rb bertomeu, S.L.

 Pol. Ind. Fondo de Llitera, Par. 82-83

E-22520 Fraga, Huesca (SPAIN) 

Tel. +34 974 47 48 04

+34 630 43 08 43
www.rbbertomeu.es

rbbertomeu@rbbertomeu.es

TECHNICAL BULLETIN

n. 2   

THE USE OF LOW-SULPHUR (LIGHT) FUEL OIL INSTEAD OF HEAVY FUEL OIL
DOES NOT PREVENT CORROSION ON EXHAUST VALVES AND
TURBO-COMPRESSORS IN ENGINES OPERATED WITH FUEL OIL

Low-sulphur fuel oil (lower than 1%) has been compulsory since 01-01-2003, having replaced Fuel oil No.1 (heavy), which had been utilised until that time in the majority of cases, and contained 2.5% sulphur on average. This may lead to the assumption that this fuel prevents corrosion on valves and turbo-compressors of engines operated with fuel oil, due precisely to the reduced content in sulphur in the combustion process..

This assumption of reduced corrosiveness is incorrect, since it is widely recognised that the corrosive effects on those components are mainly caused by the presence of vanadium and sodium in fuel oil, which does not depend on the levels of sulphur contained in the fuel.

The literature from rb bertomeu, which you may consult below, provides sound arguments for the continued use of additives in low-sulphur fuel oil, in order to prevent corrosion on valves and turbo-compressors. This corrosion would undoubtedly occur in the event of discontinuing the additive treatment with the changeover from Fuel oil No. 1 (heavy) to low-sulphur fuel oil. Also included are data on a cogeneration plant, where research carried out in recent years has demonstrated that the use of Fuel oil BIA (light), which contains less than 1% sulphur, also caused corrosion on exhaust valves, and that, with the changeover to utilising Fuel-oil No. 1 (heavy), with 2.3% sulphur, there was no excessive increase in the level of corrosion. In both cases the fuel oils were treated with additives from “rb bertomeu”.

For further information on this subject, consult the following documents compiled by rb bertomeu (by clicking on the chosen title):

 


· Factors to consider when using low-sulpur (light) fuel oil in power plants with engines operated with fuel oil.

· Analysis of the influence of the type of fuel oil on corrosion and residues on exhaust valves in engines at Minera Santa Marta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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