News

Where would Christmas be without IPU?

December 11^th, 2015 in News

Everyone at IPU hopes that Santa brings you all the presents you want on Christmas morning. We know he’ll be out on his sleigh through the wee, small hours delivering presents all around the world. If it hadn’t been for IPU, it might have been very different… Shoddy maintenance by his elves (always downing tools and moaning about elf & safety – sorry), meant that his facilities at the North Pole were falling apart. This is when IPU stepped in: Andy Whitehouse’s Fuel Conditioning team installed a polishing unit to stop cold diesel clogging the sleigh’s engine (the reindeer quit in 2010, complaining that Christmas was only meant to be twelve days long) Dave Caddick’s…

IPU to Exhibit at Marintec China – 1-4 December 2015

October 30^th, 2015 in Engine Starting, News

IPU is set to exhibit at one the largest marine industry trade fairs in Asia, Marintec China 2015. Members of IPU’s Engine Starting division will be in Shanghai to showcase our comprehensive range of spring, hydraulic and air start motors. IPU engine start systems provide independent or black-start capability for vessel emergency generators and on board fire pumps. They are robust, reliable and are unaffected by extreme temperatures, making them ideal for marine environments. Spring Starters – A spring starter motor from IPU is a reliable, cost effective way of providing manual starting to for diesel engines. Available for starting engines up to 12 litres, they eliminate any pollution…

IPU to Exhibit at International Workboat Show – 1-3 December 2015

October 28^th, 2015 in Engine Starting

IPU are once again exhibiting at the largest marine industry trade event in North America, the International Workboat Show. The team from IPU UK and IPU USA will be in New Orleans to showcase our comprehensive range of spring, hydraulic and air start motors. IPU engine start systems provide independent or black-start capability for vessel emergency generators and on board fire pumps. They are robust, reliable and are unaffected by extreme temperatures, making them ideal for marine environments. Spring Starters – A spring starter motor from IPU is a reliable, cost effective way of providing manual starting to for diesel engines. Available for starting engines up to 12 litres (730 cubic…

ice breaker engine starting in cold temperatures

Reliable engine starting even in cold temperatures

October 7^th, 2015 in Engine Starting, News

It’s a well-known fact that electric starter motors can struggle when the temperature drops below zero. So how can you make sure your critical systems start in freezing temperatures? IPU doesn’t have one solution – we have three: hydraulic, air and spring starters. Engine starting in cold temperatures can be challenging. Cranking an engine is hard work and takes a significant amount of energy. The job is made even harder during cold weather as low temperatures thicken the viscosity of the oil in the crankcase which increases the drag. The problem is compounded by the poor performance of electric starters at low temperatures. The cold slows down the chemical processes in the battery…

IPU launches the new Diesel Defence fuel polishing system

August 12^th, 2015 in Fuel Conditioning, News

Why do we need fuel polishing? Since 2011, the diesel we buy has been a blend of petrochemical and biodiesel. It is now widely accepted that diesel will only remain in a useable condition for 6 to 12 months. To get the most out of your fuel IPU has launched the Diesel Defence DD50 and DD100 fuel polishing system. Diesel Defence provides long-term protection for your fuel by eradicating contaminants before they reach the day tank or generator. It will remove: • Microbial growth (a.k.a. the diesel bug) • Water • Particulate contaminants such as dirt, soot and rust. Improved filtration The new Diesel Defence DD50 and DD100 offer superior multi-stage filtration and fuel is maintained to…

UK National Grid Warns of Power Shortages

UK National Grid warns risk of blackouts is on the rise

July 27^th, 2015 in Fuel Conditioning

In October 2014 we reported that the UK’s spinning reserve was down to just 4%, lowest in nearly a decade. Unfortunately this situation does not appear to be improving as the National Grid announced in July that spare capacity is set to drop to just 1.2%. For organisations that rely on consistent power for critical systems, this is bad news. To meet tough European emission targets a number of UK coal fired power stations have been forced to close. It is this action that has caused the continued slide where just over four years ago the margin was as high as 17%. The concern over power shortages has forced the National Grid to invest £36m to enable several plants remain on standby…

Watchdog investigates the cause of Hyundai ix35’s to break down

July 2^nd, 2015 in Fuel Conditioning

Hyundai owners in parts of Scotland have received a stark introduction to the risks associated with modern biodiesel according to BBC’s Watchdog. The consumer affairs programme launched an investigation after receiving reports that a number of diesel Hyundai ix35’s had lost power in colder weather. The cause? Dirty diesel. The BBC investigation discovered that some ix35 engines were breaking down after the fuel filters became blocked with wax. Unfortunately for those affected, diesel is prone to wax formation at low temperatures (typically when temperatures drop below 4°C). This is known as the fuel’s ‘cloud point’. The formation of wax crystals is caused by the biological…

Fuel Conditioning Handbook – your guide to fuel conditioning

June 17^th, 2015 in Fuel Conditioning, News

Many of you know that if you store diesel for longer than 6-12 months it will require conditioning. But what does that mean? And why do you need clean fuel? The IPU Fuel Conditioning Handbook contains all the answers you need and you can download it for free. The pocket sized guide covers everything you need to know about maintaining the quality of your fuel and the reliability of the equipment it serves, including: Relevant legislation What is clean, dry fuel and why does it matter? What’s different about biodiesel? How can biodiesel be contaminated? How can you prevent contamination? And it’s not just ‘the world according to IPU’. We’ve included the advice given by fuel…

The challenges of ATEX self certification

June 2^nd, 2015 in Engine Starting, News

Self-regulation is a process with a poor reputation. Just ask Fifa. The result is that people are reluctant to trust self-policing organisations. Where platform safety is concerned complete trust is essential. But what level of confidence can be attached to a certificate issued by the same company that manufactured the product. Is ATEX self-certification acceptable or a disaster waiting to happen? ATEX is the standard that governs safety in potentially explosive working environments (including platforms and underground mines). When it comes to ATEX certification there can be no room for uncertainty. That is why IPU’s ATEX approved starters were put through rigorous 3rd party assessment to…

France increases FAME percentage in diesel to 8%

May 29^th, 2015 in Fuel Conditioning

We’ve often speculated that the percentage of biodiesel added to petrochemical diesel would rise from the current level of 7%, but it seems that France has made the first move. Since 2011 international markets have mixed a portion of biodiesel with petrochemical disesel to improve the environmental impact of using the fuel. Although there are many types of biodiesels available, Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) is the most common type used across the world. In January the French Energy Ministry issued a Ministerial Order announcing that the maximum level of FAME that could be added to diesel would be increased to 8% (8% biodiesel/92% petrochemical) which is referred to as B8.…