Heavy Oil Treatment

Changes in crude or residual-fuel blends can affect the way fuel is stored, filtered and delivered to the burner. The assessment starts with representative fuel samples, the blend history and the location of the operating problem.

• Fuel blend, viscosity at the relevant operating temperature, water and sediment
• Sulfur, vanadium, sodium and other relevant constituents
• Storage, mixing, filtration and atomization arrangements
• Deposit or corrosion observations and recent operating changes

Where asphaltene-related instability or deposits are identified, evaluate the fuel-handling issue and treatment compatibility together. Selected magnesium formulations also have documented applications in crude- and heavy-fuel-oil combustion.

Vanadium-related hot corrosion and sulfuric-acid-related cold-end corrosion require separate assessments. Choose the treatment around fuel analysis, equipment conditions and the intended deposit or corrosion-control objective.

Review suitable MgO and magnesium-based additive families for the identified fuel and equipment. Combustion improvers may be evaluated where the site has a separate combustion-related objective.

Set a monitoring plan before changing treatment. Relevant observations may include filter behavior, deposits, air-preheater pressure loss and inspection findings, interpreted alongside load and fuel changes.