Diesel is a type of fuel obtained from the distillation and purification of crude oil. It includes a series of components and additives that improve the qualities and performance of this fuel. One of these elements is precisely the presence of sulfur in diesel.
However, the sulfur content in a fuel such as diesel must be controlled for greater efficiency and performance of engines and systems. Ideally, try to use a fuel that has a very low sulfur percentage, the minimum required for its operation.
What does sulfur do in diesel?
Sulfur and diesel fuel are consumed in the combustion chamber of the engine. There, sulfur oxides are formed which, on contact with water vapor, react to form sulfuric acid. A high sulfur content in this fuel therefore becomes a silent problem for the internal combustion engine.
What damage does sulfur do to the engine?
In the presence of a high level of sulfur in diesel fuel, progressive damage is caused to the engine of the machinery. The main effect is corrosive wear, especially in the low temperature areas of the pistons and cylinder liners.
Sulfur also leads to the formation of sulfuric acid (H2SO4). This acid, when deposited in liquid form, corrodes metallic materials in contact with it.
At the same time, when sulfur combines with certain elements found in the fuel, various highly corrosive compounds are formed. These compounds can cause damage in the form of fouling, pitting and loss of material in the poppet valves and combustion chambers of engines.
What causes sulfur in fuel?
In addition to corrosive engine wear, sulfur in diesel fuel leads to increased oil consumption and high exhaust gas emissions. This means that diesel fuel does not offer adequate efficiency for the performance of engines or machinery. We are therefore talking about a lower quality fuel.
How to reduce sulfur in diesel?
One of the measures to enjoy low-sulfur fuel is to use ultra-low-sulfur diesel. This type of diesel contains 97% less sulfur than low-sulfur diesel. This significantly improves the efficiency and performance of the devices and engines that use this fuel.
Ultra-low sulfur diesel is recommended for all types of companies, power plants, storage tanks, industrial facilities, fleets and heavy equipment, and even ships. A type of fuel that extends the service life of the engine and, therefore, of all the machinery in the complex.