Centrifuges

[OhnonotAgain]

I've seen two types of centrifuges used here. The pabiodiesel (small) one and the uscentrifuge type. Has anyone done any testing to see which is more effective? Seems to me that the uscentrifuge, having a larger diameter, may wind up with more g-force than the pabiodiesel (small) one. I know the small centrifuge is supposed to run at 6k or 7k rpm but don't know what g-force is generated with them. I also don't know what rpm the uscentrifuge runs at either but since it is direct driven, it seems to me it will be running a lot slower since there are limitations as to how small the motor pulley can be and how large the rotor pulley can be coupled with the max rpm of an AC motor of 1800.

Just checking

enquiring minds want to know...

 

[wmoguy]

A PABiodiesel 55GPH Fuge at 90psi should be running about 8500-9k rpms.

 

[subway]

its all about centrifugal or centripetal force, a larger diameter and smaller diameter rotor can have the same force, the smaller one just have to turn faster to achieve it.

i am sure there is a calculation that can be run and am half tempted to try to dig it up but if they both claim to filter down to a half micron that should be plenty fine for our use. most fuel filters are in the 10-20 micron range anyway from what i have seen.

some of the advantages of having a smaller rotor is:
1. smaller size to fit more places (some of the small ones are run under hoods of big trucks)
2. easier to balance a smaller rotor
3. less manufacturing material, it can be hard to get larger castings made in the US due to EPA restrictions.

the smaller setup has less room to trap the yucky stuff and can wear out sooner potentially (i have no knowledge of this happening) but the price point is much more in line with my wallet and its effective.

 

[Brad S.]

Another item to remember, the CF might be the last item in a person's filtering process & setups.
For instance, when I started using wmo I was using a barrel pump with a normal engine oil filter. Then I found the Oil Burners web site and figured I needed to do a better job of filtering. Added a water filter & 1 micron filter.
Then I started reading about these CF's and would do a really good job of filtering.
Added the CF, pretty happy with the "finished" wmo product.(haven't plugged any fuel filters because of wmo)
The point I'm trying to make is the CF's do a good job filtering, but prefiltering helps the CF do a better job when the particles are smaller to begin.
Not trying to put down anyone's setup, I figured everyone filtering wmo is progressing at different speeds. Thats why I like reading new setups, because something new might be better.(Cost of everything plays a big part too.)

 

[wmoguy]

expect some good videos in the not so distant future inre: to the comparison of the Fluid driven fuges (i.e. PaBioDiesel) vs. motor driven ones like (Simplecentrifuge, etc..) In speaking with the individual collecting the data, even at slow flow rates, the benefits of the motor driven ones is negligible, if at all, UNLESS you clean something like a tote or two per week.

 

[OhnonotAgain]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I opted for a solution not discussed here which is kind of a hybrid - I'm going to modify an Acme Juicerator since it apparently works once the proper modifications are made.

 

[Blind Driver2]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I opted for a solution not discussed here which is kind of a hybrid - I'm going to modify an Acme Juicerator since it apparently works once the proper modifications are made.

 

[subway]

That's the route Gary emddriver on here went. It seems to work well for him, I am sure it will filter crap I would just be curious just how much and how well.

 

[gearhead]

the simple centrifuge direct drive setup generates 1400g's of force with its 8" bowl at 3600 rpm.a smaller fluid driven centrifuge looks to have a 3-4" rotor and spins and 6000-7500 rpm generating 1500-3000 g's of force depending on how big the rotor actually is and how fast it spins.So a fluid driven type would have more force but it can collect less crude before needing to be cleaned.Also because it is hard to get enough pressure to spin the centrifuge and have a slow feed rate at the same time the oil doesn't spend a lot of time in the centrifuge so it doesn't filter as well per pass.judging from photos on here the amount of crude collected from 100 gallons of oil with a fluid driven centrifuge is roughly 1/16" to 1/8" thick layer on the rotor.With my setup (simplecentrifuge,raw power,etc) I get a build up of 1/4"+ from 5 gallons ran through once at 1-2 GPH.

 

[OhnonotAgain]

Well, since you found it necessary to quote me and laugh your A off, how about some constructive comment as well.

 

[OhnonotAgain]

the simple centrifuge direct drive setup generates 1400g's of force with its 8" bowl at 3600 rpm.a smaller fluid driven centrifuge looks to have a 3-4" rotor and spins and 6000-7500 rpm generating 1500-3000 g's of force depending on how big the rotor actually is and how fast it spins.So a fluid driven type would have more force but it can collect less crude before needing to be cleaned.Also because it is hard to get enough pressure to spin the centrifuge and have a slow feed rate at the same time the oil doesn't spend a lot of time in the centrifuge so it doesn't filter as well per pass.judging from photos on here the amount of crude collected from 100 gallons of oil with a fluid driven centrifuge is roughly 1/16" to 1/8" thick layer on the rotor.With my setup (simplecentrifuge,raw power,etc) I get a build up of 1/4"+ from 5 gallons ran through once at 1-2 GPH.

So it sounds as if the Acme Juicerator with a low flow rate may do as well as any of the more expensive options?

 

[subway]

So it sounds as if the Acme Juicerator with a low flow rate may do as well as any of the more expensive options?

see for yourself, if you know the rpm and the radius (half the diameter) of the ***** this will give you the g force that will be created to pull particles out of the oil.

http://www.calctool.org/CALC/phys/newtonian/centrifugal

according to the calculator my pa biodiesel fuge can put around 3200 g's on my fluid with a 4 inch diameter drum and 7500 rpm operating speed.

 

[OhnonotAgain]

see for yourself, if you know the rpm and the radius (half the diameter) of the ***** this will give you the g force that will be created to pull particles out of the oil.

http://www.calctool.org/CALC/phys/newtonian/centrifugal

according to the calculator my pa biodiesel fuge can put around 3200 g's on my fluid with a 4 inch diameter drum and 7500 rpm operating speed.

I understand that the g forces will be less, but I was referring to gearhead's post about the lower flow through resulting in more thorough cleaning.
Your pabiodiesel fuge requires a high flow rate resulting in short duration of the oil in the fuge for the high g force to work on.

 

[subway]

i see your point, i am not sure how long it actaully takes to have particles actaully drop out. does the fluid need to flow that slowly? its probubly in relation to how muck g force is used, more force = less time the oil needs to hang out. i dont have both styles to compare, i look forward to wmoguy doing so.

 

[wmoguy]

i see your point, i am not sure how long it actaully takes to have particles actaully drop out. does the fluid need to flow that slowly? its probubly in relation to how muck g force is used, more force = less time the oil needs to hang out. i dont have both styles to compare, i look forward to wmoguy doing so.

Oops. Sorry if I somehow implied I was the one doing the tests previously referred too. I am not that person. Someone else whom I know is doing said testing. I'm personally most interested in seeing some testing related to micron ratings. If I knew of a place locally that could do those tests I'd be all about getting my blend tested.