Do you know how to store diesel for the long term?

        Diesel oil is the main fuel for diesel generator sets. When choosing light diesel oil, users should choose different light diesel oil according to the region, temperature, and season. Many users know that they should pay attention to the choice of diesel, but ignore the problem of diesel storage. If the storage is improper, the diesel is likely to deteriorate prematurely and affect its use. So do you know how to properly store diesel for a long time?
        How long can diesel be stored? The shelf life of any fuel depends on environmental conditions. The key is to keep the fuel cool and keep it dry. Under ideal conditions, diesel fuel can be stored for 6 to 12 months. To extend service life beyond twelve months, even under optimal conditions, treatment with fuel stabilizers and biocides is required. Twelve months is the maximum reasonable storage time if the fuel cannot be kept at 21°C and below all the time.

Tanks and Regulations

        The biggest benefit of properly maintained storage tanks is the protection of fuel from water contamination. It is important to maintain the structural integrity of the tank, especially above-ground tanks that may have top openings that could contaminate the fuel if rainwater gets in.
        It is recommended that you minimize the space left in the tank over time; it is this space that will affect the amount of condensate that builds up in the fuel. The minimum space required depends on the tank configuration and the amount of fuel (due to expansion).

Controlled storage diesel stability

         Biocide and diesel fuel stabilization treatments will prevent most fuel storage problems. The biocide will kill the growth of active diesel fuel bacteria in the fuel storage tank, while the stabilization treatment prevents the fuel from breaking down due to chemical reactions with external influences.

        One thing to keep in mind is that the presence of a "biofilm" or biomass produced by organisms can affect how quickly the biocide kills microbes in the fuel. In this case, unless the biofilm is disrupted, microorganisms can be penetrated by the biocide, and the storage system may become re-infected after treatment. In cases of severe biofilm build-up, the tank must be mechanically cleaned.
        The goal of stabilization treatment is to store oxidation reactions and acid-base reactions in the fuel. As you can guess, oxidation occurs when fuel is exposed to oxygen. Oxygen interacts with "reactive components" already present in the fuel. This sets off a chain reaction that turns healthy, stable molecules in the fuel into unstable reactive molecules, eventually causing the fuel to darken and delaminate.
        Antioxidants are effective at interrupting chain reactions, in the beginning, so they don't happen further afield. Fuel stabilizers also prevent harmful acid-base reactions in the same way, by reacting with acidic precursors in the fuel, preventing them from further reagent-reacting with other fuels.