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Industrial Oil: Wholesale or Retail?

The volume of oil required to be purchased is defined by the needs of the company or the facility.  Normally, a large amount of oil is purchased wholesale, while a smaller amount needed for the replacement of oil fir one or several machines, is usually purchased retail.

Based on price, it would seem that wholesale purchases are better for your company financially.  The price of a large batch of oil per liter purchased wholesale will be lower than purchasing smaller retail volumes pre liter.

There are however, problems with large amounts of oil.  Wholesale volumes of oil must be stored somewhere. Industrial oil is obviously sensitive to various contaminants such as water, particulate matter and other unwanted contaminants.  Apart from allotting storage facilities, the oil also requires constant monitoring of purity and and water content.

Purity of industrial oil purchased wholesale or in smaller retail batches can be ensured by two methods:

  • Prevention of contamination in storage; and
  • Purification of contaminated oil.

Both include a whole range of measures.  As stated above, purity of industrial oil can be ensured by prevention or purification, but the best results are achieved by combining the two.  This also allows savings of money since preventive measures require quite less investment than actual purification and regeneration.

Prevention alone however, cannot maintain industrial oil’s purity in the long run.  It requires a complex approach to transportation and storage using the following equipment:

  • air-tight tanks;
  • equipment made from non-corroding materials;
  • correct temperature in storage and transportation;
  • and the use of inert gases to fill gas space.

This increases the cost of prevention.  The goal therefore, is to reduce the amount of contaminants as much as possible in the oil going to purification devices, which finalize the required purity of the product.

The following systems from GlobeCore GmbH are recommended for the purification and regeneration of industrial oil:

●      Mobile oil unit CММ-1.7 CM;
●      Mobile oil unit CММ-3.5 CM;
●      Mobile oil unit CММ-5 CM;
●      Filter cart CFU-0.8М;
●      Filter cart CFU-1.7М, (CFU-4).

Industrial Oil Sales: Preserving the Oil’s Performance Characteristics

So, you have decided to sell industrial oil?  Let’s assume that you already have found a storage facility for the product.  One thing remains however, knowing what the consumer needs and how to provide that need.

Besides better terms of supply, lower price, and various discounts, the client is mostly interested in the quality of the product.  Industrial oil quality in our case.  The quality is a combination of many parameters and characteristics that must not fall below regulated specifications during storage, transportation and operation.

Let us look into the characteristics, which define the quality of industrial oil and are important for the client’s choice:

  • Viscosity.  This is the first thing to consider about oil.  It is very important for the use of the majority of industrial oils.  When friction parts are designed and calculated, the parameter taken into consideration is the dynamic viscosity of the oil.  This is a regulated parameter of all oil made from crude base stock.  Dynamic viscosity used be defined at between 50ºС/122ºF and 100ºС/212ºF. That has changed and now all measurements are made according to ISO 3448-75 (instead of measuring viscosity at 50ºС/122ºF, the reference temperature is now 40ºС/104ºF).  When choosing industrial oil, the buyer usually considers three critical viscosity values: optimal at working temperature, minimal at maximum working temperature and maximum at the lowest working temperature;
  • Pour Point. This parameter is defined by testing a sample of the oil.  The Pour Point is the lowest temperature that the oil will continue to flow.  This temperature does not entirely indicate the dynamics of the oil in operating conditions at low temperatures.  That is shown better by actual viscosity at a given temperature. To reduce the pour point of industrial oil, it is mixed with special additives. This parameter is meaningful to the buyer planning his storage operations, dispatch, and draining and for using the oil in low temperature environments;
  • Flashpoint. This is the temperature at which the vapor of the oil can form a flammable mixture with the air. It defines the relative fire hazard of the oil and shows the presence of volatile fractions within it.  It is measured in special open or closed type devices;
  • Ash content. This parameter indicates the amount of non-organic contaminants left after burning a sample of the industrial oil. It is expressed in percentage of weight.  If ash content of oil without additives is too high, it indicates insufficient purification.  In most cases, ash content of industrial oil is from 0.002% to 0.4%;
  • Content of particulate matter, solvents, water, water-soluble acids and bases. This indication is extremely important in controlling the oil quality after production as well as determination of its further usability.  Mobile oil purification units for treatment and regeneration of oil can significantly increase the service life of the oil and improve reliability of machinery;

In practice, GlobeCore products are used for the purification and regeneration of industrial oil.

  • Color.  The color is a visual indication of the purity of industrial oil.  It also allows the buyer to make a judgment on the oil’s origins.  Keep in mind that some additives can make the oil darker.  If the color of the oil changes during use however, this is an indirect indication of its oxidation and/or contamination;
  • Acid number. Knowing this important neutralization number allows the buyer to determine the oil’s purity as well as the stability in use and in storage.  Additives can increase the acidity of the oil, but can also increase the stability of oil for long term use and storage;
  • Sulfur content.  The amount of sulfur initially depends on the amount of sulfur in the crude base stock the oil was blended from and the degree of purification and refinement.  After purification of industrial oils made from sour crude, sulfur remains in the oil in organic compounds and under normal conditions does not cause corrosion of metals.  Sulfur may become aggressive in elevated temperatures.  The content of sulfuric compounds is higher in oil with additives. This is due to the fact that additives containing sulfur are mixed with industrial oil to increase their lubrication qualities.

How to Choose the Best Oil Filtration System?

The choice of a product depends on various external factors.  Price, quality, performance, and reliability are just some the considerations when choosing a product.  The choice of industrial equipment also depends many of the same factors.

In choosing oil processing equipment, you will find that there are many different types of processing units intended for purification of different petroleum based oils  and fluids.

There are a large number of manufacturing companies specializing in oil processing systems. These systems include a wide range of equipment used to process different lubricants, hydraulic and turbine oils, and complex systems for oil regeneration.

The purchase of equipment for the filtration and purification of used oils is justified through the saving of money and resources.  Additionally, this equipment greatly helps in reducing problems with equipment failures and downtime, as well as reducing environmentally harmful waste oil products.  Overall, these modern machines greatly increase the service life of industrial equipment.

When choosing the right processing equipment for your business, strict attention should be paid to the technical specifications of the filters that will be used by the processing equipment:

  1. The physical size of the oil filter. This key component of the purification system must be small enough to save space and weight, but have high filtration performance in both volume and filter fineness;
  2. Filter Test Results.  Oil filters can be monitored in various ways, but one of the most common methods is the beta-factor test.  The beta factor is calculated by dividing the number of the larger particles trapped in the filter medium by the number of particles of the same size downstream of the filter.  For example, if the beta ratio is 10:1, it means that for every ten (10) particles that enter the filter, only one (1)passes through the filter without being trapped in the filter medium;
  3. Pore ​​size of the filter medium; and
  4. Performance and rate  flow.

According to studies conducted by General Motors, and published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), it was determined that the service life of an engine can be increased eight times by using five (5) micron filter mediums instead of the standard 40mm filter medium found in most massed produced automotive oil filters.

This means that the steady improvement of oil filtration systems will continue as the cost of new equipment rises and consumers demand better equipment with longer service lives.  There is an old saying that contends that oil does not wear out, it only becomes dirty.  In any case, keeping oil clean and free from contaminants and moisture will greatly extend the service life of your electric power equipment and hydraulic systems.

The traditional oil change therefore, is no longer necessary.  The high tech equipment available from GlobeCore can keep your insulating oils and hydraulic fluids in new like condition indefinitely.  Oil Processing units from  GlobeCore remove soot and sludge, dirt, moisture and dissolved gases.

If however, you decide to invest in oil processing equipment, it is worth taking the time to carefully consider your needs.  You will soon learn that not all systems for filtering oil are created equal.  Sometimes, bright brochures are specifically designed to confuse the customer.  As the consumer and business manager, you should make sure that filtration and processing equipment has passed all the necessary tests and has verified results of performance.  Here at GobeCore, we work with our customers to determine the best equipment that meets the needs of our customers.  GlobeCore has a very large and diverse line of oil processing equipment.  We work very closely with our customers so you get the best and most cost effective equipment to compliment the needs of your business.

Oil filtration

During operation, transformer oil accumulate contaminants, which can form various chemicals. These substances reduce the oil’s performance and are, of course, undesirable.

Operation of the transformer becomes unstable. To prevent this, transformer oil is filtered and purified. Some of the methods are discussed in more detail below.

The first stage of transformer oil purification is mechanical. This is a superficial treatment to remove particulate matter and water. The next step is deeper purification performed in vacuum with heating.

The first two stages are, in fact, preliminary. The main process involves various chemicals.

One of the methods is purification of oil with a 98% sulfuric acid solution.

In comparison to other chemical purification methods, the use of sulfuric acid has a significant drawback. Beside reacting with the contaminants, the acid also adversely influecnes the structure of the oil, making it somewhat unstable. Additional processes are required to resolve that problem.

The nature of selective purification is evident from the title. Speical solvents are introduced into the oil to remove specific impurities.

De-waxing is another widely accepted process. In this process, oil is treated with special solvents: acetone, toluene, bensol etc, to remove solid contaminants.

It should be noted that chemical methods influence oil’s stability, but extend the oil’s service life at the same time.

It should also be remembered that any purification process should end with finishing purification, closing the cycle of oil processing and filtration. This is usually done by contact method.

This means that the oil is mixed with special materials, usually clay or bleaching earth. The materials are then mixed and heated. Heating facilitates acviation of all sorbents in the clay.

These absorbents capture contaminants. Deep filtration separates oil from the clay. When selecting adsorbent, it is necessary to pay attention to the content of moisture. It should be suffucient to make production efficient and to make processed oil compliant with specifications.

The most interesting technology today involves the use of bleaching clays (Fuller’s earth). Globecore manufactures a range of CMM type units for filtration of various oils with the use of Fuller’s earth. The advantages of the design are the ability of multiple reactivation of the sorbent, mobility, simplicity of operation and high quality of the output product.

Downtime is significantly reduced by the ability to reactivate the sorbent without the need for frequent replacement, thus increasing process efficiency.

Transfromer Oil Purification Equipment by GlobeCore

Application

CMM systems designed and manufactured by GlobeCore can perform the following functions: Degassing, dehydration and filtration of transformer oil, cable oil, turbine oil, and other industrial oils.  The CMM units remove gases, free and soluble water, and particulate matter from oils and fluids.  The CMM units are used in the installation, repair and operation of oil-filled high voltage equipment up to 1150 kV (power transformers, high-voltage switches etc.) as well as industrial turbines.

The GlobeCore CMM units perform the following services:

  • Purifying and drying of Transformer Oil
  • Vacuum filling of Transformers and Electrical apparatuses
  • Drying and Purifying of oil in transformers (on and off-line)
  • Vacuum Drying of Transformers
  • Degassing of Transformer Insulating Oil
  • Filtration of Transformer Insulating Oil

Technical Description

GlobeCore CMM units are designed as multipurpose Transformer Oil Conditioning units for field or factory use.  The units incorporate high capacity multi-stage electric oil heaters,  large capacity Vacuum Pumps with external connections for Vacuum filling work, three (3) stage particulate filtration systems, and connections for a large variety of service applications.

The Unit’s measuring devices include vacuum, pressure, and temperature meters.  The equipment can also be optionally supplied with a “water-in-oil” measuring device.  Installation of a water-in-oil measuring device allows in-line monitoring of water content.

Flow rates are variable from 0 to >10,000 liters per hour (L/H) and heating from 24KW to 210 KW in four stages.  GlobeCore systems are designed for easy operation and maintenance.

The principal functions of transformer insulating oils are to serve as a dielectric medium and as a transformer coolant or heat transfer medium.  In order to perform these functions, transformer oil must have the necessary qualities at the time of initial impregnation and filling at the factory and later be able to maintain the same quality in normal operation.

High Vacuum Treatment improves insulating fluids that includes transformer oils and silicone fluids. GlobeCore transformer oil purification equipment was developed as a result of 30 years of experience in vacuum treatment of transformer oils.

Benefit

Every company dealing with oil-insulated high voltage equipment (transformers, high-voltage switches, turbines, etc.), shares the problem of having to change and dispose of contaminated oil and fluids.  The costs of changing and disposing of insulating oils are frequently very high and need a significant investment in time, labor, and money.  At GlobeCore, our equipment offers a practical, proven and economical method to purify oil so that it can be used again and again for your high voltage equipment.

Thermally accelerated Vacuum Dehydration and Degassing of Transformer Oil has gained wide acceptance as one of the most economical methods for the removal of dissolved water and gases.

On-Site Transformer Oil Purification is the most cost effective transformer maintenance service in existence today.  The GlobeCore CMM units not only purify the oil within the transformer, but actively regenerate the Transformer Insulating System by removing impurities that had become built up within the transformer over time.

Thermo-vacuum purification and degassing of transformer insulating oil, as performed by the GlobeCore Process, will result in the improvement of the condition of the entire insulating medium of your electric power transformers.

Here are some additional benefits of the GlobeCore Process:

  • Removal of dissolved moisture from transformer insulating oil
  • Reduction of combustible gases and oxygen
  • Improvement of insulating oil dielectric values
  • Improvement of transformer insulating oil power factor
  • Extension of oil service life
  • Extension of transformer service life and reliability

We at GlobeCore are committed to provide our customers with high quality products that satisfy technical and economic objectives.  We offer our vast experience in manufacturing, servicing and operation of transformer oil purification systems to your company.

Machines by GlobeCore come with a block of approved original equipment spare parts.  These spare parts meet all specifications required of the engineering process.  Over the years, optimal and high quality components have been carefully selected for our equipment.  GlobeCore guarantees the performance of our machines and the results of the oil treatment processes.  We have placed our equipment in more than 70 countries around the world and a reference list available upon request.

Short Process Description

Hot Filtration Mode

A gear type pump draws in the oil for processing via a valve and a strainer.  Processed oil is then pumped through the cartridge filter, the three-way valve and is then discharged to the processed oil vessel via a connecting line.

The above mode is also used for transformer core drying.  Transformer oil is circulated through the oil purification equipment.  After filtering the oil to remove the particles, the oil is heated up to max. temperature of 800C/1472F.  All residual gases are removed and the moisture is evaporated in the vacuum degassing chamber.  Residual moisture content can be reduced down to less than 3 parts per million (ppm).  Oil purification is a necessary maintenance process for oil-filled transformers and can be employed for removal of moisture from the transformer’s core and solid insulation. Heating of the transformer oil moves the moisture from paper to the oil and allows for its removal from the transformer.  The most common mistake made by operators of transformer oil purification equipment is to stop the drying process after reaching oil moisture content of less than 5 ppm.  After some time, when normal transformer operation conditions exist, the moisture content of the oil increases. It is essential to dry the transformer oil continuously throughout a long period.

Transformer Evacuation

Another required process is the immediate evacuation of the transformer after pumping the insulating oil out of the transformer tank.  The “Vacuum Effect” on the insulation surfaces greatly improves moisture content removal.  The process must be repeated several times before the desired effects will be achieved.

Hot Filtration and Thermo-Vacuum Drying

A gear type pump draws the oil in for processing via a strainer and cartridge filter.  It then directs the oil to the heat exchanger where the oil is heated by the heat conductor.  The oil is then fed to the vacuum drier’s sprayer after being heated to 60C/140F.  The Vacuum Pump maintains vacuum in the vacuum chamber.  a Vacuum can be regulated by valve(s) and monitored on the vacuum meter.  Filtered hot air comes into the chamber and removes gases and vapor from the oil’s surface effectively drying the oil.  The air is then discharged into the atmosphere via an oil separator by the vacuum pump.  A gear type pump then directs the oil into the processed oil vessel.  A programmable thermal regulator switch monitors the plant’s function continuously and maintains the pre-set temperature.

In Maracaibo they use the Best GlobeCore Equipment

At the end of May 2014, our company carried out the supplying, the adjustment and the start-up of a GlobeCore USB blending system in the city of Maracaibo in Venezuela.

One of the local Maracaibo enterprises needed a model with productivity of at least 18 m3/h.  By the way, Maracaibo is the second most populated city of Venezuela after Caracas (more than a million of people).

What necessitated the USB blending system was the enterprises’ need for a fuel blending unit with the ability to operate with universality.  With this USB unit, manufactured and powered by Globecore, the blending and dissolution of all liquids can be carried out with two to five components.

The system is used for the preparation of multi-component motor fuel blends (including those with vegetable additives), bio-ethanol, as well as for the blending of biodiesel with diesel fuel. Furthermore, the USB system is used for the emulsification and homogenisation of mazut and water-fuel blends.

USB

The distinctive feature of the blending system we manufactured is the use of its injection method and hydraulic shock.  This allows the unit to raise the fuel’s cetane number as well as to prevent its disintegration for at least six months.  Fuel may quickly disintegrate when using the usual blending methods.

The usage of the USB hydraulic blending system has allowed the operators in Maracaibo to:

  • increase productivity (the existing unit adjustments, according to the customer’s needs, can achieve productivity rates of 5 m3/h, 18 m3h, 20 m3/h, 40 m3/h, 60 m3/h or 100 m3/h);
  • significantly shorten the duration of the blending process and achieve a stable output;
  • increase the company’s profitability through the optimal use of the components;
  • decrease labor costs as well as the number of service personnel due to the unit’s automatic processing mode;
  • minimize the idle time of the final product’s transportation.
  • unload the final product directly into fuel tankers, etc.

Run_USB