Explain the meaning of centrifuge in diesel engine?

Question

Explain the meaning of centrifuge in diesel engine?

Answer 1

Many diesels use the centrifuge principle on the fuel system.  Racor primary fuel filters are the most popular brand used.

Answer 2

Bigger boats and ships use a centrifuge to clean fuel oil from the main tanks to the day tank.  When you run the centrifuge it spins anywhere from 10,000 RPM to 40,000 RPM.  As it spins, water is added and since fuel floats on water, the spinning causes the water to go up the sides in the "Bowl" and the fuel does the same thing, but is on top of the water (just sideways).  The dirt and excessive water fall though the fuel and into the water side of the "Bowl". The excessive water drains off and the dirt sticks to the sides and is cleaned off every few days when the unit is stopped for maintenance.

You can transfer fuel from the main tanks through the centrifuge to the day tank, where the engines take fuel for normal operations.  Once the day tank is full (which is done daily or each shift), the fuel in the Day tank is constantly run though the centrifuge to keep cleaning the fuel.  Water in diesel fuel can destroy the fuel system of a diesel engine and it is very expensive to repair.

After the fuel leaves the Day tank, it goes though regular filters that have replaceable elements to ensure that the fuel is even cleaner. Most people use Racor filters now days as they have become pretty much the industry standard.

Answer 3

I not sure I explain what you looking for.

My understanding is the Oil Centrifuge. Basically it an oil filter. In chemistry and many other applications we use centrifuge to separate a heavy liquid from a solid. This is done by spinning the material in a high speed centrifuge. The centrifuge spins the oil to separate impurities and dirt to clean the oil.

I try an example. We can take a small bucket with a rope attached to the handle. Add some water and pour a cup of dirt in the water and stir this up. Think of this as the oil in the engine. Now if we hold the rope and start swinging the bucket around over our head as fast as we can, over time all the dirt will move to the bottom of the bucket then we can filter the water (Oil) and run back in the engine and it clean. The bulk of the dirt is removed before we filter the water (Oil).

Hope this helps, if it what you wanted to know.

In the link. You see 3 blue canisters. These are oil centrifuges. Below that picture is one you click to enlarge. Here you can see how the Dirt has been thrown out to the sides from spinning and separated from the oil.

This not the best picture, but, maybe you can see what happens and understand.

http://www.dieselcraft.com/oilentry.html

This next picture is good if you can read the words, they not large, but, I was able to see what they say. Then the Arrows show the flow of oil.

http://www.dieselcraft.com/oil%20path_20...

By using a centrifuge it is more cost effective than buying and changing an oil filter every time we change oil. It also takes a longer time for the oil to need changed. I not positive, but, if set up properly we may not have to change oil, just add more as needed and clean out the centrifuge at regular intervals.