Operation of a Centrifugal oil purifers

Preamble
The following description relies on the reader having an understanding of the function and internal design
of a modern self cleaning centrifugal purifer.
The method describes the operation of a manually controlled system. It is accepted that the
vast majority of units are automated, it is intended allow better understanding of the automated process
by doing this. The " Automation " section will clarify this.
The unit described is a sliding bowl type, does not have on line sludging capability with light
phase requiring heating. Operating water is required for both opening, and closing the bowl. It is accepted
that in common designs only opening water is supplied, once supplied this water leaks out until it reaches
a level determined by a weir arrangement. The water remaining beyond this weir acts to close the bowl
Operating, displacement, seal and sludging water are delivered in finite quantities governed
by the type and sie of bowl, and the supply water pressure. !lthough not mentioned it should be taken
for granted that water introduced is of a set quantity
Starting and stopping
"efore starting the purifier the correct sied gravity ring must be in place for the light phase specific
gravity at required delivery temperature.
#ost units have a brake arrangement fitted acting on the bowl to slow during stopping. This
should be check to be disengaged.
The use of this brake is determined by manufacturers recommendations. The brake should be seen
as an emergency device to slow the bowl in the event of some problem, typically an out of balance of
the bowl caused by sludge not being evenly removed from the bowl.
Where no preference is given it is the authors recommendation that the brake be used.
The reason for this is to allow the bowl to pass as quickly as possible through any critical vibration
harmonics.
$orrect operating and sludging water supply pressure should be checked
The light phase %oil& supply, discharge valves may be opened, the flow control valve and back
pressure valve may be set at appro'imate initial settings. The three way valve is set to recirc %dump&
Remember that when the oil is introduced to the bowl the bowl is cool and so the oil will be cooled
and will tend to pass over with the heavy phase. This action may be reduced by having the back
pressure discharge valve slightly more open than required closing as the bowl warms.
The bowl may be started. (rive to the bowl is via a centrifugal clutch arrangement reducing
the starting current on the motor. The start up time is determined by the slippage of this clutch which is in
turn determined by the number of pads. The oil is now being circulated though the heater. The heating
medium may be introduced to bring the oil to purifying temperature
It should be noted that for some designs the motor is non-standard being able to carry high starting
currents over a longer period. When requesting replacements this should be noted.
Too few pads causes an overly long start up time. In addition, the drag of the liquid as it
leaves the bowl during a sludge cycle causes a reduction in speed. or automated systems, this
speed must be regained before the oil is reintroduced otherwise carryover can occur. With some
designs correct sludging is determined by an e!pected rise in drive current caused by the motor
trying to bring the bowl back to speed. Too few pads may cause problems in both these cases.
Too many pads leads to e!cessive force on the drive gear leading to premature failure
especially of the wheel and the electric motor.
)hen the bowl has reached it operating speed the bowl may be closed by introducing closing
operating water.
this may be checked by viewing the e!ternal speed indicator or by observation of a reduction in amps
as the bowl reaches its operating speed. The best method is a combination of the two. "bserve the
amp reduction and visually check the speed indicator to confirm that a fault has not occurred in the
clutch.
Once correct oil temperature is observed the purification process may begin. *eal water is
introduced to the bowl. The three way valve is operated to supply oil to the bowl. $orrect flow and back
pressure should be set once full flow is achieved. The amount of heating medium to the heater should be
increased as required
The sludge port should be viewed to ensure no leakage from bowl+ remember to close port
before sludging. $heck heavy phase %water& shute to ensure no oil overflow. $heck operating water shute
to ensure valves have isolated
It is unlikely that the bowl will immediately come # on-line #, this is generally due to the bowl being
cold, cooling the oil, increasing its specific gravity and causing it to pass over the heavy phase
$water% shute.
The amount of carryover may be reduced by opening the back pressure valve. The best
solution is to removed the cool oil that is in the bowl by sludging. This may be repeated couple of
times before the bowl has reached operating temperature.
The correct function of the desludging mechanism should be checked.
Sludging
Change three way valve to recirculation (dump). Reduce heating medium to heater if required
Introduce displacement water. This removes the oil from the bowl preventing wastage
pen bowl open operating water
bserve amps ( increase)! chec" sludge port ( see discharge). Close sludge port. There is
normally an audible indication that the bowl has opened
perate bowl closing water
nce amps has returned to normal running the bowl can be assumed closed! again there is
generally an audible indication of this
#ring unit bac" on line
Once the unit has been proved on line and operating correctly the alarms and shutdowns
should be tested. )here the units overflow to a sludge tank the correct operation of the alarm should be
checked.
The testing of the alarms and shut downs is paramount. "nce completed, especially for main engine
lube oil purifiers, a note should be made in the engineroom log book
It is common to find dedicated sludge tanks for the purifiers. The level in which is kept
artificially high and &ust off the high level alarm. In this way the tank acts as a back up alarm for the
purifier.
Automation
The vast majority of units will be fully automated for ,#* enginerooms. *ludging will involve pressing a
single button. ! controller will then cycle through the operating, displacement and seal water valves as
well as operate the three way valve. The heater will have an independent controller although a ero
output signal may be generated by the purifier controller during the sludge period.
(etection of correct desludging may be by drive motor current, as discussed, flap
arrangement which is struck by the discharge from the open bowl or by measuring the discharge pressure
which falls to or below ero pressure during the sludge cycle.