Question:
We are using app. 80 KL lub oil of different grades per annum . We have been advised by some consultants that we should filter/centrifuge the used oil and then reuse it . Does this idea of reusing the used oil after filtering it sounds good. If yes , please advise which is the better way of filtration , Filtering or centrifuge . If centrifuge , then will the same centrifuge work for different grades of oil , include synthetic oils as well . If some body is already using the centrifuge , how much sucess . The machines are gear boxes , bearings , hydraulic systems , compressors , blowers , pumps etc .

Regards ,

Anurag

Choices:
centrifuge

 

This doesn't sound pratical for most industrial users from my perspective, unless the core business happens to involve procesing oils.

Difficulties involve not only processing but keeping it separated and clean. Presumably many extra samples to ensure quality during this extra handling and make sure that you don't inadvertantly get bad oil into your critical machines and affect your core business.

As far as I can tell your vote feature doesn't work. I can't press vote unless I select a button. The only button is centrifuge which I don't agree with

quote:

Anurag

Filtration of used oil in-situ is acceptable in some cases for addressing contaminants in oil that is otherwise suitable for continued use. For contaminants such as particulate or non-emulsified water, filter media can be effective at restoring the oil to satisfactory condition for further life. However, if the problem is oil aging and oxidation, or loss of additives, filtering or centrifuging will not help.

Centrifuges and vacuum dehydrators are generally used for very high concentrations of moisture, to be continuously removed or removed in large batches (such as in paper mills or other high moisture processes). Water absorptive filters or coalescing filters are more common for intermittent or moderate amounts of water in oil.

In addition to high-efficiency particulate filters, electrostatic precipitators are also used for removal of the smallest particles, and some magnetic filters are used to preferentially remove ferrous particles.

Generally speaking, the risk of cross-contamination, and residual lubricant degradation byproducts that can act as oxidation stressors, make the bulk gathering of discarded lubricants for re-processing not practical. In any case, thorough oil analysis testing is required to return used oil to service to avoid short oil life, and possible damage to equipment.

Rich Wurzbach
Certified Lubrication Specialist (CLS)
MRG Power Labs
rwurzbach@mrgcorp.com

Thakks : Please let me know what are the important properties of the oil We should concentrate on after centrifuging/vaccum filtrating the used oil . Please also specify the range of the values . We have Kittiwake Make Portable Lub Oil Test Kit . Is it
Reliable .

Regards ,

Anurag

Thanks for the comments . Now pls help me in procuring one Centrifuge . We use mineral oils with viscosities ranging from ISO VG 46 to ISO VG 460 . We also use synthetic oils with viscosities around 1000 . Can the same separator be used for both mineral as well as Synthetic oils . What about the capacity at higher viscosities . What I should enquire from the supplier before buying it . What is purifier and what is clarifier in case of centrifugal filtration .

Anurag,

I suggest you investigate the on-line oil purification technology at:

http://www.isopurfluid.com/

I do not represent the company, but I just met the inventor and was very impressed.

Walt

Anurag,
I happened to see your querry quite late.But I can tell you that in India there are some registered rerefiners who purchase the used oils and rerefine them in their refineries. The list will be available on net.
One more thing I may suggest you. The filtered/centrifuged oil is not suitable for critical applications.Before you use it,pl test it for key properties and then use it

Lubricants are designed for specific purposes by adding certain additives to base oils. Some of these additives function is to plate out on the metal surfaces of gears to prevent metal to metal contact and reduce wear. Once the lubricant is depleted of these additives, cleaning the oil will give you clean oil, but may not have the correct additives to perform properly and protect you machines. If you clean your oils, samples should be analyzed to verify the additive package. Oils do not wear out, they lose the additives and become contaminated.

Gary B

How do you know the filtered oil is clean (or filtered enough)?

How much do you expend in the reuse oil process?
* handling used oil
* filtering process
* sampling and testing (as Gary recomends)
* refiltering if samples are not as good as expected?
* handling of waste
* any environmental costs associated to the filtering process?
Do you really get an economy vs refill with new oil?

Add to the cost/benefit analysis of usage of used oil if the performance of the equipment deteriorates due to the loss of additives explained by Gary B.

thanks vijay ,
I have been told by some centrifugal filter machine suppliers that their machine can filter the oil up to 0.5 microns. Is it right. Please also tell if the additives are destroyed during filtration or not. Also what are the tests to check if the desired additives are present in the oil particularly gear oils.
Regards,
Anurag

Anurag these filters will remove solids up to 5 microns. That takes out silica (dust), metal chips, a piece of a broken gear

If the additive added is some liquid "perfume", running the oil through a filter will not have any effect.
Take water, put some spoons of salt in it, and stir it untill all salt is dissolved.
Running the mixture through these paper filters we use to make coffee, would this recuperate the salt?
You have to know the physical and chemical properties of the additives to make a decision. Enfim you need to contact some chemical expert to sort this out.

The vendor will promise you the moon and the stars (that is his living)

My only problem would be , knowing the condition of the aditive packages

quote:

Originally posted by tparker:
My only problem would be , knowing the condition of the aditive packages

Know... that depends on the type and level of detail of the oil analysis; if any is done. electricpete described emmission testing in another discussion as a way to indirectly check additives presence.

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