Centrifuges

The oil driven centrifuge is a well proven technology which has provided industry with a cost effective method of cleaning oil in a wide range of applications for many years.

Originally designed for use on engines, its use has expanded to all types of applications where the importance of contamination control has become apparent.

Whilst the centrifuge is not an oil filter, it is not limited to the integrity size rating of a filter element and consequently will remove particles to sub micron levels. On the other hand it is totally ineffective at start up until the oil has warmed and rotor has reached high speed to become effective in causing the particles to migrate to the outside of the rotor. Consequently at start up, no cleaning action occurs.

The dirt holding capacity of the rotor is well beyond that of a comparable sized element with the rotor being washable and re-usable – A great saving on the environment by reducing land fill.

The centrifuge creates gravitational forces within the rotor which cause the more dense contamination particles to migrate to the outer perimeters of the rotor shell. As the oil’s return path is toward the centre of the rotor, where the ‘G’ forces are less, the particles remain trapped in the high ‘G’ area where they are removed at a later date when the rotor is cleaned.

For the particle to be removed, it must be more dense than the flowing oil, consequently the additive package of the oil will not be effected unless it also is more dense than the oil. If this were the case, the additives would settle on standing which would be detrimental to the quality of most oils. This is in fact the case in a small number of oils such as those containing Molybdenum Disulphide which will settle on standing, consequently cannot be cleaned in the oil centrifuge – the molybdenum being a heavier metal will be removed from the oil.

The oil driven centrifuge comes in many models and is adaptable to most sized diesel engines. They are a highly regarded device sought by many engine OEM’s – Caterpillar sell them over the counter, Mack have a built in canister for their engines, Cummins have a retrofit cone version, MTU fit them above their filter head, Scania use them as a standard engine filter. Large Wartzilla engines have centrifuges fitted as standard.

Centrifuges are well known to maintain pristine oil condition by constantly removing the soot and other contamination particles as the engine operates, thus maintaining a much cleaner oil condition than can be achieved by normal filtration.

Most engine oil filters are rated at around 30 um which is about ½ the size of a fine hair. Any particle smaller than 30um will consequently stay in circulation causing gouging and wear on components as it is carried around the system as it operates. Soot particles are likened to dust and usually run around 0.5 to 2µm in size. Their abrasive ability is likened to dust and consequently cause higher wear rates. The oil driven centrifuge is well known to constantly remove soot particles and hence reduce wear.

Centrifuges are available in many sizes to fit all different sized engines – a very rough guide is as follows :-

When operated in conjunction with a comprehensive oil analysis program, it is possible to achieve indefinite oil drain on clean burning engines using today’s low sulphur diesels by the following:-

• If the particle levels of the oil are kept low within limits

• If the viscosity of the oil is maintained in grade

• If the TBN of the oil remains within limits

• If we are constantly monitoring for diesel dilution

• If Sodium levels are constantly monitored

Why do we need to change oil?

What about the effect of Exhaust Gas Recirculation systems (EGR).
To accommodate this system, the oil industry had to double the soot carrying capacity of engine oil to enable the oil to accommodate the extra particle carried in circulation due to the increased contamination created by the addition of the EGR system.

Why would we want to increase the soot carrying ability of the oil when the centrifuge will constantly remove these particles as the engine operates?

Clean Oil Services have the oil solution for your engine –
Please click here to contact us to discuss our low cost options to reducing oil contamination and extending your oil life.

IMAGINE WHAT THAT WILL DO FOR THE ENVIRONMENT – WE THINK IT IS WORTH A FEW CREDITS!!