Refined Fuels

Refined Fuels

Metal gear showing fuel igniting inside

Refined fuels are separated from crude oil at the refinery. They include kerosene-based jet fuels, fuel oils, diesels and gasolines, and their liquid characteristics vary widely.

While centrifugal pumps normally handle refined fuels at the refinery, positive displacement pumps often handle these in downstream operations for a number of reasons. Viscosity varies depending upon the grade and temperature. Most are relatively low viscosity at standard temperature, such as kerosene at 2.7 cSt, #2 fuel oil at 21 cSt, and gasoline at 0.8 cSt. However heavier fuel oils can range up to 500,000 cSt and must be heated to be flowable. Specific gravities are all <1, and vapor pressures range from 0.1 PSI for kerosene to 8-14 PSI for gasoline.

Accordingly, positive displacement pumps are used for bulk transfer where suction conditions require very low NPSHr, where flow must be easily controlled over the entire range of a pump’s performance curve, or for higher viscosity fuels, especially in cold climates. Jacketed pumps are used where heating is necessary for flowability. Stainless pumps may be required in marine environments.

Local and national regulations concerning fire and explosion prevention must be followed depending on the fuel pumped, such as hazardous location motors and drives, proper grounding, and material of construction requirements related to thermal cracking, often ductile iron, steel or stainless.

    Viking in the Process

    Viking pumps for fuels are generally found in downstream applications such as bulk transfer, and fuelling vehicles and boilers. Some examples: Fuel oil and diesel pumps are used for railcar and barge loading and unloading, terminal transfer, marine fuelling, industrial, commercial and residential boiler fuelling, dispensing and locomotive engine fuelling. Gasoline pumps are used for bulk transfer. Jet fuel pumps are used for tanker loading and dispensing.

      Applications

      • Fuel oils
      • Diesel fuels
      • Gasolines
      • Kerosenes and Jet Fuels

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