CENTRIFUGE

1.0 Introduction.
In Power Stations, Centrifuges are mainly used to separate moisture
particles from lubrication oil. They are connected with turbine main oil tanks. Two
separation processes viz. Purification and Clarification can be done in
centrifuge.
Purification is the process of separation of two immiscible liquids having
different specific gravities and is useful for the removal of the solid particles with
specific gravity higher than those of the liquids.
Clarification is the process of separation of solid particles from oil or any
other liquid.
2.0 Description Of The Centrifuge. (Ref Fig.1)
This unit consists of a centrifugal separator of type MAB-206. The separator
has a bowl which can be assembled as a purifier or a clarifier. The speed of
rotation of the bowl is about 8425 rpm.
The process liquid enters the centrifuge through the distributor C and flows
through the space between the bowl discs D. The water particles and solid
particles experience high centrifugal force and hence move towards the bowl
periphery. The solid particles settle on the bowl wall B. The centrifuge bowl has
two outlets. The water leaves the bowl through the outlet (4). The oil flows
towards the centre of the bowl and gets discharged through the outlet (3).
To prevent the oil from crossing the outer edge of the top disc (E) and
escaping with water, a liquid seal (5) must be provided in the bowl. Before the
process liquid is supplied the bowl must be filled with water through the inlet (2).
When the process liquid is supplied, it will then force the water towards the
periphery of the bowl. An interface (6) gets formed between the water and the
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oil. Its position can be adjusted by altering the diameter of the water outlet i.e.
By exchanging the gravity disc.


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3.0 Description of the Oil Scheme: (Ref Fig.2)
The dirty oil from the main oil tank is supplied to the centrifuge through an
inlet pipe. This inlet line is provided with a manual gate valve (4) for adjusting the
capacity of centrifuge, a Y type strainer (5) for pump protection and a solenoid
valve (6). The solenoid valve is of normally closed type and it is energized to
open whenever the centrifuge motor is started. The solenoid valve will close
automatically and stop the oil supply to prevent any further wastage of oil, if any
of the following faults occurs:
1. Breaking of liquid seal.
2. Motor over load.
3. Choking up of filter.
The inlet line supplies the oil to the suction of a feed pump. A view glass
provided before the pump enables the visual inspection of the oil flow. The feed
pump is built in with the centrifuge and is a gear pump. It is provided with an
integral pressure relief valve to prevent building up of excessive pressure in the
discharge side due to closure of any gate valve. When the pressure exceeds a
preset value, the relief valve opens and discharges the oil to the pump suction
itself. The suction and discharge pressure can be read from the pressure gauge
(C) and P1 respectively and these gauges are mounted on the local panel.
The pump delivers oil to a heater tank through a check valve. The oil is
heated in this tank by means of hot water. The water is in turn heated by electric
heaters. The tank is provided with connections for water inlet, overflow, and
drain. A vent provided on top of the tank is useful to let out water vapor and to
fill up the tank quickly with water. A sight glass is also provided for checking the
water level.
Three sections of immersion type electric heaters are used for heating the
water. The required number of heaters to be in service can be selected by
means of a selector switch provided in the control panel. In case of low water
levels in the tank, a level switch is useful to trip the heater. In case of high water
temperature at 90 C, a temperature switch RT 101 will trip the heaters. Two



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FIG- 2 CENTRIFUGE FLOW DIAGRAM LEGEND


1. Inlet gate valve far centrifuge from main oil tank. 19. Flow control valve.
2. Overflow view gloss. 20. Seal water inlet valve.
3. Dirty oil inlet from Dirty oil tank. 2l. Overflow view glass.
4. Inlet gate valve to centrifuge. 22. Anti flood tank.
5. 'Y' type strainer. 23. System drain (Oil).
6. Solenoid valve - 110 V - NC type. 24. Polishing Pall filler.
7. Feed pump. 25. Sampling valve.
8. Drain valve. 26. From clean oil tank.
9. Sampling valve. 27. Return oil from turbine.
10. Thermostat for oil RT - 10l. 28. Heater water inlet valve.
11. 1l. Thermostat for water RT - 107. 29. Heater water bath drain valve.
12. Vent and quick filling connection. 30. Heater water bath overflow line.
13. Heater gauge glass. 3l. To dirty oil tank.
14. Electric heater. FG Flow Glass.
15. Connection for re-circulation. L
1
Level switch for Anti flood tank.
16. Bypass valve for Rotameter. L
2
Level switch for Heater tank.
17. Rotameter. P Local pressure indicator.
18. Heater bypass valve. T Local Temperature indicator.

numbers of thermostats RT 101 provided the outlet of heater tank maintain the oil
temperature by tripping the heaters through relay R2.
The heated oil is then fed to the centrifuge through a rotameter of range
900 9000 liters per hour (lph). The oil flow through centrifuge can be observed
and maintained with the use of rotameter. The pressure and temperature
indicators provided at the oil entry point to centrifuge indicate the pressure and
temp. of the incoming oil to centrifuge.
The oil is purified in the centrifuge and the water gets separated. The water
is discharged to an anti flood tank and then drained through the tank drain. In
case of breakage of water seal inside the bowl, a high level switch provided in
the Anti flood tank gives an audible alarm and shuts off the oil supply by closing
the solenoid valve in the inlet oil line.
The purified oil from the centrifuge is fed to a booster pump for raising the
pressure. The booster pump delivers the oil through a polishing unit ball filter and
a check valve to the main oil tank. A pressure gauge and a pressure switch (IPS
100) are also mounted in the pumps discharge line. If the polishing filter gets
choked up leading to an increase in the discharge pressure of the booster
pump, this pressure switch (IPS 100) trips the centrifuge motor, and heaters II and
III. The pressure switch is set to operate at a pressure of 3 to 4 Ksc. The polishing
filter is provided with an inlet valve, an outlet valve and a bypass valve. This
arrangement facilitates the operation of centrifuge with the filter in bypassed
condition.
4.0 Power Transmission:
The motor rotates the bowl through a friction coupling and a worm gear.
The friction coupling ensures a gentle start and acceleration and prevents
overloading of worm gear and motor. The worm gear steps up the motor speed.
To decrease the bearing wears and prevent transmission of bowl vibration to
frame and foundation, the top bearing of the bowl spindle is isolated.
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For safety of the equipment and for achieving the best separating results, it
is essential to operate the machine at the correct speed. A revolution counter
has been fitted for checking the speed. When the centrifuge has been started,
the number of revolutions of counter per minute can be counted. It should be in
the range of 118- 125 rpm.
Provision of a brake enables to bring the centrifuge shaft to rest quickly
while stopping the centrifuge. The brake reduces the retardation time of bowl
thus quickly crossing the critical speed.
5.0 Logics:
5.1 Interlocks:
1. The solenoid valve at the oil inlet is energized to open when the
centrifuge motor is started.
2. The booster pump motor will start only if the centrifuge motor is in
service.
5.2 Protections:
1. In the event of centrifuge motor overload, relay R1 will trip centrifuge
motor and Booster pump motor and also the heaters I, II, & III will get
switched off.
2. In the event of Booster pump motor over load, relay R2 will trip
centrifuge motor and booster pump motor and also the heaters I,
II, III will get switched off.
3. If the liquid seal breaks, then the pressure switch A1 will operate and
relay R1 will trip the centrifuge motor and booster pump motor.
Heaters II, III will get switched off and the solenoid valve will close.
4. If the polishing filter gets choked up then the pressure switch A2 will
operate (at 3 Ksc) and the relay R1 will trip the centrifuge motor and
Booster pump motor. Heaters II and III will get switched off.
5. In the event of low water level in the heater tank the relay R2 will trip
all the heaters.
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6. In the event of oil temperature exceeding 60 C, only the heater III
(18KW) will get switched off.
7. In the event of oil temperature exceeding 70 C, the relay R2 will trip
all the heaters.
8. In the event of water temperature exceeding 90 C, the relay R2 will
trip all the heaters.
6.0 Operation of the Centrifuge:
6.1 Pre start up operations:
1. The power supply for the centrifuge is to be availed from the Unit
Annexe and the main supply to centrifuge is to be switched ON.
2. Adequate water level in the heater tank is to be ensured. If the water
level is insufficient, the tank can be filled up by opening the makeup
valve.
3. The heater section I is to be started half an hour earlier to the starting
of the centrifuge. This is for preheating the water.
4. The oil level in the centrifuge worm wheel housing is to be checked.
5. The frame hood of centrifuge has to be kept tight.
6. The brake of the centrifuge is to be checked for its released condition.
7. The main oil tank level is to be checked. The oil level and temperature
of oil at inlet to oil cooler are to be recorded.
8. All the bypass valves, drain valves and the sampling valves in the oil
circuit are to be kept in closed condition.
9. The inlet and outlet valves of the heater, PALL filter and the rotameter
should be kept open.
10. The gate valve (1) in the inlet oil line is to be kept fully closed.
11. The gate valves in the oil line from the main oil tank to dirty oil header
should be fully closed. These valves should never be opened.
12. The gate valve in the inlet oil line to centrifuge from the clean oil
chamber of the main oil tank has to be kept closed and the gate
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valve (4) from the drain oil chamber of the main oil tank has to be
kept OPEN.

CENTRIFUGE LOCAL PANEL
Legend

1. Liquid Seal Broken

2. Filter choke up
3. Booster pump over load
4. SEP Motor over load
5. Low water level in Heater
6. High Oil temperature
7. High Water temperature
8. Control supply ON /OFF
9. Booster pump motor ON
10. Centrifuge Motor ON
11. Heater 1 ON
12. Heater II - ON
13. Heater III- ON
14. Centrifuge Motor Start
15. Centrifuge Motor Stop
16. Booster pump Motor Start
17. Booster pump Motor Stop
18. Heater Selection Switch
19. Test
20. Accept
21. Reset
22. Main Supply ON / OFF

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CENTRIFUGE LOCAL PANEL







8 9 10 11 12 13


14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21










OFF


ON
22



ALARM

PUSH BUTTON

SELECTOR SWITCH

INDICATING LAMP







1
2
3 4 5 7 6


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6.2 Starting:
The Centrifuge motor is to be started.
1. The heater II is to be switched ON.
2. After 2 to 3 minutes it is be checked (through the revolution counter)
whether the bowl has attained the full speed. It should be in the
range of 118-125 rpm.
3. The valve in the seal water line to centrifuge is to be opened for
admitting the seal water.
4. When the water appears to flow in the outlet, the admission of seal
water is stopped.
5. As soon as the centrifuge is started, the solenoid valve at the inlet oil
line gets energized to open. After the centrifuge bowl reaches full
speed, the booster pump motor is to be started.
6. The gate valve (1) in the oil inlet line has to be opened. The oil is
admitted into the centrifuge buy opening the flow control valve
provided at the oil entry point of centrifuge.
7. The overflow sight glass on the centrifuge has to be observed. If there
is overflow, the feeding of oil has to be regulated by operating the
flow control valve. The rotameter has to be observed and the flow
shall not exceed 6000 lpm.
8. The heater III is switched ON if the oil temperature is less than 60 C.
6.3 Checks during Normal Operation of Centrifuge:
The operation of centrifuge is considered to be normal when very
slight amount of oil or water drops through the overflow sight glass of
centrifuge.
1. The temperature of water in the heater tank and that of the oil at the
inlet of the centrifuge are to be checked.
2. The main oil tank level is to be checked and recorded once in an
hour. If there is any entry of seal water the oil tank level will rise. The
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main oil tank level will drop if the oil goes out of the system due to
leaks, operation of wrong valves, and draining of oil through the
water outlet due to improper sealing.
3. If there is excessive vibration or noise in the centrifuge, the oil flow to
the centrifuge is to be increased immediately to the maximum.
Centrifuge is to be stopped and the brakes applied. The
maintenance division has to be informed.
6.4 Stopping:
The heaters are switched OFF.
1. After a few minutes and on ensuring that the temperature of oil and
that of water are decreasing, the centrifuge motor and the booster
pump motor are to be stopped.
2. The gate valve at the oil inlet line to centrifuge has to be closed.
3. The gate valve at the oil inlet to centrifuge near main oil tank has to
be closed.
4. The main power supply at local and at Annexe is to be switched OFF.
5. The area around the centrifuge is to be cleaned.

7.0 Centrifuge Local Control Panel Alarms:
1. Liquid seal broken Level Switch L1 --
2. PALL filter choke up IPS 100 3ksc
3. Booster pump overload Switchgear --
4. Separator Motor Overload do --
5. Low water level in heater Level Switch L2 --
6. High Oil Temp. RT 101 70 C
7. High Water Temp. RT 107 90 C



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8.0 TECHNICAL DATA CENTRIFUGE:
8.1 Centrifuge :
1. Type : MAB 206
2. Manufacturer : M/S Alfa-Laval (India) Ltd.
3. Capacity : 6000 LPH
4. Speed : 8425 RPM
8.2 Motor for Centrifuge and Feed Pump:
1. Type : Flame Proof
2. Manufacturer : M/S Bharat Bijlee
3. Power : 10 hp
4. Speed : 1440 RPM
5. Rated Voltage : 415 V
6. Phases : 3
7. Frequency : 50 Hz
8.3 Motor for the Booster Pump:
1. Type : Flame Proof
2. Manufacturer : M/S Bharat Bijlee
3. Power : 5 hp
4. Speed : 1440 RPM
5. Rated Voltage : 415 V
6. Phases : 3
7. Frequency : 50 Hz
8.4 Heaters:
1. Type : Indirect type heaters immersed in
water.
2. No of Heaters : 3
3. Total power : 72 Kw
4. a) Heater I : 36 Kw
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b) Heater II : 18 Kw
c) Heater III : 18 Kw
5. Voltage : 415 V
6. Phase : 3
7. Cap. Of water tank : 450 liters
8. Area Heat Transfer : 11 m
2