Alfa Laval introduces marine industry’s 1st biofuel-ready separators

Photo: Alfa Laval

Biofuels are a current and accessible fuel option that can help marine customers decarbonize. While biofuels reduce CO2 footprint, they may pose new operational challenges, according to Alfa Laval, which is first in the market to address them with biofuel-optimized separators and separator upgrades.

Biofuels like hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) can be used by diesel engines without major engine modifications. They can be a carbon-neutral alternative if produced from the right biomass, but they must still be cleaned effectively to prevent performance issues and expensive engine wear.

In a marine-industry first, Alfa Laval high-speed separators are now compatible with HVO (EN 15940) and FAME (EN 14214 or ASTM D6751) blends comprising residual fuel and/or distillate.

“We are proud to support our customers’ decarbonization journey, no matter which fuel path they take,” said Markus Hoffmann, global sales manager for marine separation and heat-transfer equipment at Alfa Laval. “Biofuels will be the choice for many marine vessels, but customers must be certain that their equipment is prepared for them. With biofuel-ready separators and cost-efficient biofuel upgrades, Alfa Laval can provide that certainty.”

Biofuels are already in widespread use, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is looking to incorporate them into the 2024 revision of ISO 8217. Nevertheless, they can be prepared in various ways and differ widely in their characteristics—both from conventional fuels and from each other. Because of differences in density, moisture absorption and more, they demand additional care when it comes to fuel storage and treatment.

To ensure optimal biofuel separation, Alfa Laval has modified both internal bowl components and the separator software. This makes setting up for HVO, FAME blends or conventional fuels a simple parameter change. Incorporated into new Alfa Laval separators for purchase, the developments are also available as upgrades for existing separators.

“Optimizing for biofuels is nothing that occurs overnight,” Hoffmann said. “Our biofuel-ready separators build on deep fuel insights, extensive research at the Alfa Laval Test & Training Centre and long cooperation with ISO and CIMAC. As biofuels continue to evolve, customers can count on Alfa Laval for efficient engine protection, just as they have with conventional marine fuels.”

To learn more about biofuel-ready separators and Alfa Laval’s approach to biofuels, click here.