Engine Filtration
Reciprocating engines are widely used in power generation, pipeline compressor stations, mining, transportation, maritime, processing, oil and gas industries, and more. Every industry and application requires a reliable source of power. All reciprocating engines require clean fuel and clean lubricating oil for optimal performance. Excellent engine filtration is critical for a smooth, efficient operation. This means excessive servicing and downtime can be highly damaging to your bottom line, especially when you include the costs associated with labor, spare parts, replacing dirty fuel or lube oil, and waste fuel or lube oil handling.
Fuel Oil Engine Filtration
For example, in maritime and power generation applications, fuel is normally stored onsite in a service tank (or holding tank). Over time, if the fuel is not used, condensation causes microbial growth, causing algae to form in the tank. This algae quickly clog fuel filters and other vital components in the fuel system. These industries require the reciprocating engine to supply an immediate, reliable power source. This is quickly defeated by contaminated fuel. Chemical additives can be used to retard growth in the storage tank. However, regular centrifuging removes the water. The water is required by microbes for growth, and centrifuging will eliminate this type of contamination. Periodic centrifuging is the foundation for good fuel management.
Full-Flow Filtration
A complete fuel-oil treatment system for a diesel engine consists of a cleaning system, which includes separators and a conditioning system. The conditioning system includes full-flow filtration to remove particles and impurities that may have entered the system after the high-speed centrifugal separators. Since the full-flow filters are intended to protect the engine, they should be installed as close to the engine as possible. The engine supply often includes an additional filter immediately before the engine.
For fuel oil engine filtration, an automatic filter is often placed in parallel with a manual bypass filter, with a change-over valve in between designated duplex filters. The two (2) top brands of self-cleaning fuel oil filters are Bollfilter Protection Systems and Alfa Laval Moatti.
High-Speed Centrifugal Separator
For fuel oil engine filtration, running a high-speed centrifugal separator for purification is common. A purifier separates two (2) liquids that have different specific gravities, such as water, oil, and solids. For this reason, a purifier is sometimes called a three-phase separator. Centrifugal separator systems are available for the purification of distillate fuel, gas oils, heavy fuel oil (HFO), and marine diesel oil (MDO).
Centrifugal separators compared to a coalescing filters (Pall Filters or Kaydon Filtration):
– Centrifuges have continuous water removal, vs. Coalescing filters have limited water removal.
– Centrifuges have no filter element consumption, vs. Coalescing filters have filter element consumption.
– Centrifuges do not require a pre-filter and can handle solids efficiently, vs. Coalescing filters require a special pre-filter to protect the coalescing element.
– Centrifuges have no cartridge disposal costs, vs. Coalescing filters have cartridge disposal costs.
– Centrifuges efficiently handle solid contaminants, vs. Coalescing filters will become dirty, causing the pressure drop to increase.
Better engine filtration is the answer!
A solid bowl centrifugal separator must be opened manually each time it needs to be cleaned from sludge and other solids. Separated water is continuously discharged through the water outlet. Because heavy fuel oil (HFO) contains a large amount of contamination, a solid bowl separator is impossible to use for a trunk engine burning this fuel. This type of centrifugal separator is preferably used for cleaning trunk engines that do not run on heavy fuel oils (HFO), like gas oils or marine diesel oil (GO/MDO). The three (3) top brands of solid bowl centrifugal separators for fuel oil engine filtration are Alfa Laval Separators, GEA Westfalia Separators, and WSK Separators.
A self-cleaning centrifugal separator is designed for automatic discharge operation in unmanned engine rooms. Separated water is continuously discharged through the water outlet. Ejection or discharge of the sludge deposits, often called “shooting,” is timed to occur at regular intervals. The two (2) top brands of self-cleaning centrifugal separators for fuel oil engine filtration are GEA Westfalia Separator and Alfa Laval Separators.
Lube Oil Engine Filtration
Engine oil lubricates all the moving and functional parts of the engine. All reciprocating engines require clean lubricating oil for optimum performance. Engine oil contaminants originate from dirt entering the engine with air and fuel and as products of incomplete combustion. Further contamination occurs as by-products formed by cooling oil contacting high-temperature piston crown surfaces, causing rapid oil deterioration. Excessive quantities of contaminants slow oil flow and speed engine wear. Cartridge-type filters are the primary source of engine protection. A one-system approach with a full-flow oil filter is not enough.
Lubricating oil can be treated with self-cleaning filters, bypass oil filters, and centrifugal separators. A full-flow engine filtration system is installed primarily to prevent particles (based on a specific micron size) in the oil from entering the engine. The main difference between a filter and a centrifugal separator is that a filter separates the impurities according to size, while a centrifuge works with the density differences between the impurities and the lube oil.
Lube Oil Cleaning Determines Equipment Life!
Full-Flow Filtration
Self-cleaning filters are increasingly popular as discarding spent filter cartridges becomes more difficult and expensive. Although initially less expensive, cartridge filters require higher maintenance and expose the engine to possible contamination during start-up and when they bypass during high differential pressure. The three (3) top brands of self-cleaning full-flow oil filtration are Alfa Laval Moatti, Bollfilter Protection Systems, and IOW eQlyps.
The IOW eQlyps Self-Cleaning filter, fed directly by the engine’s lube oil pump, provides full-flow engine oil protection. The IOW eQlyps filter is a surface filter with permanent pressure plastic molded fabric elements. This gives the filter elements a perfect seal, higher strength, and longer life. The IOW eQlyps filter mesh weave has an improved geometrical design that aids finer separation and helps prevent filter elements from becoming blocked. The IOW eQlyps self-cleaning filter operates continuously, meaning it never bypasses during startup or at any other time. The capital cost of the self-cleaning filter is higher, but this difference is quickly made up by the cost of replacement cartridges, labor to change the elements, equipment downtime, and disposal costs.
The IOW eQlyps uses a Betamesh filter mesh. With this filtration design, filtration takes place on the surface of the mesh due to the externally smaller pore size. This characteristic improves flow rates and dirt removal capacities. The advanced dirt removal capabilities enable longer operating times. Due to the surface filtration action and pore geometry, backwashing capabilities are significantly better than those of conventional filter meshes. Dirt, soot, engine sludge, and other solids that collect on the element’s surface are quickly removed and sent to the IOW centrifugal filter for collection and removal from the lube oil.
With the IOW eQlyps self-cleaning filter, a bypass oil centrifuge comes standard. The IOW eQlyps engine filtration system includes a centrifugal filter to remove solid contaminants from the lube oil. However, not all self-cleaning backflush automatic filters come standard with a bypass oil centrifuge. For better engine protection, an oil centrifuge should be added to the self-cleaning lube oil filter. When adding a centrifuge filter to your self-cleaning lube oil filter, add the best on the market – the patented IOW Group oil centrifuge. Be sure to explore our detailed guide for an in-depth look at how the eQlyps Automatic Backflushing Lube Oil Filter can optimize your operations.
Bypass Oil Filter
A bypass oil filter (also called a bypass oil centrifuge or off-line engine filtration) is a small, inexpensive, engine-driven separator designed to remove dirt, soot, and other solid contaminants from engine lube oil. It functions as a clarifier separator, with the primary objective of removing the solid phase from the liquid phase. A bypass oil filter can utilize either engine pump pressure, external pump pressure (kidney loop system), or pressure from the backflush line of the automatic full-flow oil filter. A bypass oil filter is an excellent secondary oil filter for all engines burning heavy fuel oil, diesel oil, marine diesel oil, distillate, natural gas, or other gas fuels.
To gain deeper insights into how centrifuges can enhance oil cleaning processes, explore our comprehensive guide on Understanding the Benefits and Applications of Centrifuges for Oil Cleaning. The top brand of bypass oil filters based on separation performance and technology is manufactured by IOW Group. Other brands with market presence are Mann Hummel (Glacier), Microspin, and Spinner II.
A Reliable Engine Filtration Solution!
High-Speed Centrifugal Separator
A centrifugal separator can be utilized full-time or intermittently in a bypass configuration to remove water and other contaminants from the system. A high-speed centrifugal separator effectively separates oil, water, and solid components (sludge) continuously from contaminated engine lube oil.
A centrifugal separator offers optimal performance and prolonged engine life at low operational costs, lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO). The two (2) top brands of centrifugal separators for lube oil engine filtration are GEA Westfalia Separator and Alfa Laval Separators.
You need more than one single filtration approach to achieve excellent engine filtration!
Do you need a replacement air filter? The air filter eliminates abrasive particles from incoming air, ensuring ideal combustion conditions and maintaining peak fuel efficiency. Contact us for state-of-the-art technology for optimum filtration performance and engine protection. Separator Spares & Equipment offers a wide range of filtration products, including air filters, fuel filters, and oil filters for diesel engines.
Engine Filtration Solutions and Products!
