|
LPG Standby Fuel Systems
Currently, LPG is being used as an alternative to natural gas on CO-generation electrical power systems, large industrial boilers, and heaters. It is a standby fuel which must instantly replace natural gas when the natural gas supplier announces price increases during peak usage. This often occurs during the winter months when the LPG in the standby storage has not been used for several months.
Problems occur when this fuel must immediately vaporize to replace natural gas. However, the inherent problems of the fuel may not allow for immediate and complete vaporization.
Additional vaporizers and other equipment will not solve the fuel problems, but there is a solution--using an LPG fuel that has been treated with Vapo-Kleen®, a supplement that has proven to remove most of the problems of vaporizing the fuel, while literally paying for itself in reduced maintenance cost.
The Need For Vapo-Kleen®
LPG, as it passes through vaporizers and the fuel system, deposits heavy ends. The hydrocarbon chains break down at this point in the fuel system, leaving a buildup of a gummy residue, similar to grease. Water deposits in the vaporizer and fuel system will not only contaminate the fuel, they can freeze, blocking the flow of fuel.
These inherent problems can inhibit performance and require disassembly and clean up of the components of a fuel system--a time consuming process that can disable the LPG fuel system. Labor costs to regularly clean these components during peak usage time can add significantly to the cost of maintaining the boiler, heater, or dryer in the facility. Vapo-Kleen® greatly reduces these problems found with ordinary LPG or HD5 propane.
Vapo-Kleen® does not contain metallic elements or hazardous solvents that can add harmful impurities to the environment.
LPG often leaves a buildup of long-chain hydrocarbons in vaporizers, fuel lines, and regulators. As these buildups increase, the fuel does not vaporize effectively, nor does it flow easily through the system.
The emulsifiers in Vapo-Kleen® slowly soften and remove long-chain buildup, which can prevent interference with the gas delivery system. The oil soluble substance holds the insoluble foreign matter in suspension so heavy ends are carried through the vaporizers and gas system and are burned during the combustion process.
A surfactant also takes care of free water found in most LPG. The surfactant disperses the water and other liquid impurities into colloidal-size particles in the LP gas. The emulsifier retains this suspension through to final ignition, after which it is expelled with the exhaust gas.
In standby fuel systems, LPG is stagnant for several months during the summer in very large storage tanks. In the winter, the LP gas delivery system is required to start up immediately, often within one hour upon notice by the natural gas supplier. The long chain hydrocarbons and water can form a large, concentrated mass during prolonged storage. The emulsifiers in Vapo-Kleen® break down the long chain hydrocarbon (heavy ends) and water droplets during prolonged storage and hold them in suspension, thereby "stabilizing" the fuel during the summer months so it will more readily vaporize "on demand" during the winter heating season. The Vapo-Kleen® fuel is stabilized and kept ready for many months, reducing troublesome "standby fuel start-up procedures" and other seasonal-related problems.
Another noted benefit is that the free water in LPG will be reduced to such minuscule particles that freeze up of vaporizers and fuel lines will be largely eliminated.
LPG is a fuel that has several undesirable characteristics when used as a fuel in high volume demand systems, especially when used as an alternative to natural gas in the cold winter months. Damage from heavy ends and oils, along with free water found in LPG (even HD5 high purity LPG) can cause the need for constant service in vaporizers. Long chain hydrocarbons and other contaminants can cause combustion problems, as well.
|
