Centrifugal Oil Purifiers - Starting and

Stopping Procedures
We have already know about the basic principle of
operation of purifiers...! Lets know how to start and stop
purifiers.., necessary safety precautions before starting,
de-sludging procedure, and emergency stopping....etc.....!
Recap...!
We all know that centrifuges are an important type of
auxiliary equipment on board ships and that they are
classified into two operating functions.
One is Clarifier, which seperates solids from liquids.
Other type is a Purifier, which seperates liquids of
different density.
The Purifier operates on the principle of seperation by
centrifugal force. But in order to optimize the purification
process, certain parameters should be adjusted before
purifier is started. Out of those parameters, very important
parameters are...
1. Feed inlet oil temperature,
2. Density of Oil,
3. R.P.M of the rotating bowl,
4. Back Pressure,
5. Throughput of oil feed.
Insight Of the Parameters...!
1. Feed inlet oil temperature: Before entering the purifier,
the dirty oil passes through the heater, which increases
the temperature, thus reducing the viscosity of the oil to be
purified. The lower the viscosity, the better will be the

purification.
2. Density of Oil: As the dirty oil entering the purifier is
heated to reduce the viscosity, the density also reduces.
The lower the density, better the seperation.
3. R.P.M of the rotating bowl: If the purifier has not
achieved full rpm(revolutions per second), then the
centrifugal force will not be sufficient enough to aid the
seperation.
4. Back Pressure: The back pressure should be adjusted
after the purifier is started. The back pressure varies as
the temperature, density, viscosity of feed oil inlet varies.
The back pressure ensures that the oil paring disc is
immersed in the clean oil on the way of pumping to the
clean oil tank.
5. Throughput of oil feed: Throughput means the quantity
of oil pumped into the purifier/hr. In order to optimize the
purification, the throughput must be minimum.
Pre-checks before starting a Purifier...!
Before starting a Purifier, following checks are very
essential:
1. If the Purifier is started after a overhaul, then check all
fittings are fiited in right manner. The bowl frame hood
locked with hinges.
2. Check the Oil level in the gear case. Ensure that it is
exactly half in the sight glass. Also ensure the sight glass
is in vertical position, as there is a common mistake of
fixing it in horizontal position.

3. check the direction of rotation of the seperator, by just

starting and stopping the purifier motor.
4. Check whether the brake is in released position.
Starting a Purifier...!
1. Ensure the lines are set and respective valves are
open. Usually the lines are set from settling tank to service
tank.
2. Start the purifier feed pump with the 3-way re-circulation
valve in a position leading to settling tank.
3. Open the steam to the heater slightly ensuring the
drains are open so that the condensate drains. close the
drains once steam appears.
4. Start the Purifier.
5. Check for vibrations, check the gear case for noise and
abnormal heating.
6. Note the current (amps) during starting. It goes high
during starting and then when the purifier bowl
picks-up speed & when it reaches the rated speed, the
current drawn drops to normal value.
7. Ensure the feed inlet temperature has reached optimum
temperature for seperation as stated in the Bunker report
& nomogram ( bunker delivery note gives the density of
the fuel and using this we can get the seperation
temperature and gravity disc size from the nomogram)
8. Now check whether the bowl has reached the rated
speed by looking at the revolution counter. The revolution
counter gives the scaled down speed of the bowl. The

ratio for calculation can be obtained from the manual.

9. Now, after the bowl reaching the rated rpm, check for
current attaining its normal value.
De-sludge procedure:
10. Open the Bowl closing water/Operating water, which
closes the bowl. (Ensure sufficient water is present in the
operating water tank)
11. Now after 10 seconds, open the sealing water to the
bowl.
12. The sealing water should be kept open till the water
comes out of the waste water outlet.
13. Once the water overflows throught the waste water
outlet, stop the sealing water.
14. Now open the de-sludge water/bowl opening water.
(this is done to ensure the bowl has closed properly).
During de-sludge we can hear a characteristic sound by
the opening of the bowl.
15. Repeat the steps 10, 11 ,12 & 13.
16. Open the 3-way re-circulation valve such that the dirty
oil feed is fed into the purifier.
17. Wait for the back pressure to build up.
18. Check for overflowing of dirty-oil through waste water
outlet & sludge port.
19. Now adjust the throughput to a value specified in the
manual. Correspondingly adjust the back pressure too.

20. Now the purifier is put into operation. Change over the
clean-oil filling valve to service tank.
After-checks & stopping of purifier...!
Checks after starting the purifier during regular
watches:
1. Adjust the throughput, back pressure, temperature of
feed inlet if necessary
2. gear case oil level, motor amps, general leakages,
vibration have to be monitored
3. De-sludge every 2 hours for heavy oil purifiers & every
4 hours for lubricating oil purifiers.( refer manual or chief
engineer instructions)
Stopping of Purifiers:
1. De-sludge the purifier after stopping the feed inlet.
2. shut down the steam inlet to the oil.
3. Stop the purifier after filling up the bowl with water.
4. Apply brakes and bring up the purifier to complete rest.
5. If any emergency, the purifiers has emergency stops, on
pressing it, will stop the purifiers immediately shutting off
the feed.