The Importance Of Water Separator In Diesel Generator: How It Works?

It is a well-known fact that diesel generators can become contaminated far easier than their gasoline alternative. This means that diesel generators must be regularly drained of any contaminants and water using a fuel separator. Thankfully, this is a task that most generator owners can carry out themselves, which is a good way to cut down the costs of maintaining your diesel generator. To correctly drain your generator, you must first understand exactly what a water separator is, why it is important and how it works.

What is a fuel water separator?

Simply put, a fuel water separator is a small filter device that is used to keep the diesel fuel that runs into engines or generators free from contaminants. A fuel water separator is often used in a generator to minimize the risk of letting polluted fuel into an engine, and ensure that only clean diesel fuel flows through it. Needless to say, a diesel fuel water separator makes a diesel engine far more efficient since it helps prevent engine clogging. 

Fuel water separators are fairly simple devices that make up the main fuel filter system of a machine. Most water separators are made from aluminum and use a repellent surface to separate water and contaminants from the fuel tank. In the device, water will settle at the bottom of a bowl and the remaining fuel will go to the generator. 

Diesel Fuel Water Separator Market advancement is addressed the greatest piece of the general business of 1541.3 Million USD and it is projected to create at the most raised CAGR of 3.8% during the measure time period 2021 to 2026.

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Why are fuel water separators needed in diesel engines?

Diesel bug, or the Microbial contamination of diesel fuel, is a common problem that is faced by many diesel generator owners. Diesel bug refers to the contamination of diesel fuel by microbes (like bacteria or fungi). Modern diesel has a high water retention rate, which means that water can easily get into the fuel system through condensation or rainwater. It is this unwanted presence of water that can encourage microbes to grow in the diesel. 

To prevent the growth of microbes, water filtration systems can be used to separate unwanted water from your fuel before it is delivered to your generator. If this excess water is not drained from your fuel line, through a fuel water separator filter, a number of problems can occur. The cost of fixing any problems caused by contaminated fuel can be huge and the task can also be very time-consuming. Hence, maintaining waterless fuel is of prime importance.

Did you know?

If the separator fails, any water in the fuel tank can lead to the wearing away of lubricants on the diesel fuel injectors.

Water can cause irreversible damage to your generator

If water manages to get inside of your generator, it can start to corrode essential elements of the mechanical structure which may stop the generator from working altogether. Drain water also provides a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which can clog filters and even settle down in fuel tanks, which is precisely what a diesel fuel water separator helps prevent.

Water can cause rust to develop

Another big problem with unwanted water in your generator is the build-up of rust. Rust can lead to the erosion of machine parts, leading to generator failure. It can also block various pathways that are inside of your generator, causing blocks in the system which is where a diesel fuel water separator comes into the picture.

Water from your generator can seep through to other parts of the device that it is powering

If water is not correctly filtered from your generator, it can seep through and affect parts of the device that your generator is being used to power. For businesses that rely on diesel-powered machines/vehicles, water contamination can be catastrophic for workflow and could cause large parts of your company to completely shut down. 

Water has the potential to damage various pieces of technology and machinery that you may rely on. It is particularly harmful to any electronic devices or pieces of equipment that are made of metal, as it can encourage rust to form. It is for this reason that a diesel filter water separator unit is considered indispensable by numerous generator owners.

Your generator may stop working completely

In a worst-case scenario, the presence of water in your diesel generator can cause it to stop working entirely. This will cost your business time and money that could easily be saved by introducing a fuel water separator into your system.

How does a fuel water separator filter work?

Fuel water separators are usually used alongside an OEM fuel filter in a diesel generator for an added line of defense against fuel contaminants. Water filters will collect water and any extra particulates before it reaches the generator’s main fuel filter. This double filtration system ensures that only clean fuel is delivered to your engine. 

You can think of your fuel water separator as a purpose-built primary filter that will isolate and collect unwanted water in the collection bowl (water sump) before it can sabotage the main fuel delivery components of your generator. To do this, water filters use the weight of water to isolate from the diesel fuel. 

The water separation process

When fuel travels through your generator, it will flow through the first stage of your water separator before eventually reaching the main built-in water trap component. The trap works by separating any contaminants that are denser than the fuel itself- this includes water and particulates. Once separated from the fuel, the contaminants fall to the bottom of the trap leaving the clean lighter to be pushed through to the second stage of the fuel water separator. 

During the second stage, fuel rise through a treated surface in the separator system, which separates water from the fuel even further using a repellent surface. The water particles that are separated will form large droplets, which will fall back into the water trap. Any solid elements which may reside in the fuel are erased during the process of filtering water, through the filter element of the separator unit. 

The media used for separating the water in the majority of fuel water separators is either a hydrophobic barrier media or a hydrophilic depth coalescing media. Both of these media work to repel water. 

About Swift Equipment Diesel Generators 

We have a great selection of second-hand diesel generators in stock. We ensure that all of our generators are free from contaminants before they are sold and offer services to help with installing the best filtration systems. Our team of knowledgeable experts is always on hand to offer advice and guide you through the best practices for using your diesel generator. If you have any queries about water separation in your generator, contact our team today!