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Parker FPM Fuel Polishing Module | ||||||||||||
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Q: Where does the water come from? *** Q: Where does the water come from? A: Even when dry fuel is dispensed and tank caps and fittings are tight, water vapor condensation from the air can contaminate the fuel. As the fuel in the tank heats up during the day due to sitting in the hot sun or from hot fuel returned to the tank as the engine runs, the vapor space expands and drives fuel vapors out through the vent. When the fuel cools, the fuel vapors contract and draws in fresh air. Depending on the humidity of the outside air, the water vapor then can condense on the tank walls and enter the fuel. Over an extended period of time, this daily breathing can result in a significant build-up of water. Once the water is in the fuel tank, some of it will dissolve into the fuel. The hotter the fuel, the more water can dissolve into it. As the fuel cools off, the water separates into small micro-droplets called an emulsion. Without regular fuel maintenance, this emulsion forms water droplets and becomes a breeding ground for microbes. But with regular use of the FPM-050, the emulsified water can be removed from the fuel system, preventing the resulting accumulation of bacteria. Q: What is the impact of water in fuel? A: If enough water accumulates in the tank to reach the pick-up tube, the liquid water could be pumped to the engine, possibly overwhelming the in-line filter and causing catastrophic engine seizure through hydraulic lock. Usually, smaller amounts of water on the bottom of the tank become suspended in the fuel as the fuel sloshes back and forth in the tank. The presence of water in the tank leads to several problems. Bacteria lives and grows on the surface of water droplets where it comes into contact with the fuel. As these microbes settle, they form sediment at the bottom of the tank. This sediment leads to plugged filters and can spoil an entire tank of fuel. Over longer periods of time, entrained water also corrodes steel surfaces in injectors, pumps, and other fuel system components. It can also increase the wash down into the crankcase oil from the combustion chamber. Q: I’ve read that you need at least 100 gallons per hour flow for polishing. How can the FPM series be effective at 50 gallons per day? A: Typical fuel polishing systems claim that high flow is required to agitate the water and debris on the bottom of the tank so they can be drawn into the fuel pick-up for separation and filtration. This sounds logical but the reality is that 100GPM (or similar) is still no where near enough velocity to agitate an entire tank, especially with all the baffles. At best, the return flow will clear a small local area. The FPM Series uses a different approach to fuel maintenance resulting in significant advantages over higher flow systems. Parker designed the FPM-050 as a very cost effective and power efficient preventative maintenance tool. It takes advantage of the ability of diesel fuels to absorb liquid water as it warms and separate into an emulsion as it cools. Filtering out emulsified water is very difficult and can only be done effectively at low flow rates. With regular use, the FPM-050 removes the emulsified water from the tank and prevents large quantities of water—that the high flow systems are effective at removing—from ever building up in the first place. The advantage is that by preventing the accumulation of water in the first place, you also promote a bacteria-free fuel tank. This prevents debris from building up and keeps filters from plugging. Q: Can the FPM-050 clean up a contaminated fuel system? A: The FPM-050 is primarily a preventative maintenance tool that should be installed into a new or recently cleaned system to keep it that way. Once a large amount of sludge is present on the bottom of the tank, it usually takes a professional cleaning service to rectify the situation. Q: How does this absorption process work? A: Diesel fuel has the capacity absorb a small percentage of liquid water. This capacity increases with higher temperatures and decreases with lower temperatures. As the fuel tank’s temperature rises, a percentage of any liquid water in the tank dissolves uniformly throughout the fuel. This temperature rise can occur because of engine use or the natural temperature rise during the day. When the tank begins to cool, the water will come back out of its dissolved state into a suspended emulsion. This is the key part of the process. Whereas the liquid water was previously out of reach from the fuel pick-up, the emulsion can be circulated slowly and the water removed before it eventually settles at the bottom of the tank as liquid water again. This process takes place over several days. Filtering out emulsified water is very difficult and can only be done effectively at low flow rates. By removing this emulsified water on a daily basis, the fuel in the tank can absorb more water the next day. This process is also much more effective for stationary tanks, such as a boat in storage or generator tanks where there is no agitation through movement. Q: When are the most productive times to polish fuel? A: The most effective time to polish your fuel is whenever the average temperature of the tank is decreasing, such as 8- 24 hours after engine shut-down. The water entrained in the warm fuel should be removed before it cools down and drops the water out of solution. During extended periods of inactivity, the unit can be programmed to run every late afternoon/evening until the morning, keeping the fuel dry during the vapor space contraction. The FPM Optional Timer plays an important role in maximizing the effectiveness of the module while consuming less run time and power. Q: What is this new ‘solid state’ pumping technology and why is that important? A: This new technology consumes very little power (2W) and has no moving parts in the traditional sense. This approach to daily fuel maintenance involves running the unit on a daily basis for many hours. Traditional pumps with bearings, etc. would typically wear out much sooner, make more noise and consume more power making the option of running off solar power or direct off batteries less feasible. This technology also avoids the need for rotating shaft seals that can wear over time and leak. Q: What fuels is the FPM compatible with? A: The FPM is compatible with diesel, biodiesel (B20), and kerosene. A: Your FPM-050 ships with a complete installation & operation manual. Fittings, fuel hose, clamps, and installation tools are not provided. Filter housings and filter elements are likewise not included with the FPM-050. Q: What’s the standard warranty? A: If you purchase the unit directly from Parker, there is a standard 1 year warranty. If you purchase the unit from a local dealer, please consult with them for warranty questions.
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