Biofuels are becoming a serious part of Australia’s industrial energy mix. However, their efficiency depends on purity. Even small traces of water in diesel or biodiesel can weaken combustion, corrode injectors, and feed microbial growth that can eventually clog fuel filters. To avoid contamination and protect the efficiency of every litre, installing a fuel-water separator is one of the most reliable ways for operations to maintain constant flow and manage tight delivery schedules.
When Clean Fuel Turns Against Your System
Moisture enters through condensation, air vents, or loose fittings during transfer. Once it settles to the bottom of a tank, bacteria and fungi begin to grow in the layer between the fuel and water. Their acidic by-products corrode metal parts and turn clean fuel into sludge. Blocked filters and irregular combustion usually trace back to one cause: water that was never removed before circulation.
The NSW EPA warns that water and fuel leaks from underground storage can seep into surrounding soil and groundwater. A reminder for operators that proper separation forms part of responsible fuel management.
How Separators Keep Water Out of Circulation
A fuel-water separator removes free and emulsified water before it reaches injectors and pumps. Inside, the flow slows enough for heavier droplets to drop out naturally. Baffles prevent turbulence, and coalescing media help smaller droplets merge so they can drain easily.
Interfil’s fuel purifiers use residence time and surface tension to separate water and solids from diesel or biodiesel blends. Each model includes a base drain for removing collected contamination and a port for an optional water sensor. By removing free water and larger filter-clogging particles, each separator helps maintain cleaner fuel and reduce strain on downstream filters.
Choosing the Right Separator for Your Plant or Operation
The correct model depends on how fuel moves through your system. Before you make a decision, check:
- Flow rate – match to your highest transfer or pump output
- Blend type – confirm it suits your biodiesel ratio
- Access space – allow room for draining and servicing
- Pressure range – ensure it aligns with your delivery lines
If cloudy fuel, injector corrosion or repeated filter changes sound familiar, speak with Interfil about selecting the right separator for your setup and preventing water from reaching critical components.
Questions Often Asked About Fuel Separators
Can a fuel separator remove dissolved water?
No. A fuel-water separator removes only free and emulsified water. Dissolved moisture remains mixed with the fuel and usually condenses later when the temperature drops or storage tanks cool overnight.
Will a fuel separator restrict fuel flow?
Not when the model suits your system’s flow rate. Pressure loss is minimal, and regular draining keeps fuel moving as it should.
Can a fuel separator run without power?
Yes. Interfil’s separators operate entirely mechanically, making them dependable for mobile machinery, marine engines and remote operations where electricity isn’t always available.
Keeping Separation Effective
A separator can only perform at its best when it is regularly serviced before residue starts to build up. So, drain collected water weekly, or daily in humid conditions, and replace the coalescing media roughly once a year to stop moisture from circulating back through pumps and injectors.
Yet, oxidation residue can still appear if storage conditions fluctuate. A pre-filter and regular pressure checks help show when the separator needs servicing to preserve the clean flow the system depends on.
Protect Your System from Contamination
Moisture is a simple contaminant with complex consequences. Removing it early with the help of fuel-water separators protects injectors, filters and pumps, and keeps your combustion stable under heavy demand.
Contact Interfil for guidance on selecting a fitting separator for your operation. Our team can match a model to your blend, flow capacity and climate so your biofuel system stays efficient and reliable.
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