Experimental Investigations of Centrifuge Separation Performance in Applications to Diesel Engine Lube Oil System 2006-01-3438

This paper reports separation performance of pressure driven centrifuges used in diesel engine lubrication systems. Centrifuge rotor speed was determined as a function of oil pressure and viscosity. Separation efficiency was studied in the laboratory as a function of rotor speed, oil viscosity, time of operation and the type of contaminants. Laboratory tests were carried on using two types of contaminants, silica with particle density of 2.53 g/cm³, and a mixture of 80% iron oxide and 20% carbon black with a density of 1.95 g/cm³. The gravimetric method and a Coulter particle counter were used to determine efficiency and sizes of particles penetrating the test centrifuges. A 0.8 micron membrane filter was used as an absolute filter in the gravimetric method. A mathematical model was employed to calculate the cut diameter for two types of pressure driven centrifuges.