"Dialysis" for stored diesel fuel - Fuels & Lubes - Separ of the Americas L.L.C. develops the Diesel Dialysis System

Diesel Progress North American Edition, May, 2003 by Brent Haight

Separ of the Americas LLC has developed a system designed to minmiize diesel fuel contamination in tanks that sit idle for long periods of time. Dubbed the Diesel Dialysis System (DDS), Separ offers d.c. and a.c. models, both of which can be used in power generation and industrial applications.

"This is an ideal product for industrial markets," said Scott Dunlap, general manager at the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.- based company "This system helps to minimize fuel contamination in tanks that sit idle for a long time. Long term storage for diesel fuel is only about two months. After that, water and dirt and algae become issues.

"A standby generator might have a 1000 gal. fuel tank," continued Dunlap. "It may not be used all year. And then suddenly there is an emergency situation and the generator is expected to perform. Our Diesel Dialysis System will help keep water to a minimum and will filter out algae and dirt and sediment and help keep the fuel as clean as possible while it is in storage."

The d.c. model is made up of a 2000-10 Separ filter, a 2.5 gpm Reverso fuel pump and a timer. The d.c. system can circulate about 160 gph. The a.c. version consists of a 2000-18 Separ filter, a 3.5 gpm Reverso fuel pump and a timer and it can circulate about 210 gph.

Once a month, the operator activates the DDS via the timer and circulates the fuel in the tank. The fuel runs through the filter and back to the tank, helping to keep water and sediments to a minimum.

"People don't want to have to worry about changing a fuel filter element when the engine is being used because the fuel is so contaminated," said Dunlap. "We encourage people to add this to their regular maintenance schedule. Once a month, turn on the timer, set it for one to six hours, and that's it. The fuel circulates through the system and the system shuts off automatically."

The system installs on the side of the tank and requires new supply and return lines to and from the fuel tank to the DDS and a power source. Both versions come standard with an indicator gauge to show the condition of the filter element. Dunlap called it a "tell-tail" indicator, meaning there are two needles, a live needle which shows the current pull and a needle that always remains at the highest vacuum pulled. The operator can look at the needles and see if the filter element needs to be changed.

"This is something that everyone who has to deal with stored diesel fuel can relate to' said Dunlap. "This system is a solution to the contamination problems that arise whenever you let diesel fuel sit for long periods of time."

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