Alfa Laval unveils biofuel-compatible separators

A new range of biofuel-optimised separators has been launched by Alfa Laval. Also available as upgrades to existing installations, the new separators are compatible with biofuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and can be used by diesel engines without major modifications.

Provided that they are produced from the right biomass, biofuels can provide a carbon-neutral addition to other marine fuels, but they still have to be cleaned effectively to optimise performance and avoid additional engine wear, Alfa Laval said.

Biofuels are already widely used and the International Organization for Standardization is preparing to incorporate them in the 2024 revision of ISO 8217. However, depending on their production, their composition varies and issues such as density and moisture absorption require extra care with respect to fuel storage and treatment.

The new high-speed separators are compatible with HVO (EN15940) and FAME (EN14214 and ASTM D6751) blends comprising residual fuel and/or distillate, the company said in a statement.

Alfa Laval’s Markus Hoffman, global sales manager, Marine Separation & Heat Transfer Equipment, commented: “We are proud to support our customers’ decarbonisation journey, no matter which fuel path they take. Biofuels will be the choice for many marine vessels, but customers must be certain that their equipment is prepared for them. With biofuel-ready separators and cost-efficient biofuel upgrades, Alfa Laval can provide that certainty.”