Figure 3
type filter or, even better, two in a series
(Figure 4), provides superior filtration as
well as greater depth and capacity to address
the particulate issue. In some exploratory
work, we have successfully used ultrafine
diesel filters (2 micron) for the second filter
in the series.
When confronted with a bound fuel unit,
keep in mind it is not normal and it is crucial
to identify the underlying cause and address
it rather than just replacing the fuel unit.
Figure 4
issues, therefore the issue is site and tank
specific. The common factors in most problem
sites are two-pipe systems, outside tanks
and high particulates in the fuel.
Converting from two-pipe to single pipe,
or installing a fuel deaerator (Figure 3),
reduces the contact time between fuel and
copper. This extends the shelf life of the fuel
as well as reducing the fuel flow through the
filter extending its life. Using a quality spinon
The odds are the new
one will bind repeatedly
if you do not.
Anecdotally, I have
heard of as many as 13
pumps being replaced
on a single site before
the root cause was
resolved.
It is a lot easier on
everyone and more
cost-effective to solve
the problem on the first
or second call rather
than on the fourteenth.
ICM
NORA Looks at Effects of Copper on Liquid Heating Fuels
Petroleum distillate fuel has been
used for many years for building
heating applications. This
market is now increasingly using
biodiesel blended with petroleum fuel.
While copper is not recommended for
conventional diesel engines and fuel
systems, the use of copper lines in
the heating oil industry in the U.S. is
common due to their lower cost and
ease of manipulation and installation.
The National Oilheat Research
Alliance (NORA) recently submitted
a paper titled, Monitoring Biodiesel
Blends in Heating Applications-Effects
of Exposure Conditions to the 17th
International Conference on Stability,
Handling & Use of Liquid Fuels in
Dresden, Germany (September 2022)
authored by Ryan Kerr, Dr. Thomas A.
Butcher, Neehad Islam (all from NORA)
and Marty Haverly, Renewable Energy
Group. Here, NORA details research it
conducted into the potential impacts
of copper on the fuels used in today’s
home heating oil systems (i.e. ultra low
sulfur No. 2 petroleum distillates and
their blends with biodiesel).
The research showed the effects
depend largely on the surface-tovolume
ratio of the exposure to copper,
access of the copper-exposed fuel to
oxygen, residence time of the fuel in
contact with copper, and the overall
time before the fuel is burned. The
practical implications of this research
are that the presence of copper in
heating systems should not present
significant formation of acids or filterable
insolubles that could adversely
affect system operation over time with
either ultra-low sulfur No. 2 petroleum
distillates or their biodiesel blends.
This is likely due to the specific exposure
conditions to copper in normal
heating oil systems and the relatively
small amounts of fuel exposed to both
copper and oxygen for extended periods
of time.
To the extent conditions do exist
where changes over time could occur,
the changes observed with biodiesel
blends were found to be similar or less
than those with conventional No. 2
petroleum distillate fuel oil. However,
exposure to copper can dramatically
impact the measured oxidative reserve,
an indicator of fuel degradation;
this has important implications when
sampling for monitoring fuel quality.
To download the full paper, go to
NORAweb/org/technical-publications
or go directyly to the report with the
QR code.
ICM/November/December 2022 15