bunker fuel contamination - platts · pdf fileplatts european bunker fuel conf 2016 –...

Platts European Bunker Fuel Conf 2016 – Bunker Fuel Contamination 1 | 24/5/16

Bunker Fuel Contamination

Dr Malcolm Cooper

Group Technical &

Business Development Director


Marine Fuel Quality Standard

ISO8217:2012 Tables 1 & 2

• 11 Residual grades

• 4 Distillate grades

Quality variability

• Crude oil sources

• Refining processes

• Blending of fuels

• Supply Chain


ISO8217 - Section 5.5

The fuel shall not contain any additives……

or any added substance or chemical waste

that

a)jeopardises the safety of the ship or

adversely affects the performance of the

machinery, or

b)is harmful to personnel, or

c)contributes overall to additional air

pollution


Impact of Fuel Contamination

Blocked

Filter Sludging

Main Engine Damage Report - by the Swedish Club


Impact of Fuel Contamination

Casualty with Ships in EU Waters

During the period 2011-2014, Loss of Control is

the most frequent event with 1,489 occurrences Source: European Maritime Safety Agency, Annual overview of marine casualties and Incidents 2015


Fuel Problems Reported by Vessel

2011-Date

Created by and for use of Veritas Petroleum Services only


Impact of ECA on Marine Fuel Types

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

45%

40%

35%

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

Introduction of 0.1% S ECA Limit on 1st Jan 2015

%

Distillate

Fuels

%

Residual

Fuels

Created by and for use of Veritas Petroleum Services only


Identifying Chemical Contamination

IR energy

absorbed

due to C-H

stretching

IR energy

absorbed

due to C-H

bending

FTIR Spectrum of Uncontaminated HFO


C=O stretching:-

• aldehydes

• ketones

• esters

• acids

1820cm-1-1660cm-1


FTIR Spectrum of Contaminated HFO



GC-MS of Uncontaminated HFO


GC-MS Pre-Treatment Methods

•Headspace Method

•Vacuum Distillation • Representative fraction of fuel

within a boiling range

• Identity of compounds remain

same as in original sample

•Acid Extraction • Aqueous extraction into base

followed by acidification

• Esterification of acid extract to

produce methyl ester of acid


Case Study 1 – The Problem •Fuel met ISO8217:2005 specification

•TSP slightly elevated (0.08 Vs 0.10 spec)

•Vessel reported problems: Sticking of injector

needles & fuel pump plungers & Clogging of fuel

heaters

•Vessel witnessed matting/greyish effect

HP Pump Delivery Valves Sticking Nozzle AE Fuel Injection Valve


Case Study 1 – The Analysis •VPS performed range of forensic analyses on

the original bunker sample and sample after

pump

• Headspace GC-MS

• GC-MS Vacuum Distillate results below…

Component

Molecular

formula

CAS No Estimated

concentration

%

1,2-dichloroethane C2H4CI2 107-06-2 0.02

1,1,2-Trichloroethane C2H3CI3 79-00-5 0.05

Chloro benzene C6H5CI 108-90-7 0.01


Case Study 1 – The Result

GC-MS Headspace of Bunker Sample

•VPS recommended to discontinue use of this fuel

•Vessel experienced no further problems


Case Study 2 – The Problem •Fuel met ISO8217:2005 specification

•Vessel reported problems: broken spring and

series cavitations of fuel injection pump after

running 720 hours after a 12,000 hours overhaul

•Acid Number = 2.27mg KOH/g

elevated indicating possible contamination

• VPS Forensic analysis of the sample

identified presence of Alkyl Phenols

• VPS recommended stop using this fuel

•Vessel experienced no further problems


Case Study 2 - The Analysis

FTIR analysis performed directly on Fuel Oil

3600cm-1- 3200cm-1

O-H stretching


Case Study 2 – GC-MS Chromatogram

Phenol

Alkyl Phenol Compounds

GCMS on Vacuum Distillate <250C


VPS – Screening Method

• Rapid Headspace GC-MS

Method

• Detects Volatile Organic

Compounds (VOCs)

• Some occur naturally in

crude oil, many do not!



VPS tested

>7,000 fuel oil

samples by

GC-MS

Fast GC-MS

screen of

volatile organic

contaminants

Leveraged

this

knowledge

•VPS tested >7,000 fuel oil

samples by GC-MS

• Leveraged this knowledge

•Fast GC-MS screen of volatile

organic contaminants



Fast Screen

Method results

issued on FQT

Report

Undertake more

extensive GCMS

forensic test

methods

Identifies

presence of

chemical

contamination

•Differentiates fuel oil HCs

Vs chemical contaminants

•Fast analysis – part of FQT

Report available PRE-BURN

• Screening method identifies

need for more extensive

testing


Summary • Vessel engine problems

burning fuel compliant

with ISO8217 standard

• VPS forensic experience

identifying contaminants

POST-BURN

• VPS offers screening for

chemical contamination

PRE-BURN to prevent

engine problems


www.v-p-s.com

Thank you for your attention

Dr Malcolm Cooper

[email protected]

+447872816533

bunker fuel contamination - platts · pdf fileplatts european bunker fuel conf 2016 –...

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