Service success is claimed for fuel treatment unit, pioneered TecnoVeritas. The system exploits ultrasonic waves to eliminate particulate matter in residual fuel, allowing it to be burned in high and medium speed diesel engines, and with great performance improvement of slow speed diesel.

The NOVEL application of ultrasonic waves is used in the fuel oil “reformer” which improves combustibility by dispersing any sludge remaining after treatment by the centrifugues. Treatment of fuel oil before combustion in a diesel engine mainly aims at eliminating foreign matter suspended in the fuel oil.

 

Application of an effective treatment system after the centrifugues will improve combustability by homogenising particles and sand , metal and catalytic fines. Some major power plants companies in Europe and India, operating marine diesels as generators prime movers have reported the burn of 100 per cent heavy fuel in their engines. Central to the operations an ultrasonic horn and a cylindrical rotary filter mesh coated with a 5 microm mesh filter, through which the fuel flows from the outside into the inside.

 

Suspended solids are retained on the outer filters surface. These are conveyed by rotation to the dispersal area below the horn were and an intensive ultrasonic wave of 20 kHz irradiates the liquid, cracking the long chain asphastenes molecules and any  debris. The cavitation produced by the ultrasounds guided waves produce instantaneously high temperatures and pressures, being the mechanism behind the solution.

 

Special features claimed are:

  • Improved combustion through the complete elimination of asphaltic sludge in low-grade heavy fuels;
  • Superior filtration of particles greated than five microns;
  • Most effective sludge disposal where differences in specific gravity of sludge and fuel oil cause difficulties in centrifugal separation;
  • Extends overhaul intervals of engine components by permitting a more complete combustion.
Ultrasonic fuel treatment “waves goodbye to sludge”

 

Figure 1 – Ultrasonic fuel treatment “waves goodbye to sludge”

The rotary collector and horn are designed to be free of erosion by the ultrasonic attack. Maintenance is kept to a minimum as an ultrasonic transducer and radiator cathode are made of titanium, having a proven long life and other system components are of non-wearing nature. The operation is simple, not requiring any special training. The unit may be started remotely, and is fully automated, being possible the display of many operational variables like flow rate.

 

The models that are available, are capable of covering most of the shipping industry requirements, ranging from 6 ton per day, up to 6 ton an hour. The unit can be, operated in-line, or in a batch arrangement. Marketing is through TecnoVeritas offices and representatives at a worldwide scale.