The Customer Challenge
A 400,000 bpd Middle East export refinery faced an upcoming jet fuel specification change requiring tighter control of particulate contamination and cumulative particle count. Jet fuel cleanliness is critical to product quality and reliable handling throughout storage, transportation, and export.
Kero Merox units typically use clay filters and salt driers for jet-fuel finishing. However, meeting the refinery’s stringent cleanliness targets – including a maximum of 1.0 mg/L particulate contamination – required an additional safeguard against fine solids.
The challenge was to determine the optimal location and filtration technology for this final treatment step, controlling micron-size particles without compromising refinery throughput.
Cleanova Solution
Cleanova engineered and supplied two plug-and-play, high-capacity jet-fuel filtration skids. Each was configured with duty/standby vessels and absolute-rated β5,000 high-capacity cartridges. The selected system provides fine particulate removal, high dirt-holding capacity, low clean pressure drop, and operational flexibility for cartridge change-out.
Target Cleanliness
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Particulate contamination | Max. 1.0 mg/L |
| ISO code ≥ 4 µm(c) | Max. 19 |
| ISO code ≥ 6 µm(c) | Max. 17 |
| ISO code ≥ 14 µm(c) | Max. 14 |
Technical Solution at a Glance
| Filtration | 4 µm, 99.98% |
| Operating flow | 380 m³/h |
| Elements | 19 × 6 ” × 60 ” / vessel |
| Configuration | Duty / standby |
Results & Application Details
The filtration package was supplied as the final particulate-control safeguard downstream of Merox treatment, supporting the refinery’s export-quality cleanliness objectives.
Filtered Product
Clear and bright jet fuel was collected downstream of the filtration system, with TSS reported at < 1 mg/L.
This result supports the refinery’s export-quality cleanliness objectives, including control of cumulative particle count.
Operational Benefits
- ✔Helps meet the refinery’s specified jet-fuel cleanliness targets.
- ✔Controls total suspended solids (TSS) and cumulative particle-count risk.
- ✔Provides final particulate filtration downstream of Merox treatment.
- ✔Duty/standby configuration supports continued operation during cartridge change-out.
- ✔Supports product quality objectives for storage and export handling.
Why High-Capacity Absolute Cartridges
The UNIQ-MAX cartridge uses a layered, pleated media pack and an inside-to-out flow pattern to capture and retain solid contaminants within the cartridge, helping prevent captured material from falling into the clean side of the housing during replacement.
- Large-bore 6-inch diameter, 60-inch cartridges for high dirt capacity
- Clean pressure loss reported below 0.05 barg.
- High-volume contaminant removal at β5,000 efficiency
- Particulate retention across a range of sizes
- Quick cartridge removal and replacement
- Extended service life
Application at a Glance
| Skids | 2 |
| Vessels | 4 |
| Vessel diameter | 36 in |
| Service | Jet fuel |
| Design pressure | 15 barg |
| Design code | ASME VIII Div. 1 |