Is your Fueling System Ready for Emerging Fuels?

For decades, the fuel blends and formulations that were available at gas stations remained the same. That changed with the introduction of ultra-low sulfur variations of diesel and gasoline, and the increase of ethanol and biodiesel blends.

For many gas station operators the corrosion they are now seeing at their fueling sites has them wondering Is gasoline corrosive? or Is diesel fuel corrosive?

The answer to those questions is that gasoline and diesel on their own are not corrosive, and that the non-polar hydrocarbons contained in fuel do not cause corrosion.* However, new fuel types have altered the environment within the fueling system and, when combined with water, they increase the likelihood that fueling equipment will be subjected to corrosive conditions.

Maintaining the integrity of your fueling system requires that your fueling system is correctly configured to handle these fuel types, which the EPA calls ‘emerging fuels’. This term is used to describe the new or different fuel formulations that have entered the market. Emerging fuels include biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel), ultra-low sulfur gasoline and ultra-low sulfur diesel, and combinations of multiple fuel types.

Increased Risk in Diesel USTs

The EPA phased-in more stringent regulations to lower the amount of sulfur in diesel fuel in 2006, which led to ultra-low sulfur diesel becoming the standard formulation found in retail stations. Reducing the amount of sulfur changed the environment in which diesel fuel is stored, allowing for an increase in Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) of in-tank fueling equipment.

The HydrX™ Fuel Conditioning System combats in-tank corrosion and maintains optimum tank health for diesel underground storage tanks. It removes water from the tank and filters fuel continuously, eliminating corrosion and maintains diesel fuel quality.

Handling Emerging Fuels

New fuel formulations also affect the submersible turbine pumps (STPs) that are used to pump fuel up from the underground storage tanks and through the fuel lines. The submersible turbine pumps consist of a motor that is submerged in the fuel connected by a column pipe to the packer-manifold, which is in the sump space. The submersible turbine pump is subjected to corrosive conditions on the fuel path inside the pump, and on exposed surfaces in the tank and in the sump.

The Red Jacket® Alcohol Gas STP and The Red Armor® STP are both constructed with stainless steel on all parts exposed to the fuel path. This allows these STPs to handle biodiesel concentrations up to 100% and ethanol concentrations up to 90%. The Red Armor STP has an additional 30% increase in stainless steel hardware from The Red Jacket AG STP and a special coating that makes it ideal for withstanding corrosion in the tank and sump.

Additional corrosion protection can be added to any submersible turbine pump by including the Red Jacket Trapper Intake Screen or Red Jacket Stainless Steel Riser Pipes. The Red Jacket Trapper Intake Screen protects your fueling equipment from particulate that has resulted from microbial growth in your underground storage tank. Red Jacket Stainless Steel Riser Pipes stand up to corrosive environments and maintain their integrity against standing water in sump spaces. Because they won’t degrade or corrode, the Stainless Steel Riser Pipes keep water from seeping from the sump to the UST and maintain serviceability.

Maintaining Sump Spaces

With many sump spaces frequently taking on water, there is an increased chance that the water and vapors from the emerging fuels will create an environment where corrosion can thrive. This increase in corrosion on fueling equipment surfaces reduces the lifetime of the equipment and can cause premature breakdown.

The Red Jacket® Sump-Dri™ Desiccant System is specifically formulated to reduce the relative humidity in a STP sump and neutralize corrosive acetic vapors. The absorbed moisture and neutralized acetic acid vapors create a brine solution, which is collected and trapped in the reservoir to limit re-evaporation. Removing the moisture helps eliminate corrosion, which keeps the sump in better condition, enabling easier access for service and ensuring longer life of parts contained in the sump.

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* Wardzińska, Dorota, and Monika Ziółkowska. "Corrosiveness of Fuels During Storage Processes". Reviewed: October 30th 2014. Published: February 4th 2015. Accessed: June 15 2021. https://www.intechopen.com/books/storage-stability-of-fuels/corrosiveness-of-fuels-during-storage-processes

Is your Fueling System Ready for Emerging Fuels?

For decades, the fuel blends and formulations that were available at gas stations remained the same. That changed with the introduction of ultra-low sulfur variations of diesel and gasoline, and the increase of ethanol and biodiesel blends.

Related Blogs

Increased Risk in Diesel USTs

Handling Emerging Fuels

Maintaining Sump Spaces

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