Info on diesel fuel

[2ndamendment]

Here is some information regarding diesel fuel I posted on a diesel web site I belong to........For the diesel fuel users and those who are just curious.



High S2 diesel, LSD and ULSD are all currently produced in the U.S.A.. High S2 diesel is <2,000 ppm S2. LSD diesel is <500 ppm S2. ULDS diesel is <15 ppm S2.

High S2 diesel per government regulations is basically only to be used as HHO. LSD per government regulations is to be used for locomotive, farming, off road etc. ULSD per government regulations is to be used for road usage.

In the future HHO will be required to be LSD as well. Also, current LSD users will have to transition to ULSD. Eventually HHO will have to be ULSD.

See the pattern? The government is phasing in across the board the use of ULSD as time passes. Hope this helps out.

[Gerald]

I am not familar with the Regulations on diesel fuels.

If I am reading your post right......

In summary, the Gov. is lowering the requirments on allowable Sulphur in diesel fuels.

This will drive up the cost of diesel even higher than it is now.

Just curious.....what is the market for the sulphur that is taken out when the fuel is produced? What is it used for?

I remember that we had tanker trucks coming into the refinery to load up with that bright "Yellow" liquid stuff. FYI.....sulphur will be a liquid if the temperature is in the proper range. If sulphur is heated it will melt and become a liquid. But if it gets too hot, it turns back into a solid. I don't remember exactly what the temperature range is......but it is something like between 230 to 260 deg it will be a liquid. Low pressure steam was used to keep the underground pit at the proper temperature so the liquid could be pumped into the tanker trucks.

[Ray]

Molten Sulphur.
See trucks running around with that stuff all the time.

Older engines were not built for the low sulphur diesel they are making now.
Hope mine lasts a few more years. I'd hate to buy a new diesel truck at the
prices they are now.

[2ndamendment]

Originally Posted by Gerald

I am not familar with the Regulations on diesel fuels.

If I am reading your post right......

In summary, the Gov. is lowering the requirments on allowable Sulphur in diesel fuels.

That is correct Gerald. Eventually all things that use diesel fuel will have to run ULSD. ULSD will be the only one available.

This will drive up the cost of diesel even higher than it is now.

Once again this is correct. In order to make ULSD a diesel hydro-treater unit plus support units will need to be built. This cost refiners millions to construct. In turn, this adds processing costs to the refiners electricity, water, catalyst, maintenance etc. This will add to the cost of ULSD at the pump.

Just curious.....what is the market for the sulphur that is taken out when the fuel is produced? What is it used for?

Sulfur compound has a wide range of uses from agricultural to medical and many in between. There is a market but for profit selling sulfur is not that good in respect to other by products of refining.

I remember that we had tanker trucks coming into the refinery to load up with that bright "Yellow" liquid stuff. FYI.....sulphur will be a liquid if the temperature is in the proper range. If sulphur is heated it will melt and become a liquid. But if it gets too hot, it turns back into a solid. I don't remember exactly what the temperature range is......but it is something like between 230 to 260 deg it will be a liquid. Low pressure steam was used to keep the underground pit at the proper temperature so the liquid could be pumped into the tanker trucks.

Sulfur will turn molten at roughly 252 degrees F. Sulfur pits are normally used to collect the sulfur product. 150# steam coil is normally used to keep the sulfur molten while in the pits. Back in the day when you were in the business Gerald you would pump the molten sulfur from the collection pits to a truck or rail car for shipping. Now days the federal government is requiring a degas type vessel added to the process, to run the molten sulfur through first, before it can be loaded to trucks or rail cars. Again another processing cost added per environmental regulations.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by 2ndamendment

Sulfur will turn molten at roughly 252 degrees F. Sulfur pits are normally used to collect the sulfur product. 150# steam coil is normally used to keep the sulfur molten while in the pits. Back in the day when you were in the business Gerald you would pump the molten sulfur from the collection pits to a truck or rail car for shipping. Now days the federal government is requiring a degas type vessel added to the process, to run the molten sulfur through first, before it can be loaded to trucks or rail cars. Again another processing cost added per environmental regulations.

My guess was close on the Temp. I was thinking the steam pressure was something like 15 to 20 psi to get in the temp range needed.

That was back in the early 80's......and not my area of the plant. It was brand new units that were just built and I took a few tours just to see the new things.