Case Study · Fuel Processing & Quality Control

60 m³/h In-Line Diesel Process Filtration:
ISO 14/12/9 Cleanliness at Full Production Flow

Two customised Jingyuan process filtration systems — regional fuel storage, blending, and distribution hub, Greater Bay Area, China

Project Overview

1. The Challenge: Precision Filtration Without Compromising Process Flow

As a core node in the Greater Bay Area refined fuel supply chain, the facility handles continuous blending, transfer, and quality verification across multiple product grades. Four interconnected technical challenges made standard filtration approaches inadequate.

Process-generated particulate accumulation

Diesel circulating through blending pipework and heat exchangers progressively accumulates trace metal particles, oxidation products, and pipe-scale debris. Each transfer cycle compounds the contamination load. At production volumes, these accumulated particulates affected the optical clarity and particulate specification of the finished product.

Emulsified water in dynamic process conditions

The blending process involves temperature differentials across pipeline sections, creating conditions where water and fuel form stable micro-emulsions. At 60 m³/h dynamic flow, conventional gravity settling is completely ineffective. Traditional coalescing elements lose water separation efficiency rapidly at this flow rate as shear forces prevent droplet coalescence.

Simultaneous high flow and micron-level precision requirement

The process specification required maintaining micron-level filtration accuracy while sustaining 60 m³/h throughput — a combination that exceeds the capability of most standard industrial filtration products. The downstream flow meters and precision blending equipment had strict contamination tolerance requirements that could not be relaxed.

Zero tolerance for unplanned process interruption

Any unplanned filter change or system fault during active production would require shutting down the main processing line — a direct economic loss measured in the value of interrupted product throughput. The filtration system therefore required near-continuous availability with predictable, planned maintenance intervals.

2. The Solution: 2 × 60 m³/h Jingyuan Process Filtration Systems

High-flow coalescence and phase separation

The JINGYUAN® hydrophobic membrane array uses fluid-dynamic principles to force demulsification at 60 m³/h — breaking the stable water-fuel micro-emulsions that form under process temperature differentials. Free and emulsified water is separated continuously without reducing flow rate or requiring heat input, maintaining the process fluid in a water-free state throughout the blending cycle.

High dirt-holding capacity precision filtration

Specially configured high-surface-area rigid composite polymer membrane elements maintain extremely low differential pressure at 60 m³/h — avoiding the pressure drop penalties that conventional high-precision elements impose at elevated flow rates. The extended service life of the membrane elements significantly reduces the frequency of planned maintenance interventions in the process line.

Industrial-grade skid construction

Both systems are built to heavy-duty skid specifications with corrosion-resistant, high-strength components rated for the humid, high-temperature conditions of the Greater Bay Area coastal environment. The rugged construction eliminates weather-related reliability concerns for the continuous outdoor pipeline installation.

Real-time differential pressure monitoring and DCS integration

The system outputs real-time process differential pressure data compatible with the facility’s existing DCS (Distributed Control System). This enables digital quality tracking — correlating filtration performance data with product batch records — and provides advance warning of maintenance requirements, eliminating unplanned intervention.

3. Results

4. Customer Statement

“In our process line, speed and precision are equally vital. Jingyuan’s 60 m³/h systems have seamlessly integrated into our workflow, providing a robust defence against impurities that once plagued our high-end fuel products. It’s an essential investment for maintaining our competitive edge in the Greater Bay Area.”

— Technical Director, Regional Fuel Processing Hub, Guangdong Province, China

5. Technical Notes: In-Line Process Filtration vs Terminal Filtration

Why in-line process filtration requires a different design approach

Terminal filtration — filtering fuel at the point of delivery to end users — operates under intermittent demand with variable flow rates and periodic shutdown windows. In-line process filtration operates continuously within a production pipeline where any pressure drop above design limits reduces throughput, and any shutdown means halting the entire process line. The filtration system must therefore combine very high flow capacity, extremely low differential pressure at rated flow, and online regeneration capability — requirements that exceed the design envelope of most terminal filtration equipment.

ISO 4406 14/12/9 at 60 m³/h — why this combination is technically demanding

ISO 4406 14/12/9 specifies a maximum of 80 particles per mL at ≥14 µm. Achieving this at 60 m³/h (16.7 litres per second) requires the filter medium to capture particles at the rated pore size under high-velocity flow conditions where conventional glass-fibre depth media deforms and loses absolute filtration precision. The JINGYUAN® CIS rigid polymer membrane maintains its absolute pore geometry independently of flow velocity and differential pressure, making it uniquely suited to this class of application.

DCS integration and digital quality assurance

Integrating filtration system data into the plant DCS creates a closed-loop quality record: each product batch can be correlated with the filtration differential pressure profile during its processing, providing objective evidence of filter performance for quality documentation purposes. This capability is increasingly important for fuel processing facilities supplying to quality-audited downstream customers.

Shenyang Jingyuan Membrane Systems Co., Ltd.  |  filtration-system.com/contact  |  info@jingyuan.hk  |  +86 138 8931 0698