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EASZ-1
WATER SENSING
Water enters fuel at refining, transport, storage, and
engine operation. ASTM has specs for maximum amounts
of water in diesel fuel. Suspended water in diesel fuel
hurts combustion, lowers energy content, fouls injectors,
wears out pumps, abrades injector tip needles, and causes
gum and varnish. In cold weather, waters ices up and
blocks fuel lines. Water can separate into oxygen and
hydrogen, and combine with fuel to create sulfuric acid.
In some countries , new regulations have caused manufacturers
of diesel engines to modify engines using electronic
injection technology, making fuel quality more important
than ever. Mechanical injection systems have proven
to be more tolerant of fuel contamination than solenoid
actuated high-pressure electronic injectors, making
the new technology more subject to problems with contaminated
fuel. In some applications, diesel standby generators
operate only intermittently and store fuel for long
periods of time, fuel maintenance and quality are of
crucial importance. Water is the most common contaminant
of diesel fuel and can be troublesome in humid climates.
Through condensation, water is pulled into fuel tanks
through normal vents and collects at the bottom of the
tank. Moisture in fuel can cause damage to diesel engines
by preventing the proper lubrication to the engine injectors.
Water in the tank also allows microbes to grow at the
water-fuel interface. When these organisms are sucked
into an engine, fuel filters become covered with green
slime and fuel delivery is blocked. Diesel fuel also
begins to break down chemically within 30 to 60 days
of delivery, resulting in the formation of gums and
particulates. This process is often referred to as fuel
instability or varnishing.
Though fuel contamination issues can be treated through
additives and an active preventive maintenance program,
the challenges of maintaining a large amount of diesel
fuel are obvious. Even when addressing these issues,
there is always the question of whether it is being
done effectively—and the answer may not be apparent
until the generator must run for an extended period.
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