Need for Marine Fuel Oil Tank Cleaning
- On board the fuel oil is stored in the double bottom tanks, and they are being transferred from double bottom tank to settling tank for the gravity separation and it is purified in the purifier and stored in the service tank for the day to day consumption. So, the fuel used for the marine diesel engines is heavy fuel oil which contains the high amount of asphalt residue which forms sludge when it is stored in the tank. A regular and periodic cleaning of tanks is necessary to prevent the sludge formation and deposits in the double bottom tanks as it creates carbon residues which often reduce the heat transfer by the steam heating coils inside the tanks.
- Normally the fuel oil storage tanks are maintained at 35°C – 45°C to prevent the fuel cloud formation and to reduce the viscosity to transfer the fuel. So, if the tanks are not maintained they form sludge formation over the heating coils and finally reduces the heat transfer rate causing a serious problem.
- A residue from fuel oil accumulates in the fuel oil storage tank and this must be regularly removed. The sludge blocks, the suction pipe lines and drain holes in the tank preventing the final draining of the fuel oil tank. Tank washing is a routine and is necessary in ships running with heavy fuel oil.