DETERMINATION OF VANADIUM AND SODIUM IN FUEL OIL

The progressive increase of inlet temperatures in the development of more efficient gas turbines is requiring manufacturers to impose stricter fuel specifications. In particular, the maximum concentrations proposed for vanadium are now often below the precision limits of established spectrophotometric methods. Reactor-based neutron activation analysis, using high resolution Ge (Li) gamma ray spectrometry, provides a sensitive instrumental method for the simultaneous measurement of vanadium and sodium. The practical limit of determination for vanadium varies from about 0.002 ppm for distillate oils to about 0.02 ppm for crude oils, the sensitivity limit being determined primarily by the concentrations of other trace elements in the oil. For simultaneous measurement of sodium, the limit varies similarly from about 1.0 to 10.0 ppm, but for separate measurement the potential limit is below 1 ppb. An analysis time of about one hour can be achieved using a sample weight of only 1-2 g, and the method should find particular application in monitoring fuels used in advanced gas turbines for marine propulsion and power generation.

• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Petroleum

  61 New Cavendish Street
  London W1M 8AR,   England 
• Authors:
  • Gibbons, D
  • Metcalfe, B
  • Rosborough, D F
• Publication Date: 1973-3

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 34-39
• Serial:
  • Institute of Petroleum, Journal of
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue Number: 566

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fuel oils; Gas turbine fuels
• Subject Areas: Energy; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00054821
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1974 12:00AM