Purifiers

Centrifuges and Purification
The various methods used for purification of oils are:
1. Gravity, or settling.
2. Centrifugal force.
3. Size (filtration).
4. Surface attraction, or adsorption.
These may be used separately or are combined in both continuous and batch systems
Gravitational separation is primarily used for fuel oils. Fuel is transferred from the bunker
tanks to the settling tanks. The settling tank is usually heated by steam heating coils. The
oil must remain sufficiently still for a long enough period to permit gravity separation of
the solids and water. Settling tanks usually have a sloping or conical bottom to direct the
contaminants to a drain.
Settling Tanks
Fuel is transferred from the bunker tanks to the settling tanks, which is heated by steam
heating coils. The oil must remain sufficiently still for a long enough period to permit
gravity separation of the solids and water. The tanks should have a sloping or conical
bottom to concentrate contaminants.
The following basic factors influence the separation process.
Particle density
Particle mass
Particle size
Particle surface resistance
Fluid temperature
Fluid viscosity
Fluid density
The following factors also affect the separation process.
 Volume of oil to be treated

 Time available for treatment
 The degree of separation quality required
The density of water and impurities is larger than the density of the oil. When the oil is
introduced in to the rotating chamber of the separator, centrifugal force separates out the
water and the impurities to the periphery of the chamber from where it is removed by de-
sludging.
Centrifuges
The centrifuge separator may be used to separate two liquids such as oil and water, or
liquids and solids. By using a centrifuge the separation process is quickened.
 When a centrifuge is arranged to separate two liquids and sludge, it is known as a
'purifier'.
 When a centrifuge is arranged to
separate impurities or solids only from
oil it is known as a 'clarifier'.
A separating force several thousand times that

of gravity is produced by rotating the liquid at
7000 to 15000 rpm. A simplified purifier
cross-section is shown below.
Oil is fed into a closed bowl which is rotating

at high speed. The centrifugal force, which is
many times the force of gravity, exerted on
the oil is sufficient to cause the separation of
any solid particles or water from the oil. The
bowl contains a large number of conical discs
which squeeze the oil into thin films which
makes the separation easier and allows the
machine to be run at slower speeds.
The bowl must be filled with water before

being put into service to provide the water
seal. Failure to do this results in oil being
Figure 1: Purifier
discharged through the water outlet.
A purifier system layout is shown in figure 2
Figure 2: Purifier System Layout

Construction of a centrifugal separator
We will discuss the construction of a self-cleaning purifier. A self cleaning separator

automatically discharges the sludge deposits and water from the bowl.
The centrifugal separator can be divided into three main components. They are:
 The bowl unit

 Vertical gear and shaft
 Horizontal gear and shaft
The main bowl is mounted on the vertical shaft with a

worm gear. The worm gear of the vertical shaft is
meshed to the worm wheel on the horizontal shaft. The
horizontal shaft is driven by an electric motor through a
centrifugal friction clutch.
The centrifugal clutch has pads pivoted on fulcrum pins.

When rotating the clutch pads move outwards with the
centrifugal force to engage the driven drum.
Figure 3: Centrifugal Clutch
The centrifugal clutch in a separator has several functions. The mass of the separator bowl
is very large. If the motor was directly coupled to the
drive the starting load would be very high. The
centrifugal clutch allows the drive to ‘slip’ when
starting reducing the load.
The centrifugal friction clutch also acts as a safety

device. Should there be a mechanical obstruction in the
drive or bowl the clutch will slip preventing sever
machinery damage.
The driven drum on the main horizontal drive shaft is

also fitted with a brake. The brake is operated
manually by a lever on a pivoted cam. Due to the mass
and momentum of the bowl the purifier takes time to
stop. If it is required to stop the purifier quickly the
brake is used to help slow it down.
The main gear wheel may also be connected to the horizontal

shaft with a shear pin designed to fracture in the vent of
mechanical seizure. One end of the horizontal shaft may also
be connected to an oil pump. The shaft to pump connection
may also have a shear pin designed to fracture in the event of
mechanical seizure.
Bowl Assembly
The bowl body is mounted on the

spindle. The disc stack is arranged on
the distributor, which is assembled
onto the bowl body. The bowl hood is
clamped down onto the bowl
assembly by the locking ring. The
gravity disc is clamped onto the bowl
hood by the clamp ring.
The paring disc is generally

assembled as a part of the oil inlet and
outlet assembly. The paring disc is a
static pump impeller. Oil enters its
blades (vanes) which are immersed in
the rotating liquid ring in the paring
chamber. The amount of liquid pared
off varies with the throughput of the
separator.
The lower part of the separator

assembly consists of the sliding bowl
and the operating slide that allows
automatic sludge discharge. The
operating water supplied at a certain pressure keeps the sliding bowl pushed up against a
sealing ring on the bowl hood sealing the purification chamber. Some separators are
designed such that when the operating water pressure is increased the sliding bowl opens
and de-sludging takes place.
Gravity disc selection
The gravity disc controls the position of the

oil-water interface of the separator bowl
during separation. A separator will be
supplied with a set of different gravity
discs. The gravity disc size is the diameter
of the central opening. The gravity disc
size is calculated and depends upon:
 The type of separator being

used
 The specific gravity of the oil
being treated
 The temperature of separation
Calculating the size of the gravity disc is done by using a nomogram shown below.
The example plot shows an oil of 0.84 specific gravity @ 15C at a separation temperature
of 40C. The gravity disc diameter will be 93mm.
Clarification
An oil purifier that is used for separating out only solid impurities is called a clarifier. A
clarifier does not remove water from an oil. A special gravity disc of very small diameter
is used in clarifiers and sealing water is not used.
In general most purification systems arranged in a purifier – clarifier combination. The oil
is first passed through a purifier where solid impurities and water is removed. Then the oil
is passed through a clarifier for further cleaning by removing any remaining solid
impurities.
The figure above shows an arrangement where two separators can be operated in series or
in parallel
For using both separators as purifiers (parallel operation), open valves A, B, D, E and
close valve C. Dirty oil will flow to both purifiers and clean oil will be discharged to the
service tank through valves D and E.
For using the separators in a purifier and clarifier combination (series operation), open
valves C, B, D, E and close valve A. Dirty oil will flow to the purifier, and the oil
discharged from the purifier will pass to the clarifier, and the clean oil will be discharged
to the service tank through valve E of the clarifier.
 For better quality purification of lubricating oil or fuel oil the purifiers have
to be arranged in Series.
 For higher capacity output (higher output flow rate) the purifiers have to be
arranged in Parallel.
Purifier Safety
It is important that close attention be given to the assembly of the bowl.
i. The internal parts have locators to avoid being assembled in any way to distort its
dynamic balance. Some left hand threads are used and all parts must be handled
with care and according to the manufacturers instructions.
ii. The centrifugal forces imposed on the spindle by any out of balance forces has
been known to fracture the spindle, leaving a heavy spinning bowl out of control,
causing friction and instability of the purifier
A centrifuge in an unattended engine room is fitted with vibration sensors which will shut
the machine down should vibration exceed pre-set limits.
Centrifuges are often positioned in a separate room within the engine room. This room is
considered to be an area of high fire risk. Near the door of this room and clearly marked,
there will be a method of:
1. Shutting down all purifiers and oil supplies.
2. Shutting down all forced ventilation to the purifier room.
3. Extinguishing a fire (foam fire extinguisher).
Purifier Checks During Operation
 Feel the temperature of the electric motor driving the purifier and take note of the current
being drawn.
 Check the purifier sump level and top as required.
 Place your hand on the purifier casing, to check for vibration.
 Look for any leaks or abnormalities.
Types of Purifier Alarms During Operation
When any of the following alarms occurs, the control panel will cause pilot lamp
associated to light and will transmit an alarm signal to the remote console.
i. LEAK alarm - "OIL LEAKAGE" alarm

ii. NO-DIS alarm - "NO OPENING OF BOWL" alarm (GBC-1 Type is option)
iii. HIDENS alarm - "ABNORMAL WATER CONTENT" alarm which occurs when
the water detection setting exceeded
iv. T(H)"OIL INLET TEMP. HIGH" alarm, T (L)" alarm - "OIL INLET TEMP.
LOW’ alarm
v. “VIB-AL" alarm - "ABNORMAL VIBRATION􀆎 alarm (Optional specification)

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Centrifuges and Purification

The various methods used for purification of oils are:

The following basic factors influence the separation process.

The following factors also affect the separation process.

 Volume of oil to be treated

A separating force several thousand times that

Oil is fed into a closed bowl which is rotating

The bowl must be filled with water before

A purifier system layout is shown in figure 2

Figure 2: Purifier System Layout

We will discuss the construction of a self-cleaning purifier. A self cleaning separator

 The bowl unit

The main bowl is mounted on the vertical shaft with a

The centrifugal clutch has pads pivoted on fulcrum pins.

The centrifugal friction clutch also acts as a safety

The driven drum on the main horizontal drive shaft is

The main gear wheel may also be connected to the horizontal

The bowl body is mounted on the

The paring disc is generally

The lower part of the separator

Gravity disc selection

The gravity disc controls the position of the

 The type of separator being

It is important that close attention be given to the assembly of the bowl.

1. Shutting down all purifiers and oil supplies.

2. Shutting down all forced ventilation to the purifier room.

3. Extinguishing a fire (foam fire extinguisher).

Purifier Checks During Operation

 Check the purifier sump level and top as required.

 Place your hand on the purifier casing, to check for vibration.

 Look for any leaks or abnormalities.

Types of Purifier Alarms During Operation

i. LEAK alarm - "OIL LEAKAGE" alarm

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