Investigation of Long Term Fuel Storage Influence on Taiwan Diesel Fuel (Containing 2% FAME) 2016-01-1279

Biodiesel, Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME), can be made from different types of animal and vegetable oils. Its characteristics are different from those of fossil diesel, such as oxygen content, higher cold filter plugging point, and so on. Compared with fossil diesel, biodiesel can be oxidized more easily. If the fuel is oxidized, there might be product to cause some problems, like blocking filters. Therefore, the information of the storage life of the fuel is very important to vehicle owners. Moreover, the storage condition of the fuels is related to the types of source materials, additives, local weather or quality control of biodiesel. This research had used D100 and B2 fuels as experiment samples. (Blending B100 made by two different companies and represented A and B.) Three experiments including the static long storage tank test, fuel tank circulation test, and during long parking periods stability test were used to explore the influence of B2 biodiesel, diesel containing 2% of FAME, on the fuel storage under Taiwan weather and the condition of cold-start of vehicles which are not started for a long time.

The results showed that under the change of fuel temperature with engine started, the speed of fuel oxidation was increased and the index of oxidation stability was not complied with the fuel standards after three months. However, if the fuel was under static condition, it had longer period of anti-oxidation. Therefore, under the environment and habit of vehicle using in Taiwan, the fuel with the engine started should not be stored in the fuel tank for more than three months and the fuel not being used should not be stored for more than six months to avoid the deterioration. Furthermore, to avoid the mild rust of the fuel tank as in the experiment or the generation of product of oxidation, it is necessary to clean the water and impurities at the bottom of the fuel tank periodically.