Purifier Unit

System Description
Printed Apr 2000
Book No. 1810640-02 V 1
Alfa Laval reserves the right to make changes at any time without
prior notice.
Any comments regarding possible errors and omissions or
suggestions for improvement of this publication would be
gratefully appreciated.
Copies of this publication can be ordered from your local
Alfa Laval company.
Published by: Alfa Laval Marine & Power AB
SE - 147 80 Tumba
Sweden
© Copyright Alfa Laval Marine & Power AB 2000.
Contents

1 Scope ........................................................... 1

2 System Overview ................................. 3

2.1 The Oil Flow .......................................3
2.2 System Layout ..................................4
2.3 Purifier Unit Layout ........................6
2.4 Modules ...............................................7
2.4.1 Single Module with Heatpac® CBM Heater
7
2.4.2 Single Module with Heatpac® EHS Heater
7
2.4.3 Double Module with Heatpac® CBM
Heater, In-Line ........................................8
2.4.4 Double Module with Heatpac® CBM
Heater, Facing .......................................8
2.4.5 Double Module with Heatpac® EHS
Heater, In-Line ........................................9
2.4.6 Double Module with Heatpac® EHS
Heater, Facing .......................................9

3 The Process .......................................... 11

3.1 Purifying ............................................11
3.2 Definition of Terms ........................12

1810640-02
1810640-02
PURIFIER UNIT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 1 SCOPE

1 Scope
The Purifier Unit is designed for cleaning of
lubricating and fuel oils in marine and power
applications and can handle the following types
of oil:
• distillate
• marine diesel oil
• intermediate fuel oil
• heavy fuel oil with a maximum viscosity of
600 cSt
• detergent lubricating oil
• R&O lubricating oil

1810640-02 1
1 SCOPE PURIFIER UNIT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

2 1810640-02
2 System Overview

In the purifier process, heated oil is fed through During the process, the cleaned oil leaves the
the separator to clean the oil from solid separator through the oil outlet, separated
particles and water. water leaves through the water outlet, and
sludge accumulates at the periphery of the
The system comprises:
separator bowl.
• A separator.
The control unit initiates a sludge discharge at
• Ancillary equipment including a control unit. preset intervals.
• Optional equipment such as Sludge Sludge and water are then discharged through
Removal Kit, oil feed pump, oil heating sludge ports at the periphery of the bowl and
system etc. collected in an intermediate tank or a sludge
tank.
The separating systems can be operated as
single, parallel or serial systems.

2.1 The Oil Flow Settling tank Change-over Backpressure

valve regulating
The unprocessed oil is fed by a positive valve
displacement pump, operating at a constant flow.
Depending on the oil type, the oil may need to be
heated.
After the heater the change over valve directs
the oil to the separator. The separated oil passes
the manually operated back-pressure regulating
valve to the receiving tank.
The oil can also be directed back to the tank,
bypassing the separator. This is the case when
the oil temperature is outside the preset range,
Pump Heater Separator Daily
during separator start and stop procedures, and
service tank
P0 0 3 7 1 6 A

during alarm conditions.

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2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW PURIFIER UNIT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

2.2 System Layout

Heater Temperature Pressure transmitter, Pneumatically controlled Separator

transmitter (TT1, oil (PT1) change-over valve (V1)
Heats unprocessed Cleans the oil by
oil to separation TT2) removing water
Measures the pressure Directs the unprocessed oil to
temperature. Measures the oil in the oil inlet, and the separator, or back to the and solid
temperature and signals the control unit. settling tank (recirculation – particles.
signals the control fuel oil only).
unit.

Feed pump
Feeds
unprocessed oil to the
separator.

Unprocessed oil
inlet TT PT
Oil return
Conditioning water

Opening water
Water inlet
Closing water

Solenoid valve block, water Sludge outlet

Distributes separator opening/

Additional equipment closing water, and conditioning water.
not part of the PU

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 PURIFIER UNIT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Control unit Pressure transmitter, oil Regulating valve (RV4)

(PT4) Regulates the back-
Supervises the separation
system. Measures the pressure in pressure in the clean oil
the oil outlet, and signals the outlet.
control unit.

EPC-50

PT Clean oil outlet

to service tank

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2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW PURIFIER UNIT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

2.3 Purifier Unit Layout

Regulating
valve

Pressure
transmitter (oil
inlet)

Clean oil outlet

Operating
Temperature water Operating
transmitter air

Oil inlet

Pressure
transmitter (oil
outlet)
Oil recirculation

Control unit
Change-over
valve

Oil in

Oil out

Sludge
and water
outlet

Sludge Removal
Kit (optional)
P003734A

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PURIFIER UNIT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW

2.4 Modules
The Purifier Unit can be delivered on a module
with the following combinations:

2.4.1 Single Module with Heatpac® CBM Heater

P004142A
2.4.2 Single Module with Heatpac® EHS Heater

P004152A

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2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW PURIFIER UNIT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

2.4.3 Double Module with Heatpac® CBM Heater, In-Line

P004162A
2.4.4 Double Module with Heatpac® CBM Heater, Facing

P0 0 4 1 7 2 A

8 1810640-02
PURIFIER UNIT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW

2.4.5 Double Module with Heatpac® EHS Heater, In-Line

P0 0 4 1 8 2 A
2.4.6 Double Module with Heatpac® EHS Heater, Facing

P004192A

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PURIFIER UNIT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW

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PURIFIER UNIT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 3 THE PROCESS

3 The Process
The terms used in this process description are
explained in section ‘‘3.2 Definition of Terms’’ on
page 12.

3.1 Purifying
A water seal is added to the separator bowl
through the water inlet.
The separator is equipped with a gravity disc,
chosen according to factors such as oil
temperature, density, and feed rate. This choice
decides the position of the interface between oil
and water seal.
The separator does not use a paring disc to pump
out the separated water. Instead, the water
leaves the bowl via the gravity disc, and leaves
the separator through the water/sludge outlet.

Process Cycle
1 A specific amount of water is added to the
separator bowl to form a water seal.
2 The feeding of unprocessed oil to the centre
of the separator bowl starts.
3 During the separation process sludge and
water accumulate at the periphery of the
separator bowl. Cleaned oil is fed from the
separator by the integrated paring disc.
Excessive water leaves the bowl through the
water/sludge outlet to the sludge tank.
4 After the preset time between discharge
sequences, the oil feeding stops.
5 Displacement water is added to the bowl. The
displacement water eliminates the risk of oil
loss at the following sludge discharge.
6 A sludge discharge is initiated while the
displacement water is still flowing.
The next process cycle starts with adding of
water for a new water seal.

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3 THE PROCESS PURIFIER UNIT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

3.2 Definition of Terms

Preset time between sludge discharge When this time has elapsed after a sludge
sequences discharge, the next discharge is initiated.
(Parameter value)
Water seal Water, added to the separator bowl to prevent oil
(Parameter value) from escaping at the water outlet.
Displacement water Water, added to the separator bowl to displace
the oil and ensure there is no loss of oil at sludge
discharge.
Purifier A separator that cleans the oil from water and
sludge with continuous evacuating of separated
water.

12 1810640-02