Advanced Oil Filtration for IMO 2020 Compliance and Emission Control

Fuel Contamination Challenges Post-IMO 2020

Low-sulfur fuels increase tribological risks:

• Acidic corrosion: Reduced sulfur weakens lubricity, accelerating cylinder liner wear 

• Cat fines (Al/Si particles): Cause abrasive damage to fuel injection systems 
  Advanced filtration (≤10-µm precision) removes 99% of cat fines, extending engine life by 40% 

Filtration Technologies for Compliance

1. Multi-stage Systems:

   • Coarse filtration (25–50 µm) → Water separation → Fine filtration (1–5 µm) 

   • Enable use of VLSFO (Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil) without engine retrofits.

2. SKF Turbulo Sludge Buoy:

   • Separates oil/water in tanks at 6 m³/hr, reducing water content to <5% without electricity 

   • Eliminates manual sludge handling, cutting disposal costs by 30%.

Case Study: SCR System Protection

Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems for Tier III NOx compliance require sulfur-free fuels:

• Filtration ensures fuel S-content <0.1% to prevent catalyst poisoning 

• Urea injection filters (e.g., 5-µm needle felt) block impurities causing nozzle clogging 

Industry Impact: Filtration reduces SOx/NOx by 85% and lowers non-compliance fines by $2M/year per vessel