Effective Centrifuge Treatment of Main

System Oils
The lubricating oil centrifuge is normally contained in a by-pass circuit, drawing a suction from
the drain tank and discharging to the drain tank as shown in Figure 1. This mode is known as
by-pass operation and is usually continuous when the engine is in operation.

Batch treatment of the oil can be carried out in port by the transfer of the complete oil charge
to the renovating tank. This batch treatment can be used either to reduce gross water
contamination, or as a further cleaning action on the oil charge. The key operational
differences of these two forms of batch treatment are discussed in a later section.

Service Adjustments
In service there are a maximum of four adjustments which can be made by ships staff to the
lubricating oil centrifuge which affects the performance, these are:

• Selection of the gravity disc

• Selection of the desludging interval

• Control of the oil temperature

• Control of the flow rate

At present the great majority of lubricating oil centrifuges in service, operate as a purifier and
hence have a gravity disc. Selection of the correct gravity disc is important, as too large a disc
will cause a broken water seal and oil losses. Whilst too small a disc reduces the separation
efficiency and can result in carry over of water in the clean oil outlet. For most efficient
operation the largest disc should be selected without failure of the water seal. There are
however some centrifuges designed for the treatment of lubricating oil which operate as a
clarifier and hence have no gravity disc.
After a period of time in operation the periphery of the centrifuge bowl fills up with insoluble
material, and in the case of the clarifier this material may be a combination of insolubles and
water. If no corrective action is taken the separator efficiency is reduced as the interface
moves inward. For many lubricating oil centrifuges the bowl desludging interval is manually
set on a time basis. As there are numerous factors which influence the rate of accumulation of
material in the bowl, the time interval has to be established through operational experience.
Whilst it is not possible to be specific, as a general guide this time interval is in the order of 1-
4 h, although for any particular installation circumstances may require an interval outside this
range. It should be noted that in some designs the desludging interval is automatic.

TB/04/91
It may be shown from a derivation of Stokes' Law that the rate of separation of the insoluble
material and the water from the oil depends on the density and the viscosity of the oil. In
service to achieve good separation the oil should be heated to 95°C. Whatever actual
temperature is selected, it is important that this is closely controlled, (± 2 °C) so as to maintain
the correct position of the interface within the bowl.
Sometimes considerable confusion exists on what flow rate should be used when the
centrifuge is operating in the by-pass mode. Values quoted in manufacturer's handbooks
often make reference to a percentage of the rated output of the machine. By operating the
machine at reduced flow rate the residence time of the oil in the disc stack is increased.
Typically the flow rate is about 20% the rated capacity. For any particular installation the
optimum flow rate can only be determined by operational experience. In practical terms this
can be seen by periodic inspection of the crankcase doors. It should be appreciated that the
flow rate through the centrifuge is in the order of 1/100 of the main circuit.

Batch Treatment
As already discussed in an earlier section, batch treatment can be used for the reduction of
gross water contamination, and also for further cleaning of the oil charge.
For reduction of gross water contamination the complete oil charge should be transferred to
the renovating tank, where it should be heated to 70-75 °C and allowed to settle. As the
purpose is to settle out free water droplets, it is recommended that the minimum settling time
is 12 h, and a longer period of say 24 h is preferable. Periodically during the settling period
the free water should be drained from the renovating tank. The oil charge should be returned
to the sump through the centrifuge. If time permits the charge should be recirculated to the
renovating tank and passed through the centrifuge for the second time. For this operation the
flow rate can be increased above that used for the by-pass mode as the main objective is to
remove free water, and a flow of rated output of 30% is typical. The rate of removal can of
course be observed at the centrifuge outlet. For those modern automatic self cleaning
lubricating oil centrifuges which operate as a clarifier, frequent bowl desludging will be
observed. During this operation particular care should be taken to regulate the temperature in
the renovating tank, to ensure that local overheating does not occur with partly exposed
heating coils. After the complete oil charge has passed through the centrifuge, normal by-
pass operation should be resumed at the usual flow rate.
If sufficient time is available in port the complete oil charge can be batch treated, with the
objective of further removal of insoluble material. This is achieved by transfer of the complete
charge to the renovating tank, passing it through the centrifuge on the absolute minimum flow,
and returning the charge to the drain tank. Again from a derivation of Stokes' Law it may be
shown that the throughput is proportional to the square of the limit particle diameter. Hence to
reduce the limit particle diameter by half, the throughput must be reduced by a factor of four.
No heating is required in the renovating tank, although the usual temperature (95°C) should
be maintained at the centrifuge inlet. On completion of treatment of the complete charge, the
flow rate should be adjusted to normal, and by-pass operation resumed.

BP Marine March 2006

©BP International Ltd 1991