HVO / Biodiesel Filtration & Storage

HVO Diesel Storage

HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) and biodiesel, known as FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) are both renewable diesel fuel options developed for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite similar origins from vegetable oils and animal fats, both behave very differently in storage.

Confusion arises around lubricity. Biodiesel has great lubricating qualities, while HVO requires extra lubricating additives to work in a diesel engine. A common misconception is that blending biodiesel with HVO can compensate for this deficiency. However, mixing these fuels can lead to chemical instability and operational issues, including fuel degradation.

HVO Diesel Storage

HVO is naturally stable. Water absorption is minimal and falls to the bottom of the tank for easy removal with absorbent filter technology. Biodiesel absorbs water faster and this water emulsifies throughout the full tank. It requires efficient coalescing filter technology to break the bond and separate the water away from the fuel to prevent further microbial formation.

There are fuel handling details that need to be considered. When HVO is transitioning into a fuel tank that previously contained biodiesel, it acts like a solvent releasing the sticky microbial growth from the tank walls. This sludge can clog pipes and fuel filters that could halt mission critical operations.

If you have a functioning HVO environment and add biodiesel to the tank, water absorption increases leading to microbial growth issues. In addition, instead of the water falling to the bottom of the tank, it now emulsifies and free floats throughout the tank. The absorbent filter technology, successful with HVO no longer works and the fuel becomes further destabilized. Contamination can also come through refueling vehicles. Their tank may have held various customer products prior to your delivery.

Returning storage tanks to an HVO environment (for reasons of reduced greenhouse gas operation), residual contamination can destabilize the fuel. It can be done successfully. Flushing and monitoring are essential to ensure a clean and effective transition. You must be vigilant.

In emergency or crisis situations, fuel supply choice is often not an option. Operations may demand that whatever fuel is available be used, regardless of its compatibility.

HVO Diesel Filtration

DieselPure’s advanced filtration technology is a proven safeguard for operators navigating contamination or transitions between biodiesel and HVO. Our filters are tested independently at the US military diesel fuel laboratory for removing both free and emulsified water (SAE J1488), as well as capturing particulates down to the sub-micron level. This acts as a frontline defense, preserving fuel quality, reducing downtime, and ensuring system reliability.