Some manufacturers of separators have voiced concerns regarding the influence of homogenizers on the performance of separators. Their worry is that homogenizers could affect the separator’s ability to efficiently separate substances denser than water and impede the process of water extraction.
 
Fundamentally, the purpose of centrifuges and filters is to extract water and inorganic impurities from fuel, with the assumption that organic components of the fuel will be combusted in the engine instead of being discharged into the slop tank. Homogenizers aim to minimize fuel waste to less than one percent by reducing the size and mass of fuel droplets, thereby enhancing the ability of centrifuges and filters to remove inorganic pollutants from new fuel.
 
Refineries have advanced in reducing contaminants like cat-fines in Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), and protecting engines is a top priority. IPCO Power's homogenizers are crucial in this process by diminishing fuel droplet size and mass, which in turn boosts the performance of centrifuges and filters. In the IPCO Power homogenizer, fuel is forced through a 300-micron gap between the stator and rotor of the homogenizer, which spins at 3000 RPM, creating fluid shearing.
 
The sludge expelled by the fuel separator is typically composed of three main elements:

• Inorganic particles denser than water,
• Organic material (fuel) denser than water,
• Water.

 
The ratio of these elements can vary based on the fuel’s state, quality, and the specifications and settings of the fuel separator.
 
FRAS Technology has verified that homogenizers do not affect the volume and size of the hard (inorganic) particles in the fuel.
 
A report by CIMAC, comparing particle size distribution and count with and without a homogenizer prior to centrifugation, indicated a 4-6% improvement in particle removal efficiency with the use of a homogenizer/separator system compared to using a separator alone.

​IPCO Power has conducted thorough research on the efficiency of separators through onboard installations, analyzing bunker samples before and after treatment by the separator, both with and without the homogenizer active. These studies showed that the presence of the homogenizer notably enhanced the separator’s removal effectiveness and achieved a reduction in sludge by 50 to 80%. Any decline in separator efficiency would be quickly noticeable. IPCO Power is pleased to report that since 2006, all installed homogenizers have consistently met and surpassed customer expectations, delivering the high level of performance our customers require.
 
IPCO Power welcomes any inquiries and is ready to provide further details as needed.

Shandong Peace and Shandong Development have installed our FID Reducer (fuel homogenizer) for sludge reduction and protection against fuel issues. 

IPCO Power’s FID Reducer is installed directly before the centrifuge. As a result of the reduction in fuel droplet size, centrifuges and filters will be able to more effectively remove in-organic contaminants and stay clean much longer. Consequently, sludge generation will be reduced and centrifuge flushing intervals will be significantly extended.
 
The efficiency depends on the size of the Asphaltenes. The larger the size of the asphaltenes, the more efficiency is reached. The sludge production will be reduced with 50 – 80%. 
 
Instability of fuels and incompatibility between fuel batches are known issues nowadays. With the IPCO Fuel Homogenizer you can prevent these fuel related issues.

Carnival Cruise Lines orders Water Fuel Emulsion systems for Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Freedom and Carnival Spirit. Both Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Freedom will receive their second WFE system, while for Carnival Spirit it will be the first installation.
 
The systems will assist Carnival (Ecospray) AAQS (Advance Air Quality System) with reducing NOx, soot and particulate matter. The WFE system will reduce these emissions and will reduce fuel consumption due to the combustion improvement. With a combustion improvement there will be less dirt inside scrubbers wastewater.

Read more about the Water Fuel Emulsion systems here 

At the moment most vessels are focusing in reducing operational costs. Fuel is the biggest operational costs. The use of the IPCO Power WFE system (FID Injector) will result in more effective combustion, lower fuel consumption and a reduction of NOx, Soot and PM pollutants, while the engine’s combustion chambers, pistons, exhaust system and lube oil will stay much cleaner. 
Currently 130 Water Fuel Emulsion systems from IPCO are in operation!
 
The benefits are coming from the 2 parts of treatment:
 Homogenizer:

Firstly, the fuel homogenizer reduces fuel droplet size to 3 micron and smaller. Smaller fuel droplets enhance combustion, lower emissions and improve fuel economy.

Adding water to the fuel:
Secondly the WFE system the FID Injector is a combustion improvement system designed to create a stable “water in fuel” emulsion. The system is installed before the mixing tank. The implementation of emulsified fuel significantly enhances fuel atomization and distribution in the combustion chamber. 

Schematic representation of combusting fuel emulsion:

NOx reductions using water in fuel emulsions are significant; approximately 1% NOx reduction is achieved for every 1% injected water. Using existing fuel systems, water content is limited to 20%. The FID Injector has a cost advantage over other systems, primarily due to its simplicity in system installation and operation. With the better combustion your exhaust will stay cleaner. This will lead to cleaner wash water from scrubber systems.

The FID Injector (WFE) system is one of the simplest systems to reduce the particulate matter and soot emissions significantly. The system will target these emissions at the source, the fuel. 

Operational costs are low as the only major requirement to the Injector is the water addition. The FID Injector has a small footprint, and all necessary components are available inside the frame. The FID Injector is installed between booster feed pump and mix tank to simply control the water injection.
 
Benefits from our Water Fuel Emulsions system:
Up to 2% fuel saving with a 4 stroke engine and 2,4% with a 2 stroke.
Less engine maintenance
Up to 20% NOx reduction 
Less black smoke
Up to 90% PM and Soot reduction
Assisting your ships scrubber system (keep the scrubber cleaner)
​Scrubber wash water will be cleaner

Example of the benefits:
The soot reduction was confirmed for example by the Seabourn Odyssey. After installation of the WFE system they had half of the soot waste during the monthly cleaning of the EGB.

Steam pipes before and after the installation of the IPCO WFE system.

Results during the evaluation on board HAL Ryndam were the same as the evaluation from Lloyds Register with Carnival Corp.

Princess sixth and final Royal class vessel the Discovery Princess will be equipped with IPCO Power's Water Fuel Emulsion systems. The systems will assist Carnival (Ecospray) AAQS (Advance Air Quality System) with  reducing NOx, soot and particulate matter. The WFE system will reduce these emissions and will reduce fuel consumption due to the combustion improvement. With a combustion improvement there will be less dirt inside scrubbers waste water. 

Last week the IPCO Power Water Fuel Emulsion systems (WFE) were commissioned with remote assistance from our service engineers. Due to travel restrictions it is not simple to visit the vessels. The on board project manager did a superb job in having the systems and running.

Shalx Equipment&Engineering in Hong Kong sold IPCO Power's fuel homogenizers for 2 x 210,000 DWT new builds. (BC210K-8 and BC210K-9)

​Learn more about the shipyard at:
http://www.bhshipyard.com.cn/English/Introduction/Introduction1/index.htm

Learn more about Shalx:
http://www.shalxee.com/index.jsp

Learn more about the fuel homogenizers:
https://www.ipcopower.com/fuel.html

At it’s Guadaloupe’s power plant EDF was experiencing fuel related issues with asphaltenes. The safety fuel oil filters were clogging relatively frequently. 

​IPCO Power’s Fuel Homogenizer is installed to reduce fuel droplet size and prevent issues with asphaltenes. This to assure best efficiency in operation.

Since the implementation of the 2020 compliant 0.5% sulphur fuel, the shipping industry is facing significant challenges, mainly due to the poor and inconsistent quality of the blended fuels. Blended fuel can become very unstable which can lead to major issues inside the fuel system, engine, and combustion process.

We are receiving an increased number of queries asking if fuel homogenizers work on 2020 compliant fuel, and it is important to understand that 2020 compliant fuel is only referring to 0,50% Sulphur, it does not mean that any other part of the specification of the fuel is improved. On the contrary, there are already numerous reports within the industry of significant damage to main engines and excessive sludge problems after vessels have changed over to the new compliant fuel. 

As most of the new compliant fuels are a blend of HFO and various percentages of ‘cutter stock’ it is difficult to know what the exact blend ratio or composition is, which can lead to instability (stratification, excessive sludge) and incompatibility issues. The ISO fuel specifications do not regulate this.
​
So if you have a tank fuel of “bad” fuel you can use our FID Recycler to reactivate the fuel again.

The pump will circulate the fuel over the tank. All fuel will be handled by the fuel homogenizer at the same skid.The fuel homogenizer will reduce fuel droplets size and make a homogeneous fuel.

Last couple of weeks we started Water Fuel Emulsion systems on board of Sky Princess, Regal Princess and Caribbean Princess. Sky Princess is Princess newest vessel. We appreciate Princess commitment in to emission reduction. 

Last week the Water Fuel Emulsion system on board Pacific Princess was commissioned. The systems will feed the engines equipped with Exhaust Gas Scrubbers. With the FID Injector there will be a significant reduction in particulate matter, soot and NOx. Water Fuel Emulsions will reduce the visible smoke.

IPCO Power receives new order to equip Sea Princess and Golden Princess with it's Water Fuel Emulsion system the FID Injector. The systems will be installed to assist the Ecospray exhaust gas scrubber to reduce particulate matter and soot emissions with at the same time a 2% fuel saving. ​

As newest addition to Seabourn's fleet of cruise ships also the Seabourn Ovation is now equipped with IPCO's Water Fuel Emulsions systems. NOx reductions using water in fuel emulsions are significant; approximately 1% NOx reduction is achieved for every 1% injected water. The FID Injector (WFE) system is one of the simplest systems to reduce the particulate matter and soot emissions significantly. The system will target these emissions at the source, the fuel. The FID Injector has a small footprint and all necessary components are available inside the frame. 

Last week the IPCO WFE systems (FID Injector) on board P&O Oceana were commissioned. The systems will assist Carnival (Ecospray) AAQS (Advance Air Quality System) with  reducing NOx, soot and particulate matter. The WFE system will reduce these emissions and will reduce fuel consumption due to the combustion improvement. With a combustion improvement there will be less dirt inside scrubbers waste water.