An Effective Three Level Filtration System for Improved Contaminant Removal in High Ratio Biodiesel Blends

Abstract

Implementation of high-ratio biodiesel blends up to 30% (B30) serves as a proactive measure in anticipating of the diminishing availability of the fossil energy availability, decarbonizing the heavy-duty vehicle sector and to improve environmental quality. However, the implementation of B30 still causes problems, particularly concerning fuel filters, which have prompted complaints from users in non-automotive industries such as mining or marine sectors. Several users have reported instances of temporary filter blockages or damage to engine components. In anticipation of this issue, the implementation of an appropriate filtration system design has been proposed, comprising a 30-μm pre-filter water separator, a middle filter, and a post-filter. The efficiency test was carried out by passing the test fuels through a filter paper with pore size proportional to those of the proposed filter. This test was performed using a standardized rig following the ASTM D2068-10 protocol, maintaining an ambient temperature of approximately 29°C. The differential pressure (differential pressure) across the filter tested was recorded before and after passing through the test filter paper, and a filtration efficiency was calculated, based on the captured contaminants on the filter paper. The findings show that the implementation of three-level filtration systems successfully improved the ISO-cleanliness levels of the tested B30 fuel from 19/17/12 to 16/14/10, aligning with the specification outlined in the worldwide fuel charter. Based on this study, it can be concluded that utilization of three-level filtration system has significant potential for increasing the filter lifespan and mileage of B30 fuel.