Treatment of Lube and Hydraulic Oil
for Industrial Applications
Lube and hydraulic oils must be continuously rid of water and dirt particles, since the entrained foreign matter can lead to corrosion, blockage and malfunctions in the system. When centrifugal technology from GEA Westfalia Separator is used in bypass to the circulation system, the clean oil ensures permanent smooth operation. The separators are capable of reliably separating metal particles down to 1 µ m. The industry benefits from longer bearing life, higher machine availability and lower purchasing and disposal costs for the oil.
In the steel industry, for example, lube oil is used to lubricate roller bearings. So-called Morgoil is used as lube oil which is characterized by high demulsifying powers, good corrosion resistance and high thermal stability. During the rolling process, water seeps into the oil through the open bearings. The task of the separators is to rid the Morgoil from this water as well as tiny metal and dust particles.
Separators from GEA Westfalia Separator separate metal particles down to a size of 1 µ m which corresponds to the size of a bacterium. Due to the lower density difference to water, organic particles are separated to sizes of 5 µ m. The water remaining in the oil after separation is less than 0.1 percent (by volume), i.e. pure lube oil accounts for more than 99.9 percent (by volume).
A centrifugal separator purifies the oil more efficiently and considerably faster than, for example, in a settling basin. The constantly high quality of the lube oil extends the life of the roller bearings four- to five-fold.
Lube oil in bypass to the circulation system
Advantages also for the paper industry
The positive effects on roller bearings in the paper industry are similar. In the paper production process, the bearings are exposed to high contact pressures and stresses at relatively high temperatures. When water and solids accumulate in the lube oil, an inadmissibly high contamination level will eventually result. In the long term, the entrained solid particles can impair the quality of the contact surfaces with the result that no lubricating film can form. The high friction leads to a sharp temperature increase on the contact surfaces which in turn strengthens the frictional resistance. The wear damage continues unabated and can ultimately end in machine damage and unscheduled downtimes.
The solution here is likewise to apply separators for the timely separation of solids and water from the lube oil. Experience in the field has shown that lube oil treatment significantly prolongs the service life of roller and slide bearings. The reduced loss of production and considerably lower costs for spare parts and repairs make this metal anti-corrosion prevention a profitable investment.