Monoglyceride Content in Marine Diesel Fuel-A Guide

Problems with the low-temperature operability performance of biodiesel in blends with petroleum diesel are infrequent, but continue to limit the use of biodiesel during winter months. A troubling aspect of this problem is that in some cases precipitates above the blend Cloud Point (CP) have been detected and have led to plugging of fuel filters and subsequent engine stalling, as well as plugging of fuel dispenser filters. Many researchers found that the saturated monoglyceride content was a main component of the material that was found on plugged fuel filters, as well as traces of Saturated DiGlycerides (SDG), were also present on the plugged fuel filters.

This is the reason which forced the organization of standardization to suggest a procedure in order to predict the content of the Saturated MonoGlycerides (SMG) even with uncertainty which can vary from −50% to +50%. The model which was used will be the same as that which was introduced in the Annex C of EN 14214+A1:2013. The model is based on the assumption that saturated fatty esters, saturated fatty acids and saturated monoglycerides are present in the same concentration levels in the FAME. The present work will give a guide with the prediction of the saturate monoglyceride in the distilled marine diesel fuel according to ISO 8217 depending on the operating climate requirements. The target is to provide a guide to understand the difference between the various climate conditions with respect to marine diesels potential cold flow performance.