Mobile Tank Cleaning Services

In reality, we seldom see what goes into our tanks, nor can we visualise the extent of the deterioration of the fuel in our tanks over a period of time. Sadly, tank cleaning is an essential yet neglected maintenance item.

Utilising specialised Algae-X MTC Tank Cleaning technology, We can provide a mobile tank cleaning service for all diesel fuel tanks, ranging from small vehicle tanks to large underground storage facilities. Algae-X tank cleaning crews are completely mobile, modular and self contained. We come to your premises or service facility at a time to suit you and eliminate unnecessary downtime normally associated with traditional tank cleaning methods.

Diesel Quality in Southern Africa
It is a known and established fact that we suffer the effects of poor diesel fuel quality in Southern Africa. A quick perusal of numerous and regular press articles, manufacturers trouble shooting notes, comments and feedback from diesel consumers highlights this costly issue. Whilst efforts to improve diesel quality (by
reducing the sulphur content) have been implemented, the quality of our diesel fuel remains behind that of first world countries, despite calls and legislation for improvement.

Modern Diesel Engines Need High Quality Fuel
Todays generation of hi-tech diesel engines require high quality fuel for the optimum performance and reliability the manufacturer intended, anything less guarantees the following negative consequences:

• Power loss
• Higher Fuel Consumption
• Premature Engine Component Failure
• Higher Emissions
• Plugged Filters

Gone are the days of the premise that “fuel is fuel”. One of the main causes of our poor fuel quality is contaminated storage and delivery systems, these continue to compromise the quality of our diesel fuel.

The Nature of Diesel Tanks
Diesel fuel tanks, be they bulk or vehicle, accumulate sludge, water and debris. These provide fertile breeding grounds for bacteria and algae which in turn contaminates any diesel fuel that is pumped into the tank. The more fuel we use, the more tank sludge builds up.

We never use all the fuel in our tanks, always filling up before the tank is completely empty. This means we continuously add particulate, water and organic debris to the accumulating contaminants in the bottom of the tank every time we fill up. Until now, thorough tank cleaning was a time consuming and expensive procedure that was only undertaken in extreme circumstances.

Traditional Tank Cleaning
Traditionally, three methods are utilised to solve fuel related problems in bulk storage and vehicle tanks:

DCDR
(Drain, Clean, Dispose & Refuel)
A process adopted in certain operations of key essential services, such as hospitals, which is undertaken every 12 - 14 months. A very effective method, but it is a costly and time consuming one which involves the removal and disposal of the contaminated fuel, cleaning the tank and then refuelling with new “fresh” fuel.

Chemical Additives
Most biocides are highly toxic and pose severe health risks to inexperienced or untrained personnel who handle the product. Additives mainly comprise biocides or algaecides. Although extremely efficient at killing certain types of algae and bacteria in fuel, these dead multi-celled agglomerates fall to the bottom of the tank and form toxic tank sludge, often more detrimental than the original contamination.

Filtration
Proper filtration is vital and essential. However, filters are designed to treat the symptoms of poor fuel quality and not the cause. Filters remove particulate, water and inorganic debris from fuel, but have no effect on controlling microbial contamination or deteriorating fuel. Numerous engine failures are due to plugged filters and contaminated fuel will rapidly plug the most complex bank of filters.

Tank Cleaning Using Algae-X Technology
With the introduction of Algae-X Mobile Tank Cleaning (MTC) technology, the tank cleaning process is now an affordable and effective means of ensuring that this vital but generally neglected maintenance procedure can be undertaken and incorporated into your maintenance strategy to ensure the optimal diesel fuel quality, demanded by your diesel engines. Algae-X has a comprehensive range of tank cleaning service providers to cater for all tank sizes, ranging from 50 litres upwards.

Algae-X Mobile Tank Cleaning Service Benefits
As a fully mobile service with self contained modular units, utilising Algae-X MTC technology, our service crews offer the following benefits:

• Work can be carried out on site at any location
• No removal or cutting of tanks is required
• Tank cleaning can be incorporated to coincide withservice intervals eliminating additional downtime
• Minimal waste with no disposing of vast quantities of contaminated fuel
• Extremely time and cost effective

Algae-X Technology Benefits
The tank cleaning services and methods generally offered in the market place consist of tank bottom water and debris removal. The defining advantages of our patented technology and tank cleaning methods include the additional vital requirement of comprehensive fuel and environment remediation, consisting of:

• Removal of tank bottom / free water, debris and solid contaminants
• Removal of bio-film build up on tank walls, baffles and supports
• Removal of entrained and more importantly, emulsified water
• Elimination of all microbe / bacterial growth and activity from the entire fuel environment, without the use of toxic biocides (not just the visible microbe components on the water interface)

Besides just cleaning your diesel, Algae-X induction technology remediates the actual fuel integrity back to SANS 342 specification by reversing the natural and accelerated deterioration process that occurs in all diesel fuel.

Customer Base Algae-X is committed to growing our proud customer base which includes customers such as BP Southern Africa, Grindrod, Afrisam, Dept. of Health, Eskom, Vodacom, SETA, SACD, National Ports Authority, Netcare, SABC, Life Health Group, South African Sugar Association, Combined Motor
Holdings and Volvo Service, to name but a few.