Centrifuge FAQs
Q1. Will the centrifuge cause drop in engine oil pressure ?
There is a very minute oil pressure drop not exceeding 0.2 BAR. The pressure in the system is maintained due to the restriction caused by the nozzle diameter. Additionally the centrifuge uses only 8% to 10% capacity of the lube oil pump capacity. Usually lube oil pumps on larger diesel engines have a 10% surplus flow capacity to engine requirement. It is this surplus volume taken by the centrifuge.
Q2. Will the centrifuge remove additives from the oil ?
The centrifuge will not remove any additives from the oil. The Centrifuge will remove only suspended particles in the oil and not any dissolved particles. Mobil oil has made a statement stating that “oil additives are not removed by centrifuge”.
Q3. Will the centrifuge replace existing full flow filter ?
The centrifuge filter is installed in bypass circuit, parallel to the main oil filters. The main oil filters (fullflow filters) address 100% of the oil at any given time. The oil outlet of the main filters is directed to the various engine components whereas the centrifuge will address only 8% to 10% at any given time and will return the oil back under gravity to the oil sump. Over a period of time the oil sump will get purified.
Q4. What will happen if centrifuge is full of contaminant and not cleaned ?
There is no harm to the engine if the centrifuge is not cleaned. The oil path is not restricted, however no additional contamination will be collected in the rotor bowl if already full.
Q5. What is the operating pressure range for centrifuge operation ?
The operating range is 2.5 BAR to 7 BAR. However for effective operation higher oil pressure will result in higher RPM leading to more centrifugal force.
Q6. Will the centrifuge cause oil starvation of the engine ?
No it will not. A Cut Off Valve (COV) is provided in the centrifuge to prevent oil starvation to the engine. The COV ratings are 1.3 to 2.5 BAR depending on engine and application. Thus if COV is set to 1.8 BAR it means that oil will enter centrifuge only if oil pressure exceeds 1.8 BAR. At pressures less than 1.8 BAR all the oil will be available to the engine for lubrication thus preventing oil starvation.
Q7. What is the criteria for model selection ?
Ideally the entire oil volume in the tank should pass through the centrifuge at least 4 times in one hour. The centrifuge is not a one pass efficiency separator. More passes means more chances of contaminant being captured in a specific time interval. The pressure vs flow charts are mentioned in the manual. Eg. For an engine with operating pressure of 4 BAR and an oil sump of 180 liters, ideal selection will be an FT200 instead of an FT060 as shown below.
| Centrifuge Model |
Oil Pressure |
Oil Flow thru centrifuge LPH |
Oil tank capacity |
No of passes |
| FT200 |
4 BAR |
900 |
180 |
5.0 |
| FT200 |
|
|
|
|
| FT060 |
4 BAR |
420 |
180 |
2.3 |
Q8. What if the nozzles get clogged ?
It is very rare for the nozzles to get clogged unless a very large particle enters the centrifuge inlet. Since the inlet to centrifuge is pressurised the oil is forced out of the nozzles. In the very unlikely event of them getting blocked the rotor will stop turning and centrifuge system will be out of the filtration circuit. The nozzles can be easily cleaned with a thin steel wire.
Q9. At what time interval do we clean the centrifuge ?
Cleaning interval needs to be pre determined for every engine. The engine age, environment conditions, quality of fuel, maintenance procedures will play an important role in contaminant generation in an engine.
Q10. How do we know if the centrifuge is full of contaminant ?
Unfortunately there is no way of knowing when the centrifuge rotor is full.
Q11. Do you have a paper insert inside the rotor assembly ?
Yes we do provide a paper insert at extra cost. This will aid cleaning process.
Q12. Where do we take the oil supply from the engine ?
The criteria is to source oil at max pressure and temperature. Source from a
suitable location after lube pump, on main filter head assembly or on oil cooler
assembly.
Q13. Where should we return the oil back to the engine ?
The oil must be returned back to the oil sump at a point above the oil level to
avoid back pressure and flooding in rotor chamber.
Q14. Can the centrifuge clean hydraulic oils ?
Yes the centrifuge can clean any fluids in the viscosity range of 5 to 50 cst @ 100 deg C.
Q15. For which engines can the centrifuge be installed ?
The centrifuge can be installed on all engines having oil sump volumes 11 litres and above.
However there should be a proper location to return the oil back to
the engine.
Q16. What is the life of the centrifuge ?
Since the only wear parts are rotor bushing and they are continuously
lubricated the life of the centrifuge is over 5 years.
Hydraulic Filtration FAQs
Q1. What is the difference between the puradyn system and a conventional oil filter?
Full flow filter rates can range between 60 to 1,000 gallons per hour, which is more like screening than filtering. The purdyn eystem has an ultra-fine filtration filter that filters oil at between 6 to 8 gallons per hour. In order to achieve ultra-fine filtration it is necessary to pass the oil through the filter slowly. Full flow filters strain out mostly large solid particles (15 microns or larger), leaving many smaller highly abrasive particles in the oil. The Puradyn system filters solid contaminants down to 1 micron in size while evaporating liquid contaminants such as fuel, water and engine coolant in the electrically heated evaporation chamber.
Q2. Does the puradyn system remove solids more effectively than other filters?
Yes! Most full flow and bypass filters use paper filter cartridges, and of those, only premium quality filters remove solid contaminants down to about 15 microns in size. Most full flow filters can capture particulates in the range of 25 to 40 microns. Commonly, paper is used as a full flow filter medium but it can quickly coat with particles, dirt, sludge and varnish. There is far less filtering surface area in a full flow paper filter than in the purdyn system and as such, they have a definite tendency to clog and lose their efficiency quickly. In the event that a full flow paper filter is heavily clogged, the filter's bypass valve should open, allowing unfiltered oil to flow through the engine. Thus, the full flow oil filter can become ineffective in a relatively short period.
Q3. Doesn't normal engine heat evaporate most liquid contaminants?
Oil would not become contaminated with acids (generally caused by water joining with sulfur oxides) or have its viscosity altered by fuel dilution if engine heat alone could do the job of removing unwanted liquids. The purdyn system's evaporation chamber provides the necessary combination of controlled heat, low humidity, lack of pressure, and thin filming of oil to allow water, engine coolant and fuel to vaporize quickly and efficiently directly into the atmosphere before these liquids can re-condense, as would normally occur within an engine not equipped with the purdyn system.
Q4. Given that the purdyn system removes solid, liquid and dissolved contaminants, does it in any way prevent their formation in the first place ?
Yes! This can best be described with the example of sulfuric acid. Sulfur oxide is produced in the engine as a by-product of combustion. Water is also formed as a by-product of combustion and occurs in the engine as condensation. If these two substances react in the heat and pressure of the engine, sulfuric acid will form. Cotton in the purdyn system filter element acts to neutralize this acid by removing the sulfur oxide from the oil. The purdyn system removes water and vents it to atmosphere as the oil passes through the heated evaporation chamber. Prevention of sulfuric acid also contributes to longer oil additive life.
Q5. What type of oil should be used with the purdyn system ?
Any high quality oil, including synthetic, with a Total Base Number (TBN) that meets or exceeds the specifications established or recommended by the engine manufacturer.
Q6. Will the purdyn system work with the extended change interval synthetic oils ?
Yes! The purdyn system is completely compatible with synthetic oils. Although these oils provide superior lubrication versus mineral oils, they are still susceptible to solid contaminant buildup and liquid contamination, such as water and engine coolant from leaking gaskets or water from crankcase condensation, as well as fuel dilution and other foreign matter entering the oil. The purdyn system allows for the use of expensive synthetic oil in a more cost-effective manner through greatly extended oil drain intervals.
Q7. Does the color of the oil have any bearing on its lubrication ability ?
No! Detergent oil will turn very dark, almost black in color after it is heated. Non-detergent oil will turn a reddish brown after it is heated. Most diesel engine lubrication oil will turn black in the first few minutes of operation due to the additive package in the oil and minute carbon particles. The only accurate way to determine the oil's lubricating value or contamination level is through spectrographic oil analysis..
Q8. Is it difficult to change the purdyn system filter ?
No! It should only take a few minutes. On the TF models, loosen four nuts and swing studs down. Move the head casting aside and remove the diffuser plate. Remove and discard head casting rubber gasket. Remove and discard the old filter and rubber o-ring. Install the new filter. Install the new rubber o-ring on top of the new filter. Install the diffuser plate. Install the new head gasket into the head casting. Place the head casting over the diffuser plate, move swing studs up and equally tighten four nuts.
On PFT models, using a 1/2" flex drive handle, loosen the lid by turning counterclockwise and remove. Remove and discard the old filter. Install new filter. Install the lid and using a 1/2" flex drive handle, tighten lid turning clockwise.
Q9. What are the features of the purdyn system's heating element ?
The purdyn system heating element is constructed of non-corroding stainless steel. The heating element is isolated in a sealed compartment and never comes in contact with the oil or potentially volatile fumes within the evaporation chamber. The heating element is sealed to prevent fire, explosion and to keep out moisture. This quality component should operate more than 10 years.
Q10. Can the purdyn system physically take tough operating and weather conditions?
Yes! purdyn systems are solidly designed, constructed of quality components, virtually indestructible, trouble-free, have no moving parts and require no servicing or adjusting.
Q11. Is the purdyn system guaranteed?
Yes! The purdyn system has a two-year, unlimited mileage/unlimited hours warranty.
Q12. Will the installation of a purdyn system save me money?
• Reduced volumes of purchased and stored new oil.
• Reduced waste oil disposal costs and associated impacts to the environment.
Pollution is one of the most serious problems facing the world today with further governmental regulatory rules expected to increase oil change costs in the future. By using the purdyn system, your problems of used oil storage, disposal and related costs are significantly reduced. Also, the purdyn system filter can be disposed of as would your OEM full flow filters, according to your State guidelines.