FUEL ADDITIVES

FUEL ADDITIVES

Fuel additives are chemical materials added to fuel to improve or change their existing properties in order to obtain better results from the product. Besides adding fuel improving chemical materials to fuel, fuel additives are also used to protect the quality of fuel from icing and microbiological contamination. Static dissipator additives are added for prevention of any sparking during fuel flow into tanks and vehicles.

Fuel additives are clasified as mandatory additives, optional additives and additives added by agreement. The amount, type or compound of the additives which are going to be added to fuel depends on the fuel types. Fuel additives used in fuel types like gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, aviation gasoline may be similar or totally different.

Antioxidants are added to prevent gum formation and peroxidation in fuels because they deteriorate some components in the fuel system. The dissolved small amount of oxygen contained in fuel comes into reaction with reactive fuel components and these reactions trigger complex chain reactions. Antioxidants break these chains and protect the system from oxidation. These chains are more effective in olefin containing fuels.

Corrosion inhibitor additives are used to prevent storage tanks and pipelines from rusting as well as  to improve the lubricating characteristics of fuel.

Statis Dissipator Additives are added to improve the conductivity and to prevent electrostatic charge in Jet fuels. (mandatory for Jet A-1, optional for Jet A) The approved additive is Stadis 450.

Biocides kill microbiological organisms and protect fuel from microbiological growth. Microorganisms are fungis and bacterias which grow in fuel due to presence of water at high temperatures. Sometimes the heavy microbiological mass formed on the surfaces of the tank or equipment can not be cleaned by adding biocides, therefore the tanks and equipments have to be emptied and cleaned mechanicaly.

Fuel system anti-icing inhibitors are added to protect the fuel tanks from icing formed from water precipitated in fuel tanks. The bulk water in fuel freezes at low night temperatures and during the flight. The formed ice crystals cause filter cloggings and block the fuel flow.

Metal deactivator additive is added to protect fuel from dissolved metals like copper and zinc which have an catalytic impact on fuel.