subject: There Are Many Reasons That Bunker Oil Should Receive Accurate Testing And Monitoring [print this page] Environmental and legislative compliance regulations are in place that must be matched by bunker oil which can be measured to determine the quality and quantity through testing. The quality is established through requirements that affect the viscosity, density, CCAI, compatibility, pour point and salt. One critical element of testing is the calculation of density which must be conducted at the time of delivery.
Here is an excellent explanation of why the density is imperative to be accurate. The delivery of fuel often is done by a bunker barge and is quantified by volume and confirmed through a meter or by tape. However, the payment is calculated by mass with a conversion that depends on an accurate density reading. More details are available from the reading that is produced by a density meter. The extent of water contamination in the fuel is shown by one test.
Think about that for a minute, do you really want to pay for water in your fuel that is part of the mass you are charged for? Maximum contamination limits have been determined by regulations and several water test options can be used to check for the contamination to confirm compliance. These tests can also provide additional details such as purifier performance.
There are many important reasons to conduct testing of bunker oil such as compatibility, which is important when mixing and blending of fuels is necessary that could develop into numerous other difficulties in the process. A simple test can be executed to determine the stability of a mixture. Vessels that travel through arctic waters without tank heating must be concerned about the cloud point test, which confirms winter grade of diesel fuels as well. The flash point tests are necessary to recognize potential problems and take correct action in a timely manner. Pour point tests are important especially for low pout point fuels that should be used quickly and maintained at a warmer temperature to prevent sludging that could easily occur and potentially cause line blockage.
The monitoring and testing of fuel bunker can be successfully accomplished with use of tests and testing equipment that is made by quality provider that has shown many years of successful monitoring. On board testing and analysis of fuel can be accomplished with rugged test equipment that can be operated on site to obtain reliable samples. Electronic lab tests that are certified to be reliable are the best and most dependable tests.
