Is it time to debug your Datacentre?
The risks:
- Loss of standby power
- Damaged equipment and standby generator downtime
- Loss of credibility
- Loss of revenue
- Environmental and financial cost of disposing of bad fuel
Your diesel powered generators, UPS systems and therefore your data security, could be at considerable risk from contaminated fuel.
Background:
Following recent changes to diesel fuel specifications, your data centre could be at risk from a new type of bug. This could put your diesel powered generators, UPS systems and therefore your data security, at risk.
Most Data Centre operators have robust generator testing and maintenance procedures, but many neglect a vital component – diesel fuel.
Current diesel engine technology that powers diesel UPS and other standby power systems is very sensitive to fuel borne contamination, even low levels can cause generator running problems or even total breakdown.
Modern diesel fuels are vulnerable to contamination and spoilage from a number of sources. Most diesel now has a bio-diesel component, dependent upon specification, this can be up to 7% by volume. The downside of bio-diesel is that it absorbs water from the atmosphere, which can lead to the growth of DIESEL BUG in your fuel tank, it is also prone to oxidation; this reaction can cause the formation of acids and filter blocking gums and resins within the fuel.
By far the most common form of diesel contamination is the accumulation of particles in the storage tank, these can be asphaltines which are naturally occurring in fuel, rust particles from a corroded fuel tank or a simple accumulation of dirt and grit.
These risks can be mitigated of course, so what should you do?
1) Immediately have you fuel sampled and tested for water content, ISO4406 cleanliness (particle count) and for diesel bug.
2) If contamination is found, have your fuel and fuel tank cleaned – it is unlikely that you will have to dispose of fuel at this stage, in most cases it can be cleaned in situ. You should also have your fuel storage and transfer equipment inspected for possible areas of contamination risk.
3) Install ‘on tank’ fuel polishing systems to maintain fuel quality and cleanliness on an ongoing basis.
4) Instigate a regular fuel sampling and testing regime.
IPU’s Fuel Conditioning Programme contains 4 stages: Testing, Cleaning, Polishing and Stabilisation.
Find out about a data centre fuel polishing case study by clicking here or……
For expert help and advice on fuel contamination contact us on +44 (0) 121 511 0470 or ipu@ipu.co.uk