Prediction of B20 Storage Tank Precipitate Removal Based on Biodiesel Monoglyceride Content

Precipitate in B20 fuel stored in storage tanks can accumulate at the bottom level of the tank and affect the fuel filter, clogging in the fuel distribution and engine system. This study examines the precipitate formation prediction in B20 fuel based on the monoglyceride content in biodiesel. This research used a modified CSFT method of ASTM D7501 for the precipitation test. Monopalmitin was added to biodiesel with a variation of monoglyceride content. Each biodiesel sample was then blended with petroleum diesel fuel to produce two groups of samples. Each sample was separately soaked in the cooling chamber at constant and room temperature for 21 days. The bottom layer of each B20 fuel sample stored in the measuring cylinder was then pipetted and filtered, washed with petro-ether, vacuum-dried, and weighed for a constant amount of precipitate retained on the filter. The simulation results show that the ratios between the amount of collected precipitate at the bottom layer of the 2-liter measuring cylinder and the total amount of collected precipitate for the 2-liter measuring cylinder increased with the monoglyceride content biodiesel. This ratio was used to predict the amount of accumulated sludge for a given volume of B20 fuel loaded into the storage tank. This study shows the effect of monoglyceride content on the precipitation behaviour in the storage tank concerning general tank storage dimension parameters and B20 loading frequency. This approach can be applied to estimate the sludge removal frequency for biodiesel storage.

MENURUNKAN FREKUENSI KERUSAKAN SISTEM MESIN DENGAN MEMODIFIKASI JADWAL MAINTENANCE PADA BUS MRT SCANIA TIPE K310 DAN PENANGANAN LIMBAH YANG DITIMBULKANNYA

UT cabang On Road merupakan salah satu perusahaan yang dipilih oleh operator bus Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Jakarta untuk melakukan kontrak perawatan pada unit Scania K310 IB Maxi Bus miliknya, sehingga unit bus siap beroperasi melayani transportasi publik. Pada 2021 unit bus tipe K310 mengalami persoalan berupa mesin yang mati mendadak. Pengecekan di lapangan menunjukkan bahwa aliran bahan bakar dari filter bahan bakar ke mesin mengalami sumbatan sehingga alirannya tidak lancar. Dari persoalan yang timbul ini maka dilakukan penyelidikan dan ditemukan aliran bahan bakar yang tidak lancer ke mesin. Dari buku referensi yang ada, penggunaan solar B30 yang ada di pasaran Indonesia akan menyebabkan usia saringan bahan bakar menjadi lebih pendek. Oleh karena itu dilakukan perbaikan pada sistem penyaringan (filter) bahan bakar dengan mempercepat penggantian pre fuel filter dari per 20.000 km pemakaian, menjadi setiap 10.000 km pemakaian. Proses ini dilakukan guna menghindari denda dari operator bus akibat tidak beroperasi dan terjadinya di jalur khusus bus yang mengakibatkan kemacetan. Metodologi penelitian yang dilakukan adalah mengecek peyebab mogoknya unit, mengambil sampel bahan bakar yang ada di filter dan mengirimkan ke lab utuk di analisis kandungannya sehingga dapat diambil tindakan. Proses perbaikan ini dapat menurunkan kerusakan mesin sampai dengan 0% sehingga target Physical Availability (PA) unit tercapai. Percepatan penggantian saringan bahan bakar ini mengakibatkan jumlah limbah yang dihasilkan dari saringan tersebut juga makin banyak sehingga perlu dibuat juga sistem pengolahan limbah bahan bakar agar dapat dipakai dan tidak dibuang secara percuma.

Comparison of Used Locomotive Fuel Filters after Using B20 and B0 Fuels

The automotive and non-automotive sectors have followed the Indonesian government's policy regarding applying high concentration biodiesel use. Some issues arise from the effects of using a high biodiesel concentration on engine components, such as filter blocking or degradation. Therefore, various parties have challenged to improve both in terms of fuel quality and engine components. Meanwhile, testing of high concentration biodiesel fuel (blending ratio above 10 %) was still rarely published in the rail transport sector. Therefore, the rail test aimed to evaluate the effect of B20 fuel on locomotive engine components. The test was conducted during two periodic maintenance (6 months) using two trains with B20 and B0 fuels as a comparison. This study discusses the effect of B20 on fuel filters by performing tests on used filters for one periodic maintenance (3 months). The morphological analysis of deposits was conducted using a digital microscope, while TGA, GC-MS, FTIR, and elemental analysis were used to determine its components. The results showed that biodiesel filtration in the main filter was higher, and the subsequent filtration showed fewer deposits than that of pure diesel. Various types of fuel filter deposits have been identified, such as hydrocarbons and fatty acid methyl esters.