Tag Archives: filtration

Transformer Oil Recondition with Fuller’s Earth Equipment

GlobeCore introduces transformer oil purification units in the CMM-R line to meet the needs of companies, involved in the generation, transmission and distribution of electric power.
The CMM-R line mobile oil filtration units from GlobeCore provide for the service life extension of transformers,  circuit breakers, and other oil-filled equipment since they restore dielectric strength and chemical composition of insulating oils.

It is essential to ensure the stability and performance characteristics of transformer oil since oil is constantly deteriorating and is influenced by high temperatures, atmospheric oxygen, electrical fields, metals and solid insulation.  Over time, transformer oil turns from a dielectric insulator into a conductor at low voltages which is unacceptable for proper transformer performance.  Once the oil becomes contaminated, it can no longer fulfill its functions and, as a result, becomes unfit for further useas a dielectric insulting fluid.

It is therefore, recommended to use GlobeCore’s mobile oil purificaton stations instead of buying new oil and seeking for ways to dispose of the used oil.

In the oil filtration units, oil is passed through the special sorbent, called Fuller’s Earth that allows for “Molecular Filtration” due to its microporous structure.  Mechanical impurities and products of oil degradation are soaked up by the sorbent granules.  Once the sorbent becomes saturated, the CMM-R units automatically switche to “Sorbent Reactivation” mode where impurities are removed from the sorbent material and exhausted to the special collecting tank and carbon canister.

The CMM-R line has been proved to be very efficient in practice.  The loss tangent of the oil, processed with GlobeCore equipment, is significantly reduced and meets the rated value of the fresh product after the regeneration operations are completed.

GlobeCore equipment may be either purchased from stock, or custom-made. The in-stock mobile oil degassing stations can be bought directly from the warehouse.  GlobeCore’s final assembly facilities are located in Oldenburg, Germany.  Any customized unit will be made within 45 days.
Usually, the CMM-R units are started up and run for about a week before being shipped.  Our specialists will help you to start up the mobile oil purificaton station as well as train your staff.

Once you read this, it means that you might be:

(1) the owner or CEO of a power company.   You are tired of spending much money on recycling of waste oil and purchasing new transformer oil.  You are eager to get effective solutions that will reduce your operating costs and increase profits;

(2)  you are a manager of procurment department.  You have to please the directors by finding the best deals or establishing and keeping trust relationships with suppliers.  In this regard, GlobeCore has the best solution for you:  After many years of doing business, our company has established both corporate and personal relationships with our customers;

(3) you are an engineer that services oil-filled equipment.  After having performed an oil analysis, you have determined that the performance characteristics of the transformer are below the acceptable standards, but you still want to ensure the continued smooth operation of your equipment.  Then you need to purchase one or more of the GlobeCore CMM-R mobile oil stations.  We provide maintenance services, have a warehouse of spare parts and we are always ready to help you.

Let’s check whether you need a GlobeCore mobile oil purificaton station:

  • You want to solve the problem of used oil disposal;
  • You want to save costs on purchasing new transformer oil; and
  • You want the quality of reclaimed transformer oil to comply with  recognized rules and regulations and to serve equipment for much longer than one year.

If you agree with the statements listed above then you are on the right path to the GlobeCore Servoce Life Extention Program utilizing the GlobeCore Process!

The GlobeCore CMM-R mobile oil recondition unit will help you to solve your long term preventive maintenance problems.  The following is the list of the benefits of the GlobeCore mobile oil units:

(1) They come in different design versions: general industry frame (European standards), containerized, mounted on a trailer (two or three-axle trailer), with several different optional arrangements of doors;

(2) may be equipped with an operator’s workstation to meet the customer’s needs;

(3) can be fitted with  (I) additional devices to monitor the oil level in the transformer, (II) generator to provide autonomous operation, (III) inhibition block to add special additives to transformer oil after regeneration.

(4) short delivery terms;

(5) competitive price;

(6) possibility to be trained  by a skilled engineer before purchasing the equipment and during its maintenance.

(7) constituent parts by leading world manufacturers;

(8) the characteristics of reclaimed oil fully comply with the recognized international standards and regulations;

(9) no used oil storage;

(10) cost saving;

(11) low energy consumption;

(12) automated technological processes; and

(13) optional sound and heat insulation;

Reading all this information, you may have the following questions:

(1) For how many years is it possible to extend the service life of transformers by applying the GlobeCore Process to my oil filled electrical  equipment?

The CMM-R units allow equipment owners to extend the service life of a typical transformer between 20 to 35 years.

(2) Do I need to pump out oil from the transformer before regeneration?

No, it is not necessary.  One of the primary benefits of the CMM-R units is that oil processing may be performed on the energized transformer.

(3) Why do I need to use your equipment if I can use the old transformer oil in other units that need lower performance characteristics of dielectric fluid?

Sure, you can, but it won’t solve the problem of its disposal.

(4) Is it possible to use another sorbent instead of Fuller’s Earth?

Yes, it is. The GlobeCore’s CMM-R units successfully operate using other sorbents.  But, Fuller’s earth can be reactivated during transformer oil processing so there is no need to unload and reload sorbent during the processing job.

(5) How long will the Fuller’s Earth last? 

About 300 cycles which is equal to between 1.5 to 3 years of operation depending on the amount of oil process and the overall amount of contamination.  Additionally, regeneration of oil, performed on the GlobeCore’s units allow for loss tangent reduction.

(6) And what about the acid number? 

The acid number is also reduced to the specific values.  The values of these and other performance characteristics of transformer oil before and after regeneration are defined in the table below.

Modern Views of Industrial Oil Filtration

What Are the Types of Industrial Oil?

Industrial oils include a great amount of different oil products such as:

•    motor oils (oils for gasoline- or diesel-powered engines);
•    oils for air-engine;
•    transmission oils;
•    hydraulic oils
•    fuel oils (turbine, insulating, compressor oils); and
•    industrial oils.

Depending on the purposes and the application area, each type of oil performs different functions.  In general, insulating fluids are intended to isolate, reject heat and to quench an arc in electrical appliances.  Industrial Oils are used to lubricate working parts of industrial machines, transfer heat from one system to another, reduce the wear and friction rate as well as transfer heat.  Motor Oils serve as the lubricants for piston and rotary internal combustion engines and perform many of the same tasks as industrial oils.

Oil Filtration: Major Motives

The statistics show that about 80% of all oil-filled equipment failures are caused by contamination of industrial oils.  In general, oil is contaminated by such substances as dust, metal chips, rubber crumbs, sand, and other undesireable contaminants.  Particles of less than 2 microns (resin or oxidation products) constitute the greatest danger to the operation of high tech equipment.  Water that got into oil from the atmosphere or by condensation can result in corrosion, rapid wear and accelerated aging of oil. As a result, the operational reliability of machines and their parts are reduced significantly.

To prevent such undesirable consequences, the qualitative performance characteristics of oil should be regularly tested to determine if there are mechanical impurities.  Oil is recommended to be tested both before filling the equipment and during maintenance of the equipment using special devices.  If the performance characteristics turn out to be below the acceptable level, it is recommended to carry out a preventive filtration or what is commonlu referred to as “Oil Processing.”

Oil Filter Classification

Oil filters are divided into different groups according toa very specific classification criteria.  There are built-in and stand-alone filters depending on the place they are mounted.  The built-in filters are mounted into the main part of the oil system and for the most part operate under high pressure.  Accordingly, the stand-alone filters function separately from the oil/lubricating system.
Depending on the application, there are metallic, paper and fiberglass filters.  Metallic Filters work according to the principle of surface filtration.  Usually, they are made of stainless steel that makes it possible to apply them when working with hydraulic and lubricating oils.  The filtration fineness is between 25 and 80 microns.

Paper Filters are used for deep filtration and the filtration fineness is between 10 and 25 microns.
Fiberglass Filters also work according to the principle of deep filtration.  This type of filter distinguishes itself through a high dirt-holding capacity and good filtration fineness even under heavy pressure.

Disposable and non-disposable filters have obtained a wide circulation and popularity in industry. Disposable filters are used so the filtered oil will meet the desired purity class.  When the filter is no longer able to filter oil, it should be replaced with a new one.

The difference between disposable and non-disposable filters is that when non-disposable filters become saturated with contaminants, they are not replaced but cleaned of impurities.  The disadvantage of such an approach is that filters may need frequent cleaning.  It is also worth mentioning that modern filters are not able to remove impurities with the size of between 1 and 5 microns though they constitute about 70% of all possible impurities.  Even so, filters are much in demand at small machine and tractor stations or service stations.  Such methods of cleaning is unprofitable for medium and large industries: the more used oil they have the more expensive the cost of replacing and/or cleaning the filters becomes.

But there exists an optimal and profitable solution!

GlobeCore has developed its CFU line of units to solve the problem of industrial oil filtration.  Such substances as mechanical impurities, carbon black, water-soluble acids, and alkalis are removed from industrial oils by the GlobeCore CFU units.

The following is the list of benefits of using GlobeCore’s filtration and processing equipment:

•    reduces the wear and extends the service life of oil and oil-filled equipment;
•    increases the time necessary between periodic testing;
•    reduces the amount of unscheduled downtime of equipment;
•    increases productivity;
•    preserves oil’s performance characteristics; and
•    reduces the negative impact on the environment.

Being mobile, GlobeCore’s equipment allows for industrial oil processing directly at the remote operating sites.

It is worth mentioning that all benefits listed above contribute to significant cost reductions.

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.

Complete purification of I-12 industrial oil

I-12 industrial oil is a general purpose oil with no additives. It is made from sweet crude by selective purification.

This oil is used for lubrication of bushings of straight bar and linking machines, spindles of metal cutters, bearings of low power electric motors, and as an operating liquid in positive displacement of hydraulic drives operated indoors.

Combined purification methods of I-12 industrial oil are based on simultaneous influence of several electrical fields or a field with filtration.

The principle of combining electric field influence and centrifical force is implemented in cyclone separators and centrifuges equipped with a special electrical device.

By design, a triboelectric centrifuge purifier is a multifoil rosette with two chargers that create opposite charges in the industrial oil.  The passes through the swirler in a translational-rotational movement.  It them passes the oil through a circular ring space. Due to friction with barriers, contaminants become oppositely charged. Centrifugal force moves particles with a positive charge to the outlet wall where they are coagulated with negatively charged particles.  The charges are neutralized in the coagulated particles.

Then by the force of gravity and inertia, the particles are deposited in a special settling tank.

Comparing hydrocycling efficiency with that of a similar machine equipped with chargers, the chargers are 40% more efficient on average.

When using centrifuges with electrifying devices, the electric field may be obtained by voltage from an external source or by a triboelectric effect.  The triboelectric effect occurs due to rotor friction against special bars.  The rotor is made from a special dielectric material. (Plexiglas, PTFE, or some other dielectric material )

It is also possible to combine centrifugal force with a magnetic field.  It is done by installing permanent magnets into centrifuge systems to capture ferromagnetic particles. Diamagnetic and paramagnetic contaminants are only influenced by the centrifugal force.

The most widespread of combined industrial oil purification systems are devices combining elecrtric fields and filtration effects.  These include magnetic filters, filtering centrifuges and vibration (acoustic) filters.

In centrifuge filtration, the centrifuges operate at relatively low rotation speeds. Contaminants may be removed from the rotor either continuously or occasionally.

A magnetic filter is free from such a disadvange of magnetic purifier as selective removal of only ferromagnetic particles.  Such devices, beside permanent magnets, use special filters capturing non-magnetic contaminants.  An additional filter element (usually a metal mesh) protects the surfaces of the magnets from tar, sediment and other products of hydrocarbon oxidation.

In vibration filters the oil passes through a vibrating porous membrane.  The vibrations prevent sedimentation of contaminants on the surface and reduce hydraulic losses, increasing the filter’s service life.

It should be noted that the combined methods of purifying oil products are not widely used at this time due to the complexity of purifier design.

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.