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 size of bowl, and the supply water
pressure. Although not mentioned it should be taken for granted that water
introduced is of a set quantity

Starting and stopping

Before starting the purifier the correct sized gravity ring must be in place for
the light phase specific gravity at required delivery temperature.

Most 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.

Correct 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 approximate 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. Drive 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. For 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 expected 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 excessive force on the drive gear

leading to premature failure especially of the wheel and the electric motor.

When the bowl has reached it operating speed the bowl may be
closed by introducing closing operating water.

this may be checked by viewing the external 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. Observe 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. Seal water is introduced to the bowl. The three way valve is
operated to supply oil to the bowl. Correct 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. Check heavy phase (water) shute to
ensure no oil overflow. Check 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
 Open bowl open operating water
 Observe amps ( increase), check sludge port ( see discharge). Close
sludge port. There is normally an audible indication that the bowl has
opened
 Operate bowl closing water
 Once amps has returned to normal running the bowl can be assumed
closed, again there is generally an audible indication of this
 Bring unit back on line

Once the unit has been proved on line and operating correctly the
alarms and shutdowns should be tested. Where 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. Once 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 just 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 UMS enginerooms.
Sludging will involve pressing a single button. A 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
zero output signal may be generated by the purifier controller during the
sludge period.

Detection 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 zero
pressure during the sludge cycle.