Fuel viscosity control is a method to control viscosity and temperature of Fuel Oil (FO) for an active fire in diesel engines of motor vessels and generators of oil-fired energy plants. Fuel oil's viscosity heavily depends on the temperature; the higher is the temperature, the lower is the viscosity. For optimal combustion, the fuel's viscosity should be in the range of 10 ~ 20 cSt. A combination of viscometer, PID controller, and the heater is used to keep this value.
Viscometer measures the exact viscosity of the fuel, this value is analyzed with the set point in the controller, and the command is sent to the heater to regulate the temperature of the fuel.
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For light load (Low speed) operation, temperature setting shall be raised so that FO could be used within the low viscosity area in the viscosity range recommended by the engine manufacturer.
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When C-oil with poor ignition quality (high-CCAI) is used, means similar to the sub-item (1) shall be taken.
- Means for vapor lock: if C-oil with a low flash point (about 85 deg. below) is used for a ship whose FO service system is not provided with a pressure system, vapor lock can be generated at booster pump. In this case, a maximum temperature within the range where no vapor lock is generated shall be decided, which temperature shall be used as the set temperature for heating.
- Setting values of the viscorator shall be checked.
The error of the viscorator indication shall be grasped all the time by comparing the viscosity obtained from the viscosity-temperature curves with the viscosity indicated by the viscorator. (If the NV analysis is carried out, indication errors of the viscorator shall be confirmed assuming that the viscosity obtained by the analysis is the standard viscosity).
- Since excessive heating causes deposition of sludge, inefficient of the heater, and an increase in steam consumption, the viscosity shall be within the range recommended by the manufacturer and also refer the analyzing report.
- For generator diesel engines burning A/C blended FO or only C-oil, the viscosity shall be controlled in the same manner as that for the main diesel engines.
- The following information shall be utilized for proper injection viscosity control of FO:
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Cracked heavy oil, viscosity-temperature curves
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Viscosity conversion chart
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Approximate IBF blending chart
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Ignition Quality Chart (Nomogram for deriving CCAI)
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