Catalytic fines comprised of aluminum oxide and/or silicon dioxide are a common contaminant of residual fuels. Which diesel engine components would be most affected by catalytic fines in fuel?
• Catalytic fines are very hard, abrasive particles (aluminum/silicon oxides) found in residual fuel • Think about which parts of a diesel engine see the highest fuel pressure and tightest clearances • Consider where abrasive particles in the fuel spray will physically hit metal surfaces at high velocity
• Trace the fuel path: from tank → pumps → injectors → into the combustion chamber. Where would hard particles do the most wear? • Which components depend on very precise, fine clearances to function correctly, and would quickly be damaged by abrasion? • Would catalytic fines be more likely to erode gas-path turbine blades, or the metal surfaces directly exposed to the fuel spray and combustion?
• Identify which options include components directly exposed to high‑pressure fuel flow and injection • Ask which listed components are known in practice to suffer from scuffing, scoring, or rapid wear when fuel cleanliness is poor • Eliminate any components that mainly see air/exhaust gas flow rather than direct contact with liquid fuel containing abrasive particles
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