It’s almost hurricane season in the southern US, when everyone starts paying closer attention to the weather reports. Is that little Atlantic wind pocket just an “invest,” or is it the next Harvey, Sandy or Katrina?
Whatever part of the US you live in, it’s a good time to review your current disaster and business continuation plans for the season. Hurricanes aren’t the only disaster that could affect your business. Even unexpected rainstorms can cause damage, including power outages. Tornadoes, earthquakes and other natural disasters that can happen anywhere can also knock out your facility. Power may be out for hours, days, or even weeks at a time. And if your plans include firing up a generator or two (or more), fuel becomes a very important part of your recovery plan.
Of course, the generator is only as good as the fuel you add to it. But if you decide to store fuel for the day it’s scarce, there are a few things you need to know before you build a tank or two for your business’s fuel storage.
If you decide to invest in fuel storage, you’ll have to take steps to protect your investment. Both gasoline and diesel degrade due to oxidation. Fuel will turn brown and lose its ignition properties, leaving you without fuel when you actually need it. Adding a fuel stabilizer when filling up keeps it from degrading over the long term.
Your tank must also be airtight to prevent the rapid evaporation of gasoline or diesel.
Cycling Fuel Stores
Regularly using and replacing your fuel stocks keeps your fuel fresh and prevents the breakdown of your fuel supply. It’s better to have multiple storage vessels, and use them in rotation. Add fuel stabilizer to them as you replace the fuel. Fill them all at once, and use the fuel from one tank at a time. Refill the emptied tank with stabilizer and fuel, and use the next one (or have your supplier top it off as needed.) You’ll always have fresh fuel onsite.
Precautions
Store your fuel in a shed or other facility that’s far enough away from people so that if there is a fire, your people and business are safe.
Don’t leave fuel in your generator (or any other machinery) when you’re not using it. Degraded fuel leaves residue in any motor. Line-blocking sludge in the lines prevent fresh fuel from being properly used, and could prevent the motor from starting at all.
Start your generator occasionally with a small amount of fuel, and run it until the fuel runs out. This does three things:
- Tests the generator to make sure it’s ready to use in an emergency
- Gives you the opportunity to repair the generator before you need it
- Ensures that no fuel is left in it that can cause engine problems later on
Ethanol
As the required amount increases in fuels, it’s important to guard against water getting into the fuel as well as the phase separation that follows. A fuel stabilizer, added when the fuel is fresh, will prevent the breakdown that will cause your gas to be “stale” faster than before.
Ethanol also attracts water, and the weight also causes the water to separate from the gasoline. Water is a catalyst for a number of chemical breakdowns that degrade the fuel. If not treated properly, you’ll have fuel with a dramatically lowered octane and a layer of ethanol and water in the bottom of your tank. Go that far down, and you’ll also have engine trouble when you really don’t need it.
Diesel Concerns
There are two main reasons why modern diesel has a lower storage life than it used to:
- Supply and demand—with countries like China and India consuming more than ever before, refineries are turning every drop of crude into refined fuel. Part of the refining process creates more unstable components, causing a shorter storage life.
- Ultra-low sulfur diesel— Petroleum’s “middle child” is also prone to degradation and microbial encroachment that can quickly ruin your supply. Microbial invaders can dramatically lower storage life for this type of diesel. The lack of sulfur also lowers the fuel’s ability to resist microbes growing in the fuel. In addition to a stabilizer, you may need a biocide to get rid of them. A tightly sealed container and a water controller will help keep your fuel from degrading, diluting and being invaded by microbials.
Diesel, if stored in a sealed container at lower than 70 degrees, will last about 12 months without additives or stabilizers. If your temperatures are much above 70, storage time is reduced by 50%, to 6 months.
Oxygenation causes gum and sediment to form, blocking lines and preventing a motor from working correctly, since these substances don’t burn off. This leads to carbon and soot deposits in the injectors, requires frequent filter changes and causes the engine to stop frequently.
The SFS Option
Normal supply lines are iffy at best and usually non-existent during and after a disaster. If you’re not happy with the idea of storing fuel at your facility, or don’t really have the ability, we have a better option.
Specialty Fuel Services can bring fresh fuel to your facility after a disaster, and keep your gas or diesel powered generators running for as long as you need them. Call us at 1-866-445-5508, email us at [email protected], or use our online contact form. We’ll set up your fuel delivery that’s available with just a phone call, at the price that’s locked in. Centrally located with strategic fuel reserves throughout the US, Specialty Fuel Services can deliver emergency fuel and equipment anywhere. We’re just a phone call away.