A
future of ultra-low-sulfur fuel and increasing
emphasis on biofuel set the stage for a "fuels
summit" hosted by Mirabito Energy Products,
Binghamton, N.Y. The event was held November
19 before an audience of 70 to 80 people at the
DoubleTree by Hilton in Binghamton, and reprised in front of
about 40 attendees on Nov. 20 at the Marriott in Albany, N.Y.,
according to estimates by some who were at the sessions.
"Our focus wasn't really on the tank or the dispenser or
the suction line or the submersible," said one of the speak-
ers, Charles A. Frey Jr., vice president of Highland Tank &
Manufacturing Co. in Manheim, Pa. "Our focus was on tak-
ing the water out of the entire system." That said, Frey and the
other presenters each spoke on their special areas of expertise
before sitting together for a roundtable discussion on how to
wage war against water.
Jason Mirabito, vice president of sales and marketing,
made opening remarks, and Russell Wark, Mirabito's facili-
ties, environmental and compliance manager, was one of the
speakers, along with Frey; Mark Stellmach, owner and presi-
dent of Fuel Management Services, Toms River, N.J.; and
Eddie Ware, vice president of operations for Francis Smith &
Sons, Chinchilla, Pa.
"The new fuels are different," Stellmach said in an inter-
view with Fuel Oil News after the summit. "They need a little
bit of extra TLC."
Ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuels are rapidly becoming ultra-low-
sulfur heating oil, with New York State leading the way, and
other states right behind them, Stellmach said.
"It's a good fuel from a combustion standpoint, and from a
standpoint of a major reduction in deposits on heat exchang-
ers," Stellmach said. "However, since the introduction of
ultra-low-sulfur fuel in the on-road market, there have been a
lot of issues. Ultra-low has different properties, different char-
acteristics than high-sulfur fuels."
One of the characteristics that has been an issue is that
ultra-low-sulfur fuel has a greater affinity for moisture, and it
has [potentially] caused corrosion on fuel dispensing equip-
ment nationally, Stellmach said. [Studies are currently under-
way to nail down this assumption.]
Water also provides a good environment for bacteria and
fungus, which accelerate and exacerbate corrosion, Stellmach
noted.
Similarly, Stellmach said, biofuels are "good fuels, and a
great marketing tool for the heating oil industry." They too
have different properties and characteristics, he said.
FUELS
By Stephen Bennett
Water Fight
At a 'Fuels Summit' hosted by Mirabito Energy Products, experts on fuels
and equipment discussed how to minimize water in tanks and systems
18 FEBRUARY 2015 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com
