Lloyd’s Register witnessed a process demonstration, in which the exploration and drilling company Genoil used a hydroconversion upgrader to convert high sulphur heavy fuel oil into IMO 2020-compliant marine fuel. During the desulphurisation process, the sulphur content of an HSFO was reduced from 1.72% to 0.38%.
Although the class society was not present throughout the complete demonstration cycle, the sample analysed from the output sample of the demonstration was 0.38% m/m, in comparison to the feedstock used for the process which was stated to be an ISO-F-RMG380 fuel with sulphur content of 1.7% m/m, informed Muhammad Usman, Lloyd’s Register, Product Manager – FOBAS.
The verification from LR helps the industry understand that there is a less expensive means of ensuing compliance with 2020 regulations than paying a large premium for distillate fuels, or investing millions of dollars of capital, which may never see full payback in scrubber technology or LNG, noted David Lifschultz, CEO of Genoil.
And because the GHU produces fuel with the same properties of heavy fuel oil minus the sulphur content, it also reduces the risk of engine damage, which so many in the industry are concerned with in relation to new hybrid distillate products,
…he further explained.
The recent demonstration was run with conventional high sulphur RMG 380 grade sourced from Rotterdam. A sample was taken by Lloyd’s Register of the input material and sealed in a FOBAS bottle.
This development comes after the latest demonstration run for the hydroconversion upgrader (GHU) conducted for Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) at Genoil’s state-of-the-art multipurpose demonstration facility hosted by the UFA Scientific Research Institute of Petroleum Refining and Petrochemistry located in Bashkortostan, conducted in October and November 2018.
