work did not get infected sores!

Spencer.

Have you seen this Blue Skin?

The problem with colloidal silver is it is cheap, easy to make (harder to QC) and over dosing leads to gray people. Had major problems with it in the 30's in the U.S. but it works good and Doctors don't make money from it (Poor for business). Found nothing else published but that was over ten years ago and the Web was tiny.

Brad

Here's a modern use of colloidal silver

http://s189535770.onlinehome.us/pottersforpeace/?page_id=9

in water filtration.

Yes , as you said, without stricter controls on dosing and the manufacturing of colloidal silver we could have many blue/gray people running around.

You probably hit the nail on the head there, Doctors don't make money from it (Poor for business), and just think of its effectiveness in controlling bacteria and fungi............doctors would have far less patients to treat over longer periods of time................how disastrous this would prove to be.

Hi MOBI.

I see that you have the same problem as we in the UK, but I have discovered that you can buy dishclothes with minute silver threads woven in over here!

Strange is it not that if nobody is going to make much money out of something then it is not utilised? But this is the 21st century and every one is out to make big bucks, f**k the poor patients!

Now I know that you have a big problem with MRSA and C.dif the same as us, and when some sensible doctor or otherwise say that it can be effectively combated with silver, the question always comes up "Can we make money out of this?"

My question is; What the hell is going on?

Spencer.

Forget the magnets and buy an anti-microbial treatment from your fuel supplier. Microbes grow when water is present and it is virtually impossible to keep water out of a fuel storage tank. The fuel companies should know the best anti-microbial to use with each of their products.

Bill Morrow

hi,

Please chk even fuel suppliers dont know why oil companies are given them after paying top dollar for a barrel of crap.

By the way mobi has got the right solution to the problem.Even oil Major Like British Petroluems have got this unit installed at all bunker fuel stations in the UK and Netherland.

We have installed 5 units on our 185 HP Diesel Oprated Cranes and 2 tug boats 350 HP engines Lets see wat happens 1st to our fuel filter as they have promised a life of at least 6 times or 1500 hrs of opration at least 4 months.

protecht said, "even fuel suppliers dont know why oil companies are given them after paying top dollar for a barrel of crap."

Point well taken. I should have said "a competent supplier".

Bill Morrow