FUEL TESTING
Identifying problem fuels - new developments
Viswalab’s Dr R Vis overviews testing parameters
various criminals and ask you to identify the culprit. You remember that this guy was young, had a beard, wore glasses, had a fair complexion, strong muscular body etc. These data points are recorded in your memory and you use it to identify the culprit in the lineup. This is the analogy with what we do for
I
bunker fuels. You come to a lab and complain about the damages suffered. The lab carries out a series of tests. The ones specified in ISO 8217 are not enough. Additional tests have to be conducted. Using this and previously stored data, using suitable algorithms, the lab can find out what caused the damage. The lab can also identify the contaminant qualitatively and quantitatively so that future damages can be prevented. The process of computing an algorithm to identify problem fuels has given rise to various benchmarks listed below. Each benchmark individually or collectively can provide an objective way of assessing the fuel quality and thereby avoiding huge confusion when looking at over 27 parameters used in the analysis of bunker fuel. It is important to remember that fuel quality is
not stationary. It keeps changing based on the crude oil supplied to the refinery to produce bunker fuels.
EFN (Engine Friendliness Number) Viswa Lab introduced EFN (Engine Friendliness
Number) in October 1993. Expressed on a scale of 1 to 100, this quality index is provided with every routine analysis report of Viswa Lab. Using this index, it has been possible to rank geographical areas, ports, suppliers based on the quality of the fuels available/supplied. Fuel quality carries a dynamics based on source supply and source cost. To track this trend, EFN has been an excellent tool over the last 18 years, not only to assess the quality of individual fuel supply but also global quality trends.
magine a thief who attacked you, caused physical damage and monetary loss. You go to the police and make a complaint. They then invite you and show you a lineup of
TWI (True Worth Index) TWI takes into consideration the important
ignition and combustion properties of the fuel, which are not covered by EFN. TWI represents, on a scale of 1 to 100, the proportion of the thermal energy of the fuel that gets converted into useful work at the propeller shaft. TWI is published regularly in "
Bunkerworld.com" for 11 geographical global bunker supply regions.
PEFN (Purifier Efficiency Number) PEFN represents the results of PED (Purifier
Efficiency Determination) services provided by Viswa Lab. A jump of 8 points or more in PEFN between the samples "before purifier" and "after purifier" indicates acceptable purifier performance. Viswa Lab also provides an advanced purifier performance determination through particle size and count using a patented technology (exclusive to Viswa Lab) to count and size particles in dark heavy fuels. Particle sizes are critical in assessing damage potential. Therefore PED using particle count in addition to routine spectroscopic method will provide excellent information of purifier performance.
PFIN (Problem Fuel Identification Number) Viswa Lab has launched a new benchmark PFIN
which addresses the fuels that cause piston ring breakage. This is a serious problem endangering the safety of the vessels since renewal of piston rings has to be carried out while the ship drifts at sea. Based on empirical data collected from fuel analysis and reports from customers of piston ring breakage, Viswa Lab has been able to identify Carbon (MCR), CCAI, Asphaltene, Xylene Equivalent number and Reserve Stability Number as the combination, which clearly flags fuels likely to cause piston ring breakage. An algorithm combining all these values provides a threshold number above which piston ring breakages can be predicted with almost 90% certainty. This article may not be copied, modified or
reproduced in any form whatsoever, whether physical, electronic or otherwise, without Dr. Vis and Viswa Lab's express, prior, written consent. All rights are reserved.
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It is important to remember that fuel quality is not stationary. It keeps changing based on the crude oil supplied to the refinery to produce bunker fuels.
’ Seatrade Bunkering Report 2011 27
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