Summary: Corrosion Crisis, Mechanism, Generators, Control

Corrosion was first noticed in 2007 following  the introduction of ULSD and biodiesel blends. The diesel blend is acidifying. Acidified diesel affects all components of the diesel infrastructure. The lifespan of storage tanks is dramatically reduced, corroding piping can result in environmental spills, and emergency generators have a greater risk of failure

Micelles are formed by surfactants encapsulating water droplets, which form a layer on the tank bottom. Traditional filters are not efficient at removing this bonded emulsified water. Microbes have followed the micelles into the fuel column, greatly increasing their populations, and producing higher levels of acids, corroding the diesel infrastructure. Microbes also produce biosurfactants, which form additional micelles. It is the biosurfactants that are the main cause of micelle formation, and hence corrosion.

Emergency generator injectors are corroded by acidified diesel, greatly increasing the risk of failure during a crisis. Micelles bypass filters, injecting water into the generator, damaging ejectors. Biofilms can plug pipes and filters, causing the generator to shut down when it is needed most, during a crisis

A new generation of filtration has been developed to remove micelles, based on the diesel industry filtration standard, SAE J1488.  A permanent  filtration system is attached to each storage tank

For over a century, there were few issues with diesel storage that basic housekeeping couldn't address. In 2006, things changed.

Contact Octane Systems on how to protect your emergency generators and diesel infrastructure