[PUP] PMM fuel polishing

[Brian Smyth]

Good Morning Bob,

Thought I'd wade into this discussion and tell you our experience with
building fuel panels.

Basically we have been building fuel transfer/filtering systems for
years that perform both functions quite nicely, and is relatively
inexpensive to do.

Here's how we do it...

First of all as an example, let's use Mr. Wagner's boat.....it has three
main storage tanks and a large day tank.

We built a fuel board that has an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold.
All of the boats main storage tanks and the day tank feed into the inlet
manifold using 3/4" lines. This allows you to draw from any tank, or the
day tank.
>From the inlet manifold we go to a set of dual Racor filters, and then
to the fuel pump.  The type of pump will depend on the size of the boat
and the size of the fuel tanks.  Sometimes we also incorporate a "Y"
valve here to enable the use of a manual pump for emergency fuel
transfer.

Anyway, the pump sucks the fuel through the filters and sends it to the
outlet manifold.

The outlet manifold is also connected to all the fuel storage tanks and
the day tank with 3/4 inch lines.

This system basically allows you to draw from any tank, through the
filters and return to any tank using large bore lines.  Typically the
pump we use is around 13 GPM.  

The day tank then feeds the main engine and the genset, or wing engine,
through their own single Racors, and all of the fuel returns from the
engines go back to the day tank.

This system seems to work quite well and we have not had any issues from
owners in the last 8 years that they have been in operation.  Actually,
the only thing ever done to modify the system was that one owner
installed a larger pump to transfer fuel more quickly.

Funny thing is that if you read the literature from the filter
manufacturers, it doesn't say that you can get the GPM flow through that
we do, but it does work.

Hope this helps, we have no problem handing out drawings or schematics
of the system if anyone wants to see them......

Brian


-----Original Message-----
From: passagemaking-under-power-bounces at lists.samurai.com
[mailto:passagemaking-under-power-bounces at lists.samurai.com] On Behalf
Of 2elnav at netbistro.com
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 1:43 AM
To: Passagemaking Under Power List
Subject: Re: [PUP] PMM fuel polishing

Bob Frenier wrote

> Instead of arguing the pros and cons of polishing, why don't we
brainstorm
> a creative way for our PMM to get both polishing and final filtering
done
> without duplicating systems?
>
> Regards,
> Bob Frenier

REPLY
for those boats already equipped with an eqaualizing tube joining the
two
tanks; how about cutting into that pipe and diverting it to one of those
"contractor" style refueling pumps they have on a drum in the back of
their pick up trucks.
These pumps can be had in 12VDC 24VDC and 120VAC
The big pipe will allow faster flow and installation of a big filter
with
a turbine water separator. The return from the pump can be diverted to
either tank. This allows for taking dirty fuel and depositing in a clean
tank or simply recirculating it.
Admittedly these are not "marine" grade. They are rugged industrial
units.
They are ignition proof to meet UL fuel pumping standards.

When I worked for a power utility we used such a system to "polish" the
transformer oil during the once a year downtime maintenance.  We pumped
and filtered 2000 gallons in less than a day shift. Pump and filter
mounted on one of those little hand trucks. The filter canister was 24"
tall and 8" diameter. 100% water separation since even the tiniest bit
would cause the energized transformer to blow up if water was present.
Arild
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