Less tramp oil.
Fewer particles.
A railway wheel manufacturer combined Skimmtelligent 20 oil separation with magnetic filtration to clean its 16,000-litre central coolant system. Analysis after the rental trial confirmed a significant reduction in tramp oil content and lower particle contamination.
Case background
A railway wheel manufacturer uses large machining centres to finish its wheels after forging. Three of these machining centres share a central coolant supply system located in the basement beneath the machines. To meet the machines’ high coolant demand, the system was designed with a total capacity of 16,000 litres.
The challenge
The company’s oil supplier alerted the maintenance manager to elevated tramp oil levels in the system’s coolant. Recurring leaks from hydraulic units had introduced oil into the coolant, with more than 1,000 litres of tramp oil present at times.
The maintenance team therefore urgently needed a solution to remove this tramp oil from the coolant.
The solution: Skimmtelligent oil separators
Although the tanks had enough space for an oil skimmer, strong turbulence in the central coolant system prevented a separate oil layer from forming. A bypass separation system was therefore required.
The system consisted of two physically separate tanks, each holding 8,000 litres. FRIESS therefore recommended two Skimmtelligent 20 oil separators.
The existing filtration system consisted of just one magnetic roller. Both oil separators were fitted with magnetic filters to further improve coolant quality.
The separators draw coolant from the basement tanks. First, the magnetic filters remove magnetizable particles. The fluid is then pumped into the bypass separators, where the flow settles, allowing a separate oil layer to form and be removed.
Coalescing elements help fine oil droplets rise
Coalescing elements inside the separators speed up the rise of tramp oil. Fine oil droplets collect on the elements’ surfaces and merge into larger droplets. Their increased buoyancy helps them rise more quickly and form a separate oil layer.
Even very fine droplets that would otherwise struggle to rise can float to the surface after coalescing, resulting in more thorough tramp oil removal from the coolant.
Results
Following an extended rental trial, both the maintenance manager and the oil supplier were convinced of the separators’ benefits. Coolant analysis confirmed a significant reduction in tramp oil content. Particle contamination also decreased, thanks to the more efficient filtration provided by the magnetic filters.
High Tramp Oil Levels or Particle Contamination in Your Central Coolant System?
Please share your total system volume, circulation flow rate, tramp-oil type and concentration, existing filtration method and treatment targets. Our China engineering team can recommend a combination of Skimmtelligent oil separation and magnetic filtration suited to your operating conditions.