What is DERV Fuel, and What is it Composed of?
DERV is the acronym for Diesel Engine Road Vehicle, and its fuel is referred to as white diesel or road diesel, which is utilised for powering transport and passenger vehicles with diesel engines, including boats, buses, coaches, lorries, trains, and vans. Although it is also named white diesel, it is not white in colour. Instead, it is amber or green coloured.
It is a type of petroleum fuel obtained after distilling crude oil, consisting of hydrocarbon molecules. It helps power heavy machinery, which is used to lift steel beams, pave roads, and dig foundations. This fuel is readily available at forecourts and petrol stations in the UK for people to fuel their cars, vans, and trucks.
In this article, you will learn about uses, other names, and storage techniques for DERV fuel. You can also get information about the contamination risk of DERV fuel, how to treat contaminated fuel, and how to clean spilt or leaked DERV.
Uses of DERV Fuel
DERV fuel has wide-ranging applications, including:
- Forklift Trucks
- Airport Vehicles
- Electricity Generation
- Heavy Goods Vehicles
- Construction Equipment
- Light Commercial Vehicles
- Heating Commercial Premises
- Road and Rail Transport
Other Names of DERV Fuel
The DERV fuel is also known by other names, such as:
- Diesel
- Road Diesel
- Road DERV
- White Diesel
- Taxed Diesel
- Normal Diesel
- Forecourt Diesel
- Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD)
How to Store DERV?
You should store DERV fuel in a dedicated storage tank in a cool and dry place to prolong its shelf life and reduce the contamination risk. Steel tanks are used for storing diesel onsite, and portable 45-gallon drums are utilised for transporting DERV. You can store this fuel for 6 to 12 months without any contamination risk.
However, you should undertake necessary preventive measures for maintaining the fuel quality if you want to store it for more time. It requires you to perform regular checks on storage infrastructure, test the fuel, and drain any built-up sludge from the bottom of your tank.
DERV & Contamination Risk
There is 7% FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters) in diesel fuel to fulfil the RFTO obligations. However, the presence of FAME makes the stored fuel highly vulnerable to microbial contamination. It is because of the hygroscopic characteristics of FAME, due to which it attracts water and provides a suitable breeding condition for the growth of biomass, diesel bugs, and sludge. This characteristic results in reduced DERV quality, leading to clogging of filters and breakage of the engine.
Types of DERV Contamination
These are the two major types of DERV contamination:
Physical Contamination
This type of contamination occurs when synthetic or organic matter enters the fuel. Plant debris, small insects, or rust from the inside of metal tanks can contaminate the fuel present in outdoor tanks.
Microbial Contamination
Microbial contamination occurs due to naturally occurring microbes in DERV fuel, such as bacteria and fungi, resulting in moisture and sludge build-up. The hydrocarbons in fuel act as food for these microorganisms, compromising the fuel quality with increased microbial growth.
How to Treat Contaminated DERV?
DERV can be treated with fuel polishing to remove little contamination. For fuel polishing, DERV is pumped through a fuel polishing machine at high pressure, where it passes through several fine filters to remove all traces of contaminating materials. However, this solution is unsuitable for dealing with diesel bug contamination.
How to Clean Leaked or Spilt DERV?
It would be best to act fast in case of DERV fuel spillage. A small amount of spilt DERV can be cleaned with a spill kit. However, you should call the specialists in case of large-scale spillage to avoid environmental damage and reduce the risk of harm to wildlife and humans.
Looking for a Fuel Supplier?
Providing the best quality at the best rates, 123 Oil supplies Red Diesel, White Diesel (DERV), Industrial Lubricants, FAME Biodiesel, Kerosene Oil, Hydraulic Oil, HVO Fuel, and Heating Oil for homes and industries. Moreover, we also provide services for fuel polishing, fuel uplift, oil tank removal, oil tank cleaning, and much more.
