Fuel treatment systems KFWA

Press release [PDF; 41 KB]
Press release [RTF; 1027 KB]

MAHLE Industrial Filtration combines finest filtration and water separation in their NFV fuel treatment systems.

“Diesel Oil Pest” – a serious problem
Diesel fuel tanks can become contaminated with microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and algae) during transport and storage in bunker and day tanks mainly caused by tank-ventilation and condensation. Microorganisms can only survive, grow and multiply in the water phase of any medium. Microbiological contamination can have very serious consequences: The by-products of micro-organic metabolism block filter elements and diesel pipes, additionally they cause abrasion processes on injectors especially in conjunction with free water. The material of the tank walls and pipes can also be severely damaged. Corrosion is further accelerated by water-soluble salts and hydrogen sulphids, a by-product of metabolism.

To prevent diesel oil pest: fuel treatment
Water concentration is the crucial factor for microorganism growth and the diesel oil pest problem can only be addressed by reducing the amount of water in the fuel. This can be achieved by implementing continuous fuel treatment to prevent the water content from rising above 50 mg/l (ppm). Mechanical separators which use centrifugal separation cannot provide the necessary level of dewatering. None of the systems which comply with the applicable DIN standards or the delivery standards of the mineral oil industry and NATO offer complete security, as they allow water content of 500 mg/l or 200 mg/kg respectively. A truly effective and lasting method of protecting fuel against increasing water concentrations, and thus against contamination by microorganisms, is to employ NFV fuel and oil treatment systems.

Single and multiple-stage fuel treatment systems for all needs
NFV fuel treatment systems can be used for all types of middle distillates, e.g. diesel fuel, marine diesel oil (MDO), marine gas oil (MGO), and others. For all the most common contaminations in these media, including solid and suspended particles as well as water, our systems represent the most efficient and cost-effective solution. To treat the first phase, we offer a number of combined filter coalescers with varying degrees of fineness; these systems can be optimally adapted to meet specific requirements and technical configurations. An optional downstream separator membrane can be used to reduce the water content down to 20 ppm unbound water in order to prevent growth of microorganisms which begins at 70 ppm. To treat heavy contamination with solids we recommend using a dual-phase version of the filter coalescer; this version has an upstream filter that can be exchanged independently.

Configuration and design
MAHLE Industriefiltration supplies fuel and oil treatment systems with a wide range of flow capacities. The systems consist of a pump with a downstream depth filter or filter coalescer and an optional permanent separator as well as a central control box, full differential pressure monitoring system, and an automatic water outlet system. The systems can be supplied in vertical or horizontal configurations. They can be installed either between storage and bunker tank for indirect treatment of the medium or directly in front of the engine.

The advantages in overview:

• Finest filtration and water separation in one system
• High flow capacities in a compact design
• Separation efficiency down to 20 ppm unbound water which is far less than conventional treatment systems
• Highest efficiency combined with long uptimes for the filter coalescer elements
• Robust and extremely maintenance friendly

MAHLE Industriefiltration GmbH
develops and builds advanced filtration and separation technology for use in a wide range of industrial applications and in power plants, civil and military shipbuilding. The company is part of the MAHLE Group and thus is backed by the strength of a worldwide market leader. The MAHLE Group is one of the top 30 automotive suppliers and the globally leading manufacturer of components and systems for the internal combustion engine and its peripherals. Around 43,000 employees work at over 100 production plants and eight research and development centers. In 2009, MAHLE generated sales in excess of EUR 3.9 billion.

For almost 50 years, NFV products have been relaible systems for shipping companies in the field of deoiling, membrane filtration and fuel treatment. Our products help our partners to successfully balance economy and ecology. By focusing our maritime and petrochemical activities in the new Hamburg facility, we are able to concentrate research, planning and production in one site. MAHLE Industriefiltration provides its products a wide range of customised and highly efficient filtration and separation systems for a wide variety of applications: from bilge water separation over ballast water treatment to engine maintenance, the protection of hydraulic systems and pipelines, transfer and circulation systems. This comprehensive portfolio is rounded off by customer support services precisely tailored to customers’ needs. Ten of the world’s top 15 shipping companies and the world’s three largest shipyards as well as several navies around the world (e.g. German, Turkish, Russian and U.S. Navy) equip their ships with our environmentally friendly, high quality systems, placing their trust in the outstanding operating security of NFV- systems. The NFV-products have been the German Navy’s partner of choice for deoiling, membrane filtration and fuel treatment systems for over 30 years.

Hamburg, 09/2010