Cleaner Fuel, Cleaner Engines: Results from a Four-Month Oil Filtration Trial

After a four-month trial aboard Marine Atlantic’s Ala’suinu vessel in Fall 2024, Green Marine partner C.C. Jensen (CJC), have completed its evaluation of CJC’s advanced oil filtration systems. The compiled results detail the performance of the filtration systems on fuel and lube oil quality, emissions reductions, and operational efficiency, providing clear evidence of the technology’s potential to support both environmental performance and long-term cost savings.

As CJC’s Canadian distributor, GIP coordinated and managed every stage of the demonstration. During the trial period, GIP’s team handled all technical inquiries, daily reporting, and inventory management, as well as all third-party sample analyses to ensure unbiased independent results.

The trial tested CJC filtration units on the vessel’s lube oil and fuel systems. An HDU 27/108 Off-line Fine Filter was installed on one auxiliary generator, and a PTU3 27/108 Filter Separator was installed on a marine diesel oil (MDO) service tank. Both units ran continuously throughout the four-month trial.

Compared to the vessel’s traditional purification systems, the filtration units demonstrated:

• Significant reductions in the percentage of soot emissions, NOx, COx, and oxidants;
• Up to three times lower concentrations of metals and additives such as copper, iron, lead, silicon, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc;
• Improved oil clarity and cleanliness, as confirmed by spot tests and visual inspections.

The vessel experienced a notable reduction in sludge tank levels thanks to bowl cleaning, and lower electrical consumption after a traditional purifier was replaced with a CJC unit because heating the oil is no longer necessary for filtration. Over time, these changes are expected to reduce wear and tear on components, extend oil and component life, increase uptime, and lower maintenance costs.

Fuel Efficiency Gains

Data collected during the four-month trial indicated that the filtration units reduced filter replacement frequency, with the main engine showing a five-times longer filter life, and the auxiliary generator achieving a filter life 3.5 times longer as compared to purifier systems.

This improved efficiency also translated into cleaner fuel, as independent testing showed that the fuel system became much cleaner, with fewer particles in the fuel. In just 48 hours, the contamination level dropped significantly from a starting point of ISO 21/20/17 to ISO 18/16/12.

Operational Insights

Marine Atlantic’s Chief Engineer Kirby Biggin reported clear improvements during the trial. After two weeks of operation, the crankcase appeared much cleaner, and the oil on the dipstick was described as clear and closer to its original condition, rather than blackened as it had been prior to the installation. Biggin also noted that the fuel unit was operating smoothly, with only minimal pressure increase during transfers.

Over the trial period, the fuel filtration unit was operated around the clock for continuous polishing of the MDO service tank and was also used as a transfer pump. The crew weighed the used inserts after drying and confirmed that more than 240 pounds (108.86 kilograms) of contaminants, including dirt, foreign particles, water, along with bacteria, had been removed from the fuel system.

Sustainability growth

Based on trial outcomes, the filtration units have shown clear potential to support vessels in achieving better environmental performance. It could contribute significantly to improving ship owners' performance in the Green Marine environmental certification program, particularly in terms of the air emissions and oily discharge performance indicators.

For inquiries regarding product proposals, please contact Green Infrastructure Partners Inc. at atullipan@gipi.com