Biofuel Conversions

"Systems converted to E10 and E85 (an ethanol/ gasoline blend) and biodiesel blends must be cleaned properly. We've heard from retail and fleet partners about the thorough, professional and price competitive services Optic Clean Fuel (the system used by Atlantic Clean Fuel) provides. Thank-you for performing this important role in expanding the availability of clean fuels," said Tim Gerlach, vice president of Clean Fuels and Vehicle Technologies for the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest."

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Tank Contamination

The contamination found in tanks varies considerably from tank to tank. Sometimes, a tank can be quite clear and the tank next to it can have considerable contamination even though they have similar dates since their last cleaning.

The following are four of the most common contaminants we find.

Water:
Most tanks have some water and water is the most troublesome of the list. A typical tank will have several gallons of water, but it is not unusual to find a tank with fifty to one hundred gallons of water.

Water breeds bacteria, causes rust and greatly increases tank deterioration. Water can also reach customer's vehicle tanks and cause considerable problems.

Water is particularly troublesome when it becomes involved with biofuels. Whereas water will settle to the bottom under gas or diesel, it will mix with ethanol and biodiesel causing phase separation, leading to a very expensive remedy.

A note of caution: the water detection probes in storage tanks are often inaccurate. All tanks should be checked with a water detecting paste on a regular basis to avoid major problems. We also advise checking to be done alternatively in the fill hole and then the probe hole. Tanks can have a lot of water at one end and none at the other.

Bacteria:
Fuel chemists tell us that there are about seven to eight types of bacteria found growing in fuel tanks. As mentioned, water is the breeding place for most bacteria. Through our fiber optic viewer, we see large masses of bacteria that look like clouded areas.

Bacteria, both dead or alive, floats easily and frequently causes filter clogging at the pump. Floating bacteria is easily removed via our vacuum and filtering system.

Rust:
Steel tanks often begin to rust over time. Water and bacteria accelerate the rusting process. Rust flakes settle on the bottom causing more rusting and can be riled up into the fuel especially when fuel is delivered in to the tanks. Rust flakes often clog filters. The Atlantic Clean Fuel system will remove rust resting on the bottom.

Sand:
Some tanks that are in sandy areas can accumulate considerable sand. Sand generally stays on the bottom, but like the other foreign material, it adds to tank deterioration. Most loose sand can be vacuumed from the tank bottoms.

There are, of course, other contamination issues. Most other items found in tanks are directly related to the environment around the tanks.