19 july
2007
Petroclear Fuel Filters Designed
To Handle Everything That Ethanol Handling Can Throw
At Them
Albion,
IL Continuing
the implementation of its stated goal of equipping its
customers with the tools they need to make their jobs
easier, PetroClear, a division of Champion Laboratories,
Inc., and the leading manufacturer of fuel-dispensing
filters, has designed its fuel-filter lines to be compatible
with the dispensing of ethanol at any percentage, from
the E10 that is blended into today’s unleaded gasoline,
to the E85 that is becoming a larger and larger component
in the motor-fuel pool.
Due to ethanol’s affinity
for water, it is generally not transported in pipelines
like traditional motor fuel. However, water still has
the ability to infiltrate each link in the supply chain,
opening the door for potential problems when that ethanol-blended
fuel finds its way to the consumer’s gasoline tank. One
of the main concerns is the potential for “phase separation” in the fuel. This occurs when enough water contaminates
the gasoline, leaving two distinct layers in the storage
tank, a gasoline-only layer at the top and an ethanol/water
“cocktail” along the bottom. This phase separation of
the fuel can lower the octane number and cause knocking
in the engine, while the engine will not run at all on
the ethanol/water mixture.
PetroClear ALERT (A) & (D)
Filters
PetroClear has defeated this problem with the creation
of its ALERT Phase Separation Detection Filters. Living
up to its name, the PetroClear ALERT (A) & (D) filters
notify the operator that phase separation in the storage
tanks may be occurring by slowing the flow of fuel to
less than 0.5 gallons per minute. PetroClear ALERT filters
have a construction that features a non-toxic two-part
chemical and “super absorbent polymers,” or SAPs, designed
to detect elevated levels of water as the fuel tries
to pass through the filter.
PetroClear
(W) Filters
PetroClear has also developed its “W” line
of dispenser filters that are designed to detect water
in neat gasoline and signal the fueling station operator
by greatly reducing the dispensing flow rate. The slow
flow is an indication water is present and the tanks
should be tested for water content. If the test shows
no water, the filter should be changed. If water is evident,
the tank should be serviced and the filter should be
changed. PetroClear’s W line of dispensing filters is
highly effective with E10 blends. PetroClear filters
also provide 10-micron particulate protection. Since
ethanol can act as a scouring agent in a storage tank,
this high-efficiency particulate filtration—which is
standard on all PetroClear filters—enhances its use with
all ethanol blends.
PetroClear has been able to stay ahead of the ever-evolving
new-fuel curve through its more than 70 years in designing
industry-leading filters, in addition to its long-standing
relationships through its parent company, Champion Laboratories,
Inc., with automobile manufacturers, heavy-duty equipment
manufacturers, trucking companies and other OEM manufacturers.
“If original equipment fuel
filtration changes are on the horizon, our O.E. relationships
give us a two to three year advance notice as to what
changes in fuel filtration are being considered,” said
Al Henager, Director of Sales for PetroClear. “Unless
your filter was made by PetroClear it hasn't been engineered
for all of the possible circumstances you might encounter
with any type of fuel, let alone these new formulations
that are entering the supply chain. From the refinery
to the last drop coming out of the nozzle, PetroClear
is involved in the process.”
PetroClear, a division of Champion Laboratories,
Inc., manufactures a complete line of high-quality
dispensing filters for the petroleum industry. Champion
Laboratories, Inc., has grown from a small Midwestern
company to become a quality and technology leader and
one of the world's largest suppliers of filters and
filtration products and related services to the automotive,
retail, on-highway and off-highway fleet, heavy-duty
and petroleum dispensing industries. Champion Laboratories,
Inc., has been a trusted name in filters since 1955,
providing high efficiency performance in the most demanding
work environments. For more information, visit www.champlabs.com.
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