What is the role of a centrifuge in a ship's fuel oil system?

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Multiple Choice

What is the role of a centrifuge in a ship's fuel oil system?

In a ship’s fuel oil system, the centrifuge is used to polish the fuel by removing water and solid contaminants. By spinning the fuel at very high speed, the heavier water droplets and solid particles are forced to separate from the lighter fuel and are discharged separately, while the clean fuel passes on to filters and the engine. This helps prevent corrosion, clogging, and damage to pumps and injectors. Additives are added by dedicated dosing systems, not by the centrifuge, so it doesn’t serve to mix in additives. The centrifuge also doesn’t increase viscosity—viscosity is controlled by fuel grade and temperature—and it doesn’t separate oil into fractions, which is a refinery-based process.

In a ship’s fuel oil system, the centrifuge is used to polish the fuel by removing water and solid contaminants. By spinning the fuel at very high speed, the heavier water droplets and solid particles are forced to separate from the lighter fuel and are discharged separately, while the clean fuel passes on to filters and the engine. This helps prevent corrosion, clogging, and damage to pumps and injectors.

Additives are added by dedicated dosing systems, not by the centrifuge, so it doesn’t serve to mix in additives. The centrifuge also doesn’t increase viscosity—viscosity is controlled by fuel grade and temperature—and it doesn’t separate oil into fractions, which is a refinery-based process.

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