Apparatus & Instrumentation for On-Site Gas Turbine & Diesel Engine

 

Fuel Physical Property Analysis

The Spectro Incorporated Industrial Fuel Analysis Laboratory (IFAL) consists of all apparatus and analytical instruments required for on-site gas turbine physical property analysis. Each system is complete and only normal laboratory equipment such as standard glassware and chemicals are to be supplied by the customer. In some cases alternative instruments are offered. A complete summary of the tests is shown on the next page.

A specification for fuel oil is often a compromise between supply and cost of fuel and the physical property required for proper and safe operation of the diesel engine or gas turbine. Inevitably this compromise is based on fuel availability, costs, and governmental regulations on emissions. Fuel specifications are often separated into two classifications: purchase specifications and end user specifications. All fuel specifications contain limits on several physical properties, each of which has an impact on fuel cost and diesel and gas turbine operation.

Although a fuel may have met the purchase specifications at the refinery, there is no automatic guarantee that it will still meet specifications at the end-user site. Contamination in transport, accidental or planned re-routing and switching of fuels and storage delays can lead to changes in the physical properties of the fuel. For these reasons, on-site fuel analysis has become a requirement at gas turbines sites to guaranteed that physical property specifications are met and to determine if pre-conditioning is requiredfor safe and efficient usage of the fuel.

The physical property tests listed in the IFAL provide a complete capability for many different fuel types. If it is known that only a specific fuel type will be used at a certain site, all of the tests in the IFAL may not be required. Many of the tests will be spelled out in your fuel specification, however if there is any uncertainty as to which tests to perform, consult your engine supplier, fuel treatment system manufacturer, consulting engineering firm or Spectro Incorporated.

The IFAL contains all or any part of the instruments listed below:

To learn more, please visit our Information Request Page

 

Main Products Page