FAME in Gas Oil Alert
OFTEC, ICOM and FPS are advising installers and service engineers that by 1st January 2011 – or even sooner – Class D gas oil supplied in Great Britain could contain up to 7% FAME (liquid biodiesel). This does not impact on boilers and cookers using kerosene.
The effect of the FAME will be to clean debris or water out of storage tanks, which could affect filters and equipment. OFTEC Director General, Jeremy Hawksley explained, “biodiesel is hygroscopic and attracts moisture, but potential problems can be avoided by regular tank maintenance and cleaning.”
The move towards higher biofuel content is driven by the introduction of the European Renewable Energy Directive and the Fuels Quality Directive. In addition to the increase in biodiesel, there has also been a move to sulphur free fuel, which anyone working on oil fired installations should be aware of. As sulphur levels drop to very low levels, the viscosity of the fuel also drops. This drop in viscosity can have an effect on seals and pump bearings.
ICOM Technical Director David Hughes advises, “Provided service engineers prepare their customers’ tanks and equipment in advance of the changes, the switch to a biodiesel content should not create any problems. The time to act is now, in advance of the changes and when annual servicing work is being carried out.”
Regular maintenance is essential, especially of oil storage tanks, which should be inspected to make sure they are free of water. Service engineers should also make sure that oil line ancillary equipment on gas oil installations such as filters and valves are biodiesel compatible. Flexible oil lines and fuel pumps should also be checked for biodiesel compatibility, and upgraded if necessary.