WHAT COULD BE CAUSING LOW FLASHPOINT DIESEL FUEL?
The 2005 renewable fuels standards and the changes to vehicle emissions standards in 2006 have brought with them numerous trials. These hardships are daily challenges to those in the petroleum fuels industry. Though you may have been successfully (and grudgingly) surmounting the challenges related to ethanol blended gasoline, ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) and biodiesel blended fuels, these problems can recur all too often here in the south, especially during periods of heavy rainfall like we have been experiencing this spring.
Point to Point Environmental has recently learned about widespread problems with low flashpoint diesel fuel across the state. Inspectors from the Department of Agriculture have required several retailers to remove and replace diesel fuel with a flashpoint that tests too low. Flash point is important from a fuel handling safety standpoint, as lower flashpoint fuels are a greater risk for potential fire hazard. Could your low flashpoint diesel fuel be a result of contamination with gasoline or ethanol?
Problems with water in ethanol blended gasoline storage systems are well documented, and you have most likely already discovered, replaced and repaired every leaking seal and fitting over the past several years to prevent water intrusion. Ethanol and water mixtures are a great environment for acetic acid producing bacteria to grow, and acetic acid can be very corrosive to metallic components in your fueling system. While you may have become diligent about safeguarding against water intrusion into you ethanol blended gasoline storage systems, there is still some tolerance for water in diesel storage systems. Unfortunately, you may have also learned the hard way about accelerated corrosion of metallic components in ULSD dispensing systems as a result of water and ethanol intrusion.
Though common across the industry, the practice of switch loading is often suspected to be the source for cross contamination among fuel types. Following offloading of ethanol blended gasoline, is there any residual ethanol blended gasoline remaining in the truck’s fuel compartments when a load of diesel fuel is picked up at the terminal? Fuel transporters utilize trucks that deliver gasoline one day and may deliver a load of diesel fuel the next (switchloading). While it may be a small volume, this potential source of ethanol contamination in diesel fuel has been documented to build up in a diesel storage systems and create the environment for the acetic acid producing bacteria to grow, causing accelerated corrosion. This same phenomena could be the source of gasoline and ethanol contamination in diesel fuels, resulting in the low flashpoint diesel fuel.
Another potential source of cross contamination is the manifolded vent systems common in Stage I EVR systems. If a diesel fuel storage tank is connected to a gasoline storage tank via a vent line manifold, in warm and humid environments like that of a Georgia spring, ethanol and gasoline vapors may disperse throughout a fueling system creating just enough cross contamination to lower the diesel fuel flashpoint. How do you truly know if this cross contamination is your problem causing low flashpoint diesel fuel?
An approximate percentage of gasoline contamination may be determined by comparing the distillation range with typical diesel fuel. Point to Point Environmental provides fuel sampling and analysis services to fit any of your needs. We design a fuel sampling and analysis program utilizing the latest industry knowledge and sound advice from experts. Point to Point Environmental will employ variable sampling points as applicable to optimize the detection of contaminants and overall characterization of the fuel. Please contact Point to Point Environmental should you have any questions regarding low flashpoint diesel fuel, fuel quality sampling, fuel treatment, or fuel maintenance at 678-565-4440.