What are the types of ship purifiers?

Ship purifiers are essential onboard equipment used to remove impurities such as water, sludge, and other contaminants from fuel and lubricating oils. They help ensure that the machinery operates efficiently and extends the life of the engine components. There are mainly two types of ship purifiers, and they operate based on the principle of centrifugal separation:

 1. Clarifier

   - Function: A clarifier is designed to remove solid impurities from the oil. It works by using centrifugal force to separate solid contaminants from the liquid. The oil enters the clarifier bowl, where solid particles are forced to the bowl's outer wall while the clean oil collects in the middle and is discharged.

   - Operation Principle: The clarifier contains a set of discs that create a large surface area for the oil to separate from the solids. The heavier solid particles are thrown outwards due to centrifugal force, while the lighter oil flows inward and exits as the purified product.

   - Applications: Mainly used when the oil has a relatively low water content and is more contaminated with solid particles than water.

 2. Purifier

   - Function: A purifier is used to separate both solid particles and water from the oil. It is equipped with a gravity disc that helps separate the water from the oil in addition to the solids. The purifier operates as a centrifugal separator, where oil, water, and sludge are separated based on their densities.

   - Operation Principle: The centrifugal force pushes the heavier water and solids to the outermost layer of the separator bowl, while the lighter oil stays in the middle. The water is then discharged through a water outlet, while the clean oil exits through a separate oil outlet.

   - Applications: Used when the oil contains significant amounts of water as well as solid impurities.

 3. Clarifier-Purifier Combination (Convertible Separator)

   - Some modern centrifugal separators can function both as a clarifier and a purifier, depending on the configuration of the disc stack and the fittings (such as the gravity disc or sealing ring). This type of separator provides flexibility to adapt to different contamination conditions.

 Key Differences Between Clarifiers and Purifiers

- Water Separation:

  - A purifier can separate both water and solids from the oil, while a clarifier is only designed to remove solid particles.

- Gravity Disc:

  - The purifier uses a gravity disc to separate the water phase from the oil. The clarifier does not have a gravity disc, which makes it unsuitable for separating water from the oil.

- Sludge Discharge:

  - Both types have sludge discharge mechanisms, but purifiers are typically used when water separation is also needed.

 Working Principles of Ship Purifiers

- Ship purifiers work based on the principle of centrifugation, where centrifugal force separates contaminants due to differences in density. The rotating bowl of the purifier creates this force, causing heavier particles and water to move outward, while lighter oil remains closer to the center.

 Conclusion

The main types of ship purifiers are clarifiers and purifiers, each with distinct functions based on the nature of contamination (solid particles vs. water). Understanding their operation and choosing the correct type for specific applications ensures effective purification and optimal performance of marine machinery.