Stability Additives

Asphaltene stability, distillate stability and blend compatibility

Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) can be a complex blend of refinery streams. Incompatibility between these streams in a final blend, or the commingling of incompatible fuels in the field, can result in fuel stability and quality issues. For example, resid-based blend streams typically contain asphaltenes that exist in a stable, colloidal suspension. However, blending these with other streams, especially distillate streams, can destabilize the asphaltenes under various conditions causing them to precipitate out of the fuel. This can result in sludge formation in tanks and transfer lines, fuel system fouling, poor combustion and operability issues

Ultra-Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (ULSFO) and VLSFO can also contain naturally occurring species and trace levels of contaminants that impact the fuel’s inherent stability and the stability of any subsequent blend in which it is used. Instability mechanisms and the rate of degradation are catalyzed by temperature (thermal instability) and the presence of oxygen (oxidative instability). Fuel instability can be further exacerbated over time as the fuel ages during storage and/or bunkering, resulting in the formation of insoluble degradation products such polymeric gums, sediment, and sludge.

Once sludge has formed in tanks or on equipment, it may be difficult to remove without taking the unit or vessel out of service to perform expensive and time-consuming manual cleaning. The ability to clean-up while still operating can provide significant economic benefits and allow greater flexibility with operations.

Additionally, agglomerated asphaltenes, gums, and sediment that reach fuel systems can cause failure in on-board purifiers and result in poor, incomplete combustion. Improving fuel system operations and enhancing fuel combustion will provide fuel savings and reduce emissions.
For decades, Innospec has provided refiners, suppliers, ship owners, and fuel consumers with specialized products to meet the challenging nature of bunker fuels. Understanding fuel properties and enhancing the stability of the fuel by implementing an Innospec fuel additive program will improve economics, reliability, operations and flexibility, while reducing emissions and sludge disposal costs.

Innospec offers a variety of stabilizers and sediment inhibitors to meet the demands of the ever-changing bunker fuel market. Please contact your Innospec representative to discuss how we can custom tailor a solution for your needs.

Featured Spotlight:

Trident™ 100 – A specially formulated multi-functional additive that enhances the stability, compatibility, and operability of ULSFO and VLSFO fuels.

Trident™ 120 – A specially formulated multi-functional additive designed to enhance the quality, reliability, and handling of VLSFO and ULSFO fuels by improving fuel stability, mitigating blend incompatibility, and improving combustion efficiency.

Trident™ 200 – A strong polymerization inhibitor and dispersant additive, specifically formulated to improve fuel stability and enhance the quality, handling and operability of ULSFO and VLSFO

Trident™ 290 – A specially formulated additive that delivers polymerization inhibition, dispersant and detergent functionalities to improve fuel stability and enhance the quality, handling and operability of ULSFO and VLSFO.

Features/Benefits

• Increases blend flexibility
• Reduces sludge and sediment formation
• Reduces cleaning costs
• Maintains optimal performance of assets
• Reduces risk from fuel contamination
• Improves bunkering flexibility
• Improves fuel quality