Tag Archives: oil reclamation process

Recycling of Used Lubricating Oil

Almost every production process results in waste products that can be used as raw materials for some other form of new production.  The diminishing supply of oil resources will result in the recycling of industrial wastes in order to get new raw materials.

Such a term as ‘used lubricating oil’ (ULO) can be found in scientific publications, but  what does it mean?

ULO is oil which previously had been in some type of industrial service and, as a result, became contaminated by physical and/or chemical impurities.   The main difficulty is that when the oil was in service, some contaminants (water, dirt, metal particles, and chemicals) made the lubricating oil unfit for use.

Nowadays, ULO is one of the most common technogenic wastes that can cause serious environmental problems.  The statistics show that the spent oil makes up about 20% of the total amount pollution found in surface water.

The recycling of used lubricating oil is of great importance because other ways (dumping or incineration of wastes) may lead to even greater environmental problems that result in great financial expenditures.

It is worth noting that the recycling methods must be chosen in such a way that they do not constitute threats to the biosphere.  If you have read publications, dedicated to recycling of used lubricating oil, you may come across various terms such as recycling, purification, or regeneration.

The term ‘purification’ means a continuous or periodic processing of  lubricating oil using such units as sedimentation tanks, filters, centrifuges, or adsorbers.  An important point is that the final product of the purification process does not always match the quality of fresh oil.  The purification may be followed by decoloration of used oil, but sometimes the performance characteristics may be below the acceptable range.  Creation of some circular contours may be necessary to purify used oil without its discharge from the oil filled equipment.  This procedure may be applied to engine, turbine, industrial as well as all kinds of transformer oils.

The term ‘regeneration’ usually means the procedures, aimed at reclamation of used oil’s performance characteristics to those of the initial product.

Regeneration is a set of more complex physical and chemical processes such as coagulation, adsorption, or sulfuric acid refining.

The de-sludging, filtration, centrifugation and vacuum processing are the major methods of the used oil reclamation process.  More complex physical and chemical methods are applied if the oil is very contaminated or very old.  The on-site regeneration of used lubricating oil can be very cost effective.

GlоbeCоre has developed and is still producing a variety of mobile oil stations in the  CMM , CFU and CMM equipment lines.  GlobeCore’s modern and efficient oil procesing equipment allows the equipment owners to extend the service life of oils and thereby greatly reducing the costs of new replacement oil.

GlоbeCоre produces equipment of German quality, which is recognized in more than 70 countries of the world.

A proper choice of oil purification equipment allows equipment owners and operators to solve a wide range of tasks that greatly benefit their production processes.

Many countries have practiced a method of separate collection of used oil that allows the companies to get a high-quality product, as well as a minimum amount of waste products from the regeneration and recycling processes.

It is therefore, the problem of collection and regeneration of used lubricating oil is of vital importance nowadays.  If performed properly, the cost for regenerated oil may be reduced by 40-70% as compared with the new oil.

Oil Reclamation and the GlobeCore Oil Reclamation Process

GlobeCore is an Oil Reclamation and Oil Purification equipment manufacturer and produces equipment that perform the industry leading oil reclamation process.
Oil that is intended for use in electric power transformers is purified, degassed, and dehydrated. Cleaning mainly removes mechanical impurities, sludge, and water and moisture from the oil.  The GlobeCore Process also removes these contaminates and water from the core, windings and insulating paper completely stopping the paper degradation process.
The GlobeCore line of equipment for oil filtration, oil purification and oil degassing as well for reclamation of transformer oils are the most “in demand” models for the “recovery” and restoring of oil and fluids that have partially or completely lost their performance characteristics in the industry today.
Having a proper oil filtration and oil reclamation system as part of your transformer maintenance equipment will extend the life of your transformers and the overall efficiency of your operation, saving you time and money.

Oil fiiltration: CMM series

Capacity is from 1 v3/h to 10 m3/h.

This mobile oil processing unit is designed for degassing, removal of solids, thermal vacuum drying and heating of oil for power transformers with voltage up to 1150 kV. Capacity is from 1 v3/h to 10 m3/h. This unit can process Oils with viscosity of no more than 70 cSt at 50С.
CMM-M mobile oil units are designed for the following processes:

  • Drying to less than 10 ppm moisture content;
  • Degassing to less than 0.1% volumetric gas content;
  • Increase of oil breakdown voltage to 70 kV;
  • Drying of electrical equipment while purifying the oil;
  • Initial filling of electrical equipment with insulating oil;
  • Nitrogenation of transformer oil;
  • Pulling vacuum on transformers and other electrical equipment.

Oil Purification:  CMM Series (Oil Reclamation Process from Mechanical Particles Only)

Capacity form -16 v3/h to 6 m3/h.

The CMM oil units are designed for removal of solids and moisture from electric insulation oil with viscosity of no more than 70 cSt at 50С.  The units are used for installation, repairs and operation of oil filled, high voltage equipment (power transformers, high voltage switches etc).  The units may be used for heating of oil containing electric systems with hot oil, vacuum drying of transformers and vacuumizing.  The units can be used by installation, repair and operating facilities related to transformer servicing and maintenance.  The units are assembled on a frame, supporting the units’ components: input and output oil pumps, electric control cabinet, vacuum chamber, coarse and fine cartridge filters, vacuum pump and pipelines with valves.

Oil Reclamation Process Units: CMM-R series (full oil regeneration)

(Using Fuller’s Earth sorbent materials)

The CMM-R (Portable units for oil reclamation process) units are designed to extend life time of transformers by restoration of dielectric strength and chemical composition of the dielectric insulating oil.  In the process of oil restoration, the unit removes the products of oil decomposition and acidic materials, improves oil color, increases its stability to oxidation and lowers gas solubility.
Capacity of the CMM-R units is defined by two parameters: (1) liters per hour rate (L.P.H.) and (2) the amount of oil in liters passed through the Fuller’s Earth.  The approximate volume of reclaimed oil is 4 liters per 1 kg of Fuller’s Earth at acid number 0.2mg KOH/g.  The amount of oil treated per 1 kg of Fuller’s earth increases proportionally to the decrease of the acid number.[:]