Treatment system for the decontamination and improvement of the properties of used mineral oils

The treatment system addresses the limitations of existing decontamination systems by using a circulation device, functional decontamination assembly, and additive units to enhance oil quality and performance, achieving effective decontamination and improved oil properties while preventing cross-contamination.

FR3137106B1Active Publication Date: 2026-02-27BE ENERGY CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
FR2022006444
Authority / Receiving Office
FR · FR
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-06-28
Publication Date
2026-02-27
Estimated Expiration
2042-06-28

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing decontamination systems for mineral oils are limited in their ability to improve the quality, performance, and lifespan of used oils, and are often dedicated to specific types of oils, failing to effectively address contamination from various sources and enhance oil properties.

Method used

A treatment system that includes a circulation device, functional decontamination assembly, and additive units, with a control unit to adjust additive injection based on intrinsic oil properties, and diagnostic units for precise measurement and mixing, along with a purge system to prevent cross-contamination.

Benefits of technology

The system effectively decontaminates and improves the quality of mineral oils by adding additives based on precise measurements, extending their lifespan and performance, while preventing cross-contamination through purging and drainage systems.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The invention relates to a treatment system (1) for treating at least one mineral oil, comprising a treatment circuit (2) having an inlet connected to at least one inlet tank (3) containing at least one mineral oil to be treated, and an outlet connected to at least one outlet tank (4) suitable for receiving at least one treated mineral oil. The treatment circuit includes at least one functional decontamination unit. The treatment system is notable in that it comprises: a functional additive assembly (ADD) designed to inject at least one additive into the treatment circuit, which mixes with the at least one oil to be treated to improve its properties; and a control unit (6) designed to regulate the dosage of the injected at least one additive based on several measurements of the intrinsic properties of the oil to be treated after decontamination. Abstract figure: Figure 2
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Description

Title of the invention: Treatment system for the decontamination and improvement of the properties of used mineral oils technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a system for treating used mineral oils.

[0002] It relates more particularly to a treatment system for decontaminating used mineral oils and then improving their properties following decontamination.

[0003] The invention finds a favorite, but not limiting, application in the treatment of mineral oils known as clear oils and black oils. Previous technique

[0004] It is well known that the quality of mineral oils, which are used as a means of power transmission and / or as a lubricant in the mechanical components of thermal or hydraulic systems (such as an engine), deteriorates when they come into contact with and / or mix with contaminants. Oil contamination can have several origins, including but not limited to:

[0005] - contamination by air and / or water when, for example, mineral oil is in stored in tanks in a given environment. Among other things, the humidity of the surrounding air can cause oxidation and / or hydrolysis of the mineral oil. The oil can also be contaminated by particles present in the air (dust, sand, etc.); - Contamination occurs when mineral oil comes into contact with mechanical parts. When they are new and have not yet been used, manufacturing residues may still be present on their surface, for example, metal shavings left by drilling a hole in the part. Also, interacting mechanical parts that exert friction on each other can, as they wear, generate fine metallic particles similar to dust, which then mix with the oil; - contamination due to the degradation of the mineral oil itself which, being by definition a chemical product, can over time decompose into other chemical components under the action of stresses such as high temperature and / or pressure(s);

[0006] - contamination due to chemical substances produced by the process itself Similarly, such as soot or sulfuric acid resulting from the combustion process in internal combustion engines, or introduced by the process environment under abnormal conditions, such as an incoming coolant in contact with the oil through a leak.

[0007] Contaminated oils, also called used oils, can be distinguished into two categories based on their color: black oil and clear oil. The color of the oil depends on the nature of the contaminants as well as the constraints related to the environmental / application context.

[0008] Known solutions, such as those in documents FR2703067 and FR2815966, offer decontamination systems equipped with pre-filtration and / or filtration means dedicated to a specific type of oil (depending, for example, on the nature of the contaminating elements), so as to be able to at least partially decontaminate mineral oils.

[0009] However, these solutions are limited in terms of operation because they are dedicated to a specific type of oil and moreover they prove unsatisfactory in improving the quality, performance and lifespan of the decontaminated oil, with the aim of being able to reuse the oil without further treatment. Summary of the invention

[0010] The invention aims to address the problems mentioned above, by means of a treatment system that improves the qualities and performance of the oils to be treated, and increases their lifespan.

[0011] Another objective of the invention is to be able to decontaminate mineral oils of different natures, on the same treatment circuit.

[0012] Thus, the invention proposes a treatment system for treating at least one mineral oil to be treated and obtaining a treated mineral oil, comprising a treatment circuit having an inlet connected to at least one inlet tank in which the at least one mineral oil to be treated is stored, and an outlet connected to at least one outlet tank suitable for receiving the at least one treated mineral oil, said treatment circuit comprising a circulation device for circulating the at least one mineral oil to be treated from its inlet to its outlet, and at least one functional decontamination assembly configured to at least partially decontaminate the at least one mineral oil to be treated.

[0013] This treatment system is remarkable in that it comprises a functional additive assembly comprising several additive units, each of the additive units comprising an additive reservoir containing an additive and connected to an adjustable injection device for injecting the additive at an injection point in the treatment circuit, and in which the treatment system comprises a control unit designed to at least drive the adjustable injection devices of the several respective additive units according to several measurements of intrinsic properties.

[0014] Thus, the invention proposes to be able to add one or more additives to a mineral oil that has just been decontaminated by at least one decontamination functional unit, using the additive functional unit, in order to improve the oil's performance, based on measurements of the oil's intrinsic properties. It should be noted that the circulation device can be controlled to vary the oil flow rate in the treatment circuit.

[0015] According to one feature of the invention, the processing circuit includes at least one diagnostic unit performing at least one measurement among several measurements of intrinsic properties of the oil, said at least one diagnostic unit being at least in communication with the control / command unit.

[0016] Thus, after the diagnostic unit has measured at least one intrinsic property, it communicates the result of this measurement to the control unit. Based on this result and according to the desired oil properties after decontamination, the control unit instructs the additive units to inject additives or not, according to precise dosages.

[0017] As an alternative or in addition to at least one diagnostic unit, some of the measurements of the intrinsic properties of the oil may be carried out by at least one external analytical device, other than the on-board diagnostic unit, after the oil has been sampled, for example before or during treatment. In this respect, it is possible to include one or more oil sampling points in the treatment circuit so that these samples can be analyzed by this or these external analytical devices.

[0018] According to one feature, at least one diagnostic unit is placed downstream of the injection points of the several respective additive units; which is advantageous for collecting intrinsic properties of the oil after incorporation of one or more additives.

[0019] According to one feature of the invention, the treatment circuit includes, downstream of the injection points of the several respective additive units, a mixer, for example of the static mixer type.

[0020] Advantageously, the static mixer facilitates the mixing between the mineral oil being processed and the additives.

[0021] According to one feature of the invention, at least one diagnostic unit is placed downstream of the mixer.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the intrinsic properties of the oil are selected from:

[0023] - oil cleanliness, for example particulate cleanliness or soot content or diesel content; - the moisture content of the oil, for example, water content or humidity relative; - an electrical property, for example a relative permittivity or a conductivity or a dissipation factor; - a chemical property, for example a rate of alteration by oxygen or nitrogen or sulfur, or an elemental metal content, or an alkalinity; - a physical property, for example a dynamic viscosity or a density; - a colorimetric property.

[0024] Advantageously, the diagnostic unit is positioned at the outlet of the injection points of the various respective additive units and the mixer to verify whether the treated mineral oil has been properly decontaminated and whether the addition of the additives has increased its quality as expected. The diagnostic unit is designed to measure a plurality of intrinsic properties of the treated mineral oil, from among those listed above, so that the diagnosis is as precise and reliable as possible.

[0025] According to one feature of the invention, the processing system includes an input and display unit for capturing at least one of the several intrinsic properties of the oil, said input and display unit being at least in communication with the control unit.

[0026] Certain intrinsic properties of the oil, such as oxidative stability, which is representative of the mineral oil's resistance to oxidation, cannot be measured automatically by a diagnostic unit. To determine these properties, it is necessary to take samples of the oil, for example, the treated mineral oil stored in at least one outlet tank, and then analyze these samples using an external analytical device.

[0027] Thus, the processing system includes an input and display unit so that measurements of properties from such an external analysis device can be entered, and the control unit, based on these measurements, controls the adjustable injection devices of the several respective additive units so that they inject the additives into the oil being treated according to precise and adapted dosages.

[0028] According to one feature of the invention, for each of the several additive units, the adjustable injection device includes a metering pump.

[0029] Advantageously, the dosing pump is the element of the adjustable injection device which makes it possible to supply the mineral oil being treated with the dosage quantity of additive adapted to improve its performance.

[0030] According to one feature of the invention, the treatment system comprises a drainage circuit connected to at least one point in the treatment circuit, called the drainage point, and a purge system connected to at least one point in the treatment circuit, called the purge point, for injecting compressed gas into the circuit. treatment and thus evacuate into the drainage circuit, through at least one drainage point, a residual oil remaining in the treatment circuit.

[0031] Advantageously, the purging system allows, by injecting a compressed gas, for the rapid purging and cleaning of the treatment circuit in order to prevent any risk of cross-contamination if two mineral oils of different types were to be treated successively in the treatment circuit. Any residual oil that may remain in at least one branch of the circulation is discharged into the drainage circuit.

[0032] Several purge and drainage points can be connected to the treatment circuit to, for example, purge different sections simultaneously, and thus reduce the time required for its complete cleaning.

[0033] According to one feature of the invention, the at least one purge point includes at least one purge point upstream of the at least one functional decontamination assembly, and the at least one drainage point includes at least one drainage point downstream of the at least one functional decontamination assembly.

[0034] Such a conformation advantageously allows purging / cleaning of at least one functional decontamination assembly, and more specifically the elements it comprises and in which the mineral oils to be treated circulate, in order to prevent any risk of cross-contamination if at least one functional decontamination assembly is used for two oils of distinct natures.

[0035] According to one feature of the invention, the at least one purge point includes at least one purge point upstream of the functional additive assembly, and the at least one drainage point includes at least one drainage point downstream of the functional additive assembly.

[0036] Advantageously, and for the reasons mentioned above, a purge point and a drainage point are respectively disposed upstream and downstream of the functional additive assembly to clean the elements which are in contact with the mineral oils in order to avoid the risks of cross-contamination if the functional additive assembly is used for mineral oils of different natures.

[0037] According to one feature of the invention, at least one purge point includes at least one purge point at the outlet of the treatment circuit.

[0038] According to one feature of the invention, the at least one drainage point includes at least one drainage point at the inlet of the treatment circuit.

[0039] According to one feature of the invention, the drainage circuit is connected to at least one drainage point by a controlled drainage valve, for example a solenoid valve.

[0040] Such a controlled drainage valve will thus be closed during treatment, and opened during cleaning / purging of the treatment circuit.

[0041] According to one feature of the invention, the purge system is connected to at least one purge point by a controlled purge valve, for example a solenoid valve, and optionally a check valve.

[0042] The purge system is also connected at the outlet to at least one purge point by means of a controlled purge valve, which is opened or closed depending on whether or not it is necessary to purge the treatment circuit.

[0043] According to one feature of the invention, the drainage circuit is connected to the outlet of the treatment circuit by a capillary.

[0044] The role of the capillary is to be able to return the remaining oil to the outlet of the drainage circuit, under the pressure of compressed air in order to be directed, if necessary, to a suitable reservoir.

[0045] According to one feature of the invention, the processing circuit includes at least one heating unit for heating the oil.

[0046] Advantageously, heating the oil reduces its viscosity, facilitating its decontamination.

[0047] According to one feature of the invention, the at least one functional decontamination set comprises at least a first functional decontamination set followed by a second functional decontamination set, said first functional set comprising at least one decontamination unit of the pre-filtration unit type, and said second functional decontamination set comprising at least one decontamination unit of the filtration or purification unit type.

[0048] Advantageously, at least one pre-filtration unit makes it possible to remove first solid / particulate contaminants present in the mineral oil to be treated in order to limit the clogging or saturation of at least one filtration or purification unit located downstream; while at least one filtration or purification unit makes it possible to remove second contaminating elements which are of a smaller particle size than the first elements and / or of a different nature than the first elements, such as aqueous contaminants.

[0049] According to one feature of the invention, the pre-filtration unit is selected from a pre-filtration unit for clear oil and a pre-filtration unit for black oil.

[0050] Advantageously, the pre-filtration unit is chosen so as to be adapted to the type of mineral oil (light oil or black oil) that the treatment circuit has to treat.

[0051] According to one embodiment of the invention, the filtration or purification unit is selected from a microfiltration unit, an inline filtration unit, a percolation unit, an adsorption unit, a centrifugation unit, a vacuum degassing unit, an ultrafiltration unit, a separation unit, and a unit of purification.

[0052] Also, the filtration or purification unit is selected from a plurality of units / systems having different operating principles so that it is the most suitable for the mineral oil to be treated or the mineral oils to be treated, so that the decontamination is as effective as possible.

[0053] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating unit is intercalated in the treatment circuit between the first functional decontamination unit and the second functional decontamination unit.

[0054] Thus, the first particulate contaminants (the primary contaminants, the coarsest) are first eliminated by the first functional decontamination set, before the mineral oil to be treated is heated to make it more fluid and thus more easily eliminate the second contaminants in the second functional decontamination set.

[0055] In another embodiment of the invention, the heating unit can be positioned upstream of at least one functional decontamination assembly (and in particular of the first functional decontamination assembly) in order to facilitate both pre-filtration and filtration or purification.

[0056] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one functional decontamination assembly comprises at least two parallel branches, each equipped with a controlled valve to direct the oil into one or the other of the at least two branches, each of the at least two branches comprising a decontamination unit downstream of the corresponding controlled valve.

[0057] In order to treat several mineral oils on the same treatment circuit, at least one functional decontamination assembly comprises several parallel [circulation] branches, each incorporating a dedicated decontamination unit. Each branch includes at its inlet a controlled valve which is:

[0058] - is opened so that the mineral oil to be treated passes into the corresponding decontamination unit, in particular because this decontamination unit is adapted to the nature or type of the oil; - either closed so that the mineral oil to be treated does not pass into the corresponding decontamination unit, but rather passes into the other branch (and therefore into the other decontamination unit), in particular because this decontamination unit is not suitable for the nature or type of oil, while the other decontamination unit is suitable.

[0059] It should be noted that the same oil can pass through one of the two branches during a first treatment, and then through the other of the two branches during a second treatment, in the case where the oil passes at least twice through the treatment circuit for at least two successive treatments.

[0060] Where appropriate, the controlled branch valves can all be opened when a drainage of the treatment circuit is implemented by means of the purge system.

[0061] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first functional decontamination assembly comprises at least two pre-filtration units on at least two parallel branches, and the second functional decontamination assembly comprises at least two filtration or purification units on at least two parallel branches.

[0062] In connection with the previous point, this first functional decontamination assembly allows for at least two separate pre-filtrations, particularly adapted for two distinct types of oil, and the second functional decontamination assembly allows for at least two separate filtrations / purifications, particularly adapted for two distinct types of oil.

[0063] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one functional decontamination assembly comprises at least two parallel branches, each equipped with a controlled valve to direct the oil into one or the other of the at least two branches, at least one of the two branches comprising a decontamination unit downstream of the corresponding controlled valve, and at least the other of the two branches comprising the single controlled valve without a decontamination unit to form a bypass branch.

[0064] In other words, in this design variant of the functional decontamination assembly, at least one of the several branches it comprises may not incorporate a decontamination unit, and may serve only for the diversion / circulation of a mineral oil undergoing treatment. It is conceivable that this diversion branch may be equipped with a heating unit that can be activated (and in this case the diverted oil is heated) or switched off (and in this case the diverted oil is simply diverted).

[0065] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one functional decontamination assembly comprises at least two parallel branches, each equipped with a controlled valve to direct the oil into one or the other of the at least two branches, at least one of the two branches comprising a decontamination unit downstream of the corresponding controlled valve, and at least the other of the two branches comprising the heating unit downstream of the corresponding controlled valve.

[0066] In other words, in this design variant of the functional decontamination assembly, at least one of the several branches incorporates a heating unit. In other embodiments, it is also possible for the same functional decontamination assembly to integrate in parallel a pre-filtration unit, a heating unit, and a filtration or purification unit; or even two of these. these three units.

[0067] According to one embodiment of the invention, the injection points of the several additive units are positioned downstream of at least one functional decontamination element.

[0068] It should therefore be noted that the injection points of the several additive units are positioned downstream of the functional decontamination element, or are positioned downstream of one of the functional decontamination elements in the case where several functional decontamination elements are provided in series.

[0069] Advantageously, the injection points of the several additive units are positioned downstream of a functional decontamination element comprising at least one pre-filtration unit, for pre-filtration upstream of additives.

[0070] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one functional decontamination assembly comprises at least two parallel branches, each equipped with a controlled valve to direct the oil into one or the other of the at least two branches, at least one of the two branches comprising a decontamination unit downstream of the corresponding controlled valve, and at least the other of the two branches comprising the injection points of the several respective additive units downstream of the corresponding controlled valve.

[0071] In other words, in one embodiment of the treatment circuit, the injection points for mixing one or more additives with the mineral oil being treated are positioned in one branch among at least two parallel branches comprising the decontamination functional element. As already mentioned, the advantage of the invention is that it decontaminates and also improves the quality of used mineral oil. In the case of the second embodiment, the decontamination and additive addition functions are independent of each other. Indeed, the at least one mineral oil to be treated by the treatment system can be either used oil requiring decontamination or already decontaminated oil for which the treatment system would be used to improve its quality.

[0072] According to one embodiment of the invention, the treatment system includes at least one buffer tank connected at its outlet to receive at least one mineral oil being treated exiting the treatment circuit, at least one buffer tank also being connected at the inlet of the treatment circuit.

[0073] Advantageously, this at least one buffer tank serves for the storage / residence of a mineral oil which would have been only partially treated during a treatment cycle, and which would then be reinjected into the treatment circuit during a subsequent treatment cycle, for example by following another treatment path where parallel branches are planned, as described above.

[0074] For example, used oil may during a treatment cycle only be de contaminated (and therefore partially treated) in a decontamination unit of a functional decontamination set, be stored at the outlet of the treatment circuit in a buffer tank, and be reinjected at the inlet of the latter during the following treatment cycle to be decontaminated again but this time in another decontamination unit or to be improved by being mixed with additives; the oil thus completely treated is then stored in the outlet tank.

[0075] At least one buffer tank is of interest for a treatment circuit designed to treat mineral oils of distinct natures, in a logic of yield and optimization of the treatment system.

[0076] According to one feature of the invention, the processing circuit is arranged on a mobile chassis.

[0077] Advantageously, the treatment circuit and associated functional elements are sized so that they can be moved by being placed on this mobile chassis, but also transported in a light commercial vehicle, such as a van or pickup truck, or a trailer, in order to be taken directly to the site to treat used mineral oil reserves. This represents a significant time saving for the owners of these mineral oils, since they do not have to have the mineral oils delivered to be treated or collect them once treated from a site occupied by the treatment system. The treatment system comes to them.

[0078] According to one feature of the invention, the at least one mineral oil to be treated is at least a clear oil and / or at least a black oil. Brief description of the drawings

[0079] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a non-limiting example of implementation, made with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0080] [Fig-1] is a schematic view illustrating a situational analysis of the system of treatment according to one of its possible variants of implementation.

[0081] [Fig.2] is a functional / schematic diagram of the processing system which includes the [Fig.1] illustrates a treatment circuit, with a possible arrangement of all types of functional assemblies that it can integrate, designed to decontaminate a mineral oil to be treated during a first treatment cycle, and to improve its intrinsic properties once decontaminated during a subsequent treatment cycle.

[0082] [Fig.3] is a functional / schematic diagram that illustrates a processing circuit, with a possible arrangement of all types of functional assemblies that it can to integrate, conform to decontaminate and improve the intrinsic properties of a mineral oil to be treated during a single treatment cycle.

[0083] [Fig.4] is a diagram illustrating, according to the application context of [Fig.1], a first variant of the processing circuit implementation for which it comprises a single circulation branch, with the assemblies and functional units arranged in line in this branch.

[0084] [Fig.5] is a diagram illustrating, according to the application context of [Fig.1], a second variant embodiment of treatment circuit in which some of its sections consist of a parallel arrangement of several circulation branches, with branches serving only for oil diversion and other branches integrating a functional assembly / unit for oil treatment; the others of the treatment circuit each corresponding to a single circulation branch.

[0085] [Detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention]

[0086] In order to detail the design and operating principle of the processing system 1, the application context described in [Fig.1] is taken into consideration.In this scenario, the treatment circuit 2, installed on a mobile chassis 8 so that it can be moved and / or transported as previously mentioned, is connected: at the inlet to an inlet tank 3 containing a mineral oil to be treated, which can be a black oil or a clear oil; at the outlet to an outlet tank 4 suitable for receiving and storing the mineral oil once it has been treated by the treatment circuit 2; and at the inlet and outlet to two buffer tanks 5, 5', which can for example be contained in a cabinet as illustrated here, each suitable for receiving and storing a mineral oil which was not completely treated by the treatment circuit 2 during a previous treatment, and which will be reinjected into the treatment circuit during a subsequent treatment in order to continue to treat it partially, and to complete its treatment.

[0087] Depending on different application contexts, the processing circuit 2 can be connected at the input to several input tanks 3, and / or at the output to several output tanks 4, and / or to a larger number of buffer tanks, but also to a single buffer tank.

[0088] Supply pipes 99 are used to physically connect the inlet tank 3 and one of the two inlets / outlets of the buffer tanks 5, 5' to the inlet of the treatment circuit 2; and the outlet of the treatment circuit 2 to the outlet tank 4 and to the other two inlets / outlets of each of the two buffer tanks 5, 5'.

[0089] An example of a functional / principle diagram of the processing system 1, fitting into the application context of [Fig.1], is presented [Fig.2] for an alternative embodiment.

[0090] The inlet of the treatment circuit 2 corresponds to the inlet of a circulation device MO which has the function of injecting oil at a variable and controlled flow rate mineral to be treated in treatment circuit 2.

[0091] Thus, the circulation device MO is a positive displacement pump. It may be, for example and not limited to, an asynchronous motor-pump unit with external gears, a synchronous motor-pump unit with a vane pump, or even a motor-pump unit connected to a frequency inverter.

[0092] In the illustrated embodiment, the treatment circuit 2 includes all types of functional assemblies intended to be integrated within it, starting with a decontamination functional assembly which includes:

[0093] - a first functional assembly integrating at least one decontamination unit of the pF pre-filtration unit type; and - a second functional decontamination unit incorporating at least one decontamination unit of the filtration or purification type F.

[0094] Prefiltration is used to remove initial solid / particulate contaminants present in the mineral oil to be treated in order to limit clogging or saturation of at least one filtration or purification unit F located downstream.

[0095] The filtration or purification unit F allows for the removal of secondary contaminating elements which are of a smaller particle size than the first elements and / or of a different nature than the first elements, such as aqueous contaminants.

[0096] The treatment circuit 2 includes, for example between the pre-filtration unit pF and the filtration or purification unit F, a heating unit H whose purpose is to heat and thus fluidize the mineral oil to be treated in order to reduce its viscosity and facilitate / accelerate its decontamination by at least one decontamination or purification unit F.

[0097] The mineral oil to be treated is heated when it has previously undergone pre-filtration and / or does not contain contaminating solid / particulate elements. Therefore, the heating unit H is positioned in the treatment circuit 2 downstream of at least one pre-filtration unit pF and upstream of at least one filtration or purification unit F.

[0098] The treatment circuit 2 also includes a functional ADD additive assembly allowing additives to be added to the mineral oil to be treated in order to improve its intrinsic properties.

[0099] The treatment circuit 2 further comprises a diagnostic unit D, downstream of the ADD additive functional assembly, this diagnostic unit D being configured to measure at least one intrinsic property of the oil. The output of the treatment circuit 2 corresponds to the output of this diagnostic unit.

[0100] The heating unit H can, for example, be an inline electric resistance in the processing circuit 2. Temperature control is preferably of the proportional type.

[0101] The pF prefiltration unit is, for example, an inline separation unit of the filter type (metal mesh, glass fibers, cellulose, etc.), and in particular can be of the black oil filtration unit type or the light oil filtration unit type. In another variant In implementation of the invention, the pF prefiltration unit can also be a coalescing prefilter used to dehumidify mineral oils with a high water content.

[0102] Depending on the type of mineral oil to be treated (black oil or light oil) and its intrinsic properties, and in order to ensure that the filtration / purification is as rapid and efficient as possible, at least one filtration or purification unit F may be selected from:

[0103] - a microfiltration unit, for example: a polymer filter, a wound cellulose filter with radial or axial filtration, etc. The microfiltration unit is specifically adapted to the nature of the mineral oil to be treated, i.e. whether it is a clear oil or a black oil. - a filtering unit (made of cellulose, fiberglass, steel mesh, etc.); - a percolation and / or absorption unit (based on the use of a smectite clay known as fuller's earth for example or any other active material / molecular sieve such as activated aluminas for example); - a centrifugation unit, with, for example, centrifugation implemented by fluid pressure or by the use of a motor; - a vacuum degassing unit, in which the oil is dehydrated by being sprayed / atomized in a chamber under vacuum; - an ultrafiltration unit capable of trapping particles smaller than one micron (such as ceramic membranes); - a separation unit using electric and / or magnetic fields; - a purification unit using coagulant products.

[0104] The intrinsic properties that the diagnostic unit D can measure are as follows:

[0105] - oil cleanliness, for example particulate cleanliness or soot content or diesel content; - the moisture content of the oil, for example water content or relative humidity; - an electrical property, for example a relative permittivity or a conductivity or a dissipation factor; - a chemical property, for example alteration by oxygen or nitrogen or sulfur, or an elemental metal content, or an alkalinity; - a physical property, for example a dynamic viscosity or a density; - a colorimetric property.

[0106] According to different embodiments of the invention, the diagnostic unit D may include one or more measuring means shaped to measure one or more of the intrinsic properties listed.

[0107] The ADD additive functional assembly will be detailed later in the description.

[0108] In order to eliminate any risk of cross-contamination of a mineral oil to be treated during its passage through the treatment circuit 2 during a treatment cycle, following the treatment of a mineral oil of another type during the previous treatment cycle, a purge system P is used to purge / clean all or part of the treatment circuit 2, more specifically the parts of the functional elements and units as well as the branches connecting these different functional assemblies and units through which the oil to be treated flows, by injecting a compressed gas; the residual oil remaining in the functional assemblies and branches is discharged during the purge into a drainage circuit (shown in Figures 3 and 4). The purge system P can be a commercially available Class 0 compressed air system.

[0109] In the embodiment shown in [Fig. 2], the filtration or purification unit F is placed in parallel with the functional additive assembly ADD. Thus, during a first treatment cycle, the treatment system 1:

[0110] - decontaminates the mineral oil to be treated. The oil, once injected into the treatment circuit 2 by the circulation device MO, will circulate successively in the pre-filtration units pF, heating unit H, then filtration or purification unit F; - measures the intrinsic properties of the decontaminated oil using the diagnostic unit D located downstream of the filtration or purification unit F, in order to determine whether or not it is necessary to add one or more additives to improve these said intrinsic properties.

[0111] In the event that the addition of an additive is not required, the mineral oil is sent to the outlet tank 4.

[0112] Otherwise, it is sent to one of the two buffer tanks 5, 5' where it will stay for a determined period before being reinjected during a subsequent treatment cycle into the treatment circuit 2 to proceed with the addition of additives.

[0113] Since the mineral oil has already been decontaminated, it is not necessarily useful for it to be subjected again to pre-filtration and / or heating, which is why the treatment circuit 2 can include bypass branches allowing the oil to reach the functional additive assembly ADD without having to circulate through the pre-filtration unit pF and / or the heating unit H (note that it is not essential to bypass the heating unit H as it is sufficient to deactivate it to avoid heating the oil).

[0114] Once in the ADD functional additive assembly, the mineral oil is mixed with one or more additives according to predetermined dosages from the analysis of measurements carried out by the diagnostic unit D during the first treatment cycle.

[0115] After the additives are added, the intrinsic properties of the oil are measured again to determine whether the additives have achieved the desired intrinsic property values. If so, the oil can be sent to the outlet tank 4. Otherwise, it can be sent to the buffer tanks 5, 5' for another treatment cycle to improve its intrinsic properties.

[0116] The treatment system 1 can also be used solely for its decontamination function, with the decontaminated oil then being sent directly into the outlet tank 4.

[0117] Therefore, according to this embodiment, at least two treatment cycles are necessary to decontaminate and then improve the intrinsic properties of an oil to be treated.

[0118] In another embodiment, illustrated in [Fig. 3], the filtration or purification unit F could be connected downstream to a first diagnostic unit D to analyze the intrinsic properties of the oil after decontamination. The additive functional assembly ADD would be connected: at its input to the output of the first diagnostic unit, and at its output to the input of a second diagnostic unit for analyzing the oil after the addition of one or more additives. Thus, in this embodiment, at least one treatment cycle is required to decontaminate and improve the intrinsic properties of the oil. This embodiment requires, compared to that illustrated in [Fig. 2], doubling the number of measuring devices used to measure the intrinsic properties of the mineral oil to be treated; each of the diagnostic units D must include a measuring device of the same type.

[0119] However, certain property measurements cannot be performed by the at least one diagnostic unit D because they require human intervention and laboratory analysis using one or more external analytical devices that are outside the scope of the invention. This is the case, for example, as previously mentioned, with oxidative stability. In order for an operator to take a sample of the mineral oil to be treated, it is sent from the outlet of the treatment circuit 2 into one of the two buffer tanks 5, 5', which are equipped with sampling valves 15, 15' (visible in Figures 3 and 4).

[0120] In addition to the processing circuit 2, the mobile chassis 8 contains a control unit 6 communicating at least with the ADD additive functional assembly to control it so that it injects into the mineral oil to be treated the appropriate dosage(s) of additive(s) to improve its intrinsic properties.

[0121] In the embodiment presented [Fig.2], the control / command unit is also in communication with the circulation device MO for regulating the flow of mineral oil injected into the treatment circuit 2, the heating unit H so that the oil is heated to a given temperature, the purging system P for cleaning the treatment circuit, and with the diagnostic unit D so that the latter sends it the results of the measurement(s) it has performed.

[0122] The control / command unit 6 is operated by an operator from an input and display unit 7 with which it is in communication. The input and display unit 7 can be, for example, a computer (desktop; or laptop; or embedded), a controller, etc.

[0123] The control / command unit 6 sends to the input and display unit 7 a set of information relating to, but not limited to:

[0124] - to the results of the measurements carried out by the diagnostic unit D; - to the flow rate of mineral oil circulating in the treatment circuit; - to the oil pressure at different points in the circuit; - the oil temperature at different points in the circuit; - to the pressure of the air injected into the treatment circuit 2 by the system of purge P; - for each additive in the ADD functional additive assembly, to the quantity of additive injected into the mineral oil; - to the quantities / levels of fluids (oil and additives) present in the different tanks.

[0125] The input and display unit 7 sends to the control / command unit 6, according to the information received, a set of instructions / guidelines for controlling the circulation device MO, the heating unit H, the purging system P, the functional additive assembly ADD, and the diagnostic unit D.

[0126] According to different embodiments of the input and display unit 7, the instructions received by the control / command unit 6 can be sent:

[0127] - manually with the operator entering the instructions himself on the input and display unit 7, and / or - automatically by the input and display unit 7 itself.

[0128] In the second case, the input and display unit 7 may optionally adapt the instructions sent to the control / command unit 6 according to the information received from the latter and pre-configured threshold values, for example:

[0129] - send an instruction for the heating unit H to heat the mineral oil to be treated if the viscosity measured for the oil is greater than a viscosity threshold value; - in connection with the previous point, send an instruction to heat the mineral oil to be treated to a setpoint temperature that the heating unit H must not exceed; - send an instruction for the purge system P to send compressed air, for a predefined cleaning time, throughout the entire treatment circuit 2 or specifically to certain sections thereof; - send a relative injection order, for each of the additives, to the dosage of additive to be injected into the mineral oil to be treated according to the intrinsic properties of the mineral oil to be treated recorded by the diagnostic unit D, and which would be compared by the input and display unit to threshold values ​​specific to each of these intrinsic properties (for example, according to the list of intrinsic properties listed previously, threshold values ​​concerning respectively the soot content, the diesel content, the humidity, the relative permittivity, etc.)

[0130] The input and display unit 7 must allow the operator to manually input at least one intrinsic property of the oil to be treated, or directly a dosage instruction, so that an additive dosage instruction is sent in the case where said at least one intrinsic property results from an analysis of the oil carried out with a means external to the treatment system 1 and not part of the scope of the invention (for example, input of oxidative stability in the input and display unit 7).

[0131] The unit se se display 7 can also produce a report compiling the results of the oil analysis by the diagnostic system following their transmission by the control / command unit 6.

[0132] Figures [4] and [5] illustrate in a non-limiting manner possible embodiments of the processing circuit 2, in particular in terms of positioning in the processing circuit 2 of the assemblies and functional units, for the application context illustrated [Fig.1].

[0133] For each of these embodiments, the treatment circuit 2 comprises, upstream of the circulation device MO, three inlet valves E1, E2, and E3, which are respectively physically connected to the inlet tank 3 and the buffer tanks 5' and 5' by means of supply pipes 99. Depending on the mineral oil to be treated during the treatment cycle, the inlet valves E1, E2, and E3 are either open or closed. For example, if the mineral oil to be treated is contained in the inlet tank 3, only the inlet valve E1 is open. If the mineral oil to be treated is contained in the buffer tank 5, then only the inlet valve E3 is open. The opening and closing of the inlet valves E1, E2, and E3 can, for example, be controlled by the control unit 6 according to an initial open / close command received from the input and display unit 7.

[0134] The treatment circuit 2 also includes, downstream of the diagnostic unit D, three outlet valves SI, S2, and S3 physically connected respectively to buffer tanks 5 and 5' and to the outlet tank 4 by means of supply pipes 99. One of the three outlet valves SI, S2, and S3 is open and the other two are closed depending on whether the mineral oil exiting the treatment circuit 2 is to be stored in the outlet tank 4 because it is fully treated, or in one of the two buffer tanks 5 and 5' because it is partially treated. Again, the opening and closing of the outlet valves SI, S2, and S3 can, for example, be controlled by the control unit 6 according to a second open / close command that it receives from the input and display unit 7.

[0135] For each of the embodiments illustrated [Fig. 4] and 5, the functional additive assembly ADD consists of one or more additive units. In the following description, with reference to these figures, it is considered to comprise three additive units A1, A2, A3.

[0136] Fundamentally, the functional additive assembly comprises as many additive units as necessary to process the different types of oil intended to be processed by the treatment system 1. Thus, if the treatment system is configured to process one type of light oil and one type of dark oil, each requiring two different additives for the improvement of their intrinsic properties, then the functional additive assembly will comprise four additive units.

[0137] Each of the Al, A2, A3 additive units includes an additive reservoir RAI, RA2, RA3 shaped to receive and store an additive of a given nature.

[0138] An additive level sensor Lvl, Lv2, Lv3 measures the quantity of additive remaining in the additive tank RAI, RA2, RA3 and transmits this information to the control unit 6 which relays it to the input and display unit 7.

[0139] According to various embodiments of the invention, in the event that one of the additive tanks RAI, RA2, RA3 tends to be empty, this state being known to the display input unit, for example by comparing the additive level measured by the additive level sensor Lvl, Lv2, Lv3 to a fill threshold value, the filling of the additive tanks RAI, RA2, RA3 can be carried out:

[0140] - - by pouring the additive into the RAI, RA2, RA3 additive tank, the operator which can be warned of the lack of additive by the input and display unit 7 by means of an alert message; or - by injecting the additive into the RAI, RA2, RA3 additive tank, presenting an inlet connected to a pump fitted to transfer the additive into the RAI, RA2, RA3 additive tank.

[0141] Each of the additive reservoirs RAI, RA2, RA3 is connected to the inlet of an adjustable injection device M1, M2, M3, such as, for example, a volumetric type metering pump preferably driven by a stepper or DC motor, which is controlled by the control unit 6 to inject or not inject into the treatment circuit 2 a quantity of additive from the additive contained in the additive reservoir RAI, RA2, RA3 at the injection points II, 12, 13. The quantity of additive injected by the adjustable injection devices M1, M2, M3 depends on the results of the measurements of the intrinsic properties of the mineral oil of the oil to be treated after decontamination carried out by the diagnostic unit D or by the operator himself with means external to the invention; and an injection order sent by the input and display unit 7 to the control / command unit 6 according to these said measurements.

[0142] In order to facilitate the mixing of the decontaminated mineral oil with one or more injected additive(s), a static MIX mixer is positioned downstream of the injection points II, 12,13.

[0143] In the embodiment shown [Fig. 4], the processing circuit 2 comprises only one circulation branch B1, with downstream of the circulation device MO the following connected in series:

[0144] - the heating unit H, - the functional decontamination assembly comprising successively the first decontamination assembly which contains a single pre-filtration unit pFl, and the second decontamination assembly which contains a single filtration or purification unit Fl from among the filtration or purification units listed previously; - the functional set of additive manufacturing (ADD), - the MIX mixer and finally - the diagnostic unit D.

[0145] Thus, the treatment circuit 2 of [Fig. 4] is configured to treat a specific type of clear or black mineral oil. In a particular embodiment, for treating a mineral oil of a different nature, it is possible to disconnect and remove the pre-filtration unit pFl (respectively a filtration or purification unit Fl) from the treatment circuit 2 and replace it with another type of pre-filtration unit (respectively another type of filtration or purification unit).

[0146] For a mineral oil to be treated, a first treatment cycle is necessary to decontaminate it, and at least a second cycle if it is necessary to improve its Physical properties after decontamination. During the first treatment cycle, none of the additive units A1, A2, A3 injects any additive into the oil being treated, which has just been decontaminated by a pre-filtration unit pF1 and a filtration or purification unit Fl. The decontaminated oil is then analyzed by the diagnostic unit D. Based on the measurement results, the decontaminated oil is directed to the outlet tank 4 or one of the buffer tanks 5, 5' to be reinjected into the treatment circuit for at least the second treatment cycle. The reinjected oil is not further decontaminated by the decontamination system, since all contaminants were filtered out during the first treatment cycle.However, it can be reheated by the heating unit H to make it more fluid in order to facilitate its mixing with the quantities of additives that will be injected at the injection points II, 12, 13, in addition to the use of the static MIX mixer. The intrinsic properties of the improved oil are again analyzed by the diagnostic unit D in order to determine whether the oil is completely treated or whether an additional treatment cycle is necessary to add more quantities of additives.

[0147] In order to be able to clean all or part of the treatment circuit 2, more specifically branch B1 and the elements of the assemblies and functional units in which the oil circulates, branch B1 comprises:

[0148] - several purge points (three purge points PI, P2, P3 for the embodiments shown [Fig. 4] and 5) which allow compressed gas (class 0 compressed air in the embodiments shown) to be injected into the treatment circuit 2; and - several drainage points (three drainage points 21, 22, 23 for the embodiments presented [Fig.4] and 5) allowing evacuation into the drainage circuit 20 of the oil residues remaining in the B1 section after expulsion by the purge system P.

[0149] The number of purge points and drainage points is not fixed. They are adapted to the design of the treatment circuit 2. The treatment circuit 2 may therefore include more or less than three purge points PI, P2, P3 and drainage points 21, 22, 23.

[0150] The purge points P1, P2, P3 are respectively physically connected to the purge system P via a controlled purge valve P10, P20, P30. Similarly, the drainage points 21, 22, 23 are physically connected to the drainage circuit 20 via controlled drainage valves 210, 220, 230. The controlled purge valves P10, P20, P30 and drainage valves 210, 220, 230 are solenoid valves in the described embodiments.

[0151] Depending on the purging / cleaning requirements, all or part of the valves The controlled purge valves P10, P20, P30 and the controlled drainage valves 210, 220, 230 are opened (progressively for the controlled purge valves P10, P20, P30). In the embodiment of [Fig. 4]:

[0152] - the purge point PI and the drain point 21 serve for the potential evacuation of residual oil remaining in the part of the branch B1 comprising the heating unit; - the purge point PI and the drainage point 22 serve for the potential evacuation of residual oil remaining in the part of the branch B1 including the pre-filtration unit pFl; - the purge point P2 and the drainage point 22 serve for the potential evacuation of residual oil remaining in the part of the branch B1 comprising the filtration or purification unit Fl; - the purge point P2 and the drainage point 23 serve for the potential evacuation of residual oil remaining in the part of the branch B1 comprising the functional additive assembly ADD; - the purge point P3 and the drainage point 23 are used for the potential evacuation of residual oil remaining in the part of the branch B1 including the diagnostic unit D.

[0153] The opening and closing of the controlled purge valves P10, P20, P30 and the controlled drainage valves 210, 220, 230 are controlled by the control unit 6 according to opening and closing commands relating to these valves coming from the input and display unit 7.

[0154] The controlled purge valves P10, P20, P30 and the controlled drainage valves 210, 220, 230 remain open for predetermined cleaning times adapted to the different sections of the treatment circuit 2 which they are responsible for in order to ensure effective cleaning, and then closed after these cleaning times.

[0155] As previously stated, during purging, the controlled purge valves P10, P20, P30 are opened progressively so that a suitable class 0 compressed air flow is injected into the treatment circuit.

[0156] The residual oil discharged into the drainage circuit 20 is then conveyed to the outlet of the treatment circuit 2 via a capillary tube 24 and subsequently stored in one of the buffer tanks 5, 5'. Depending on the application context, this residual oil is reinjected either into the treatment circuit 2 during a subsequent treatment cycle if a mineral oil to be treated is of the same nature as the residual oil, or into the inlet tank 3.

[0157] The purge point P3, located at the outlet of the treatment circuit 2 and downstream of the diagnostic unit D, also serves to evacuate any remaining fluid at the outlet of the treatment circuit 2 into one of the outlet reservoirs. If the residual oil is oil If the remaining oil is only decontaminated and its intrinsic properties are to be improved, it is discharged into one of the buffer tanks 5, 5', with one of the two outlet valves SI, S2 open and the other of the two outlet valves SI, S2, as well as outlet valve S3, closed. If the remaining oil is either fully treated mineral oil or only decontaminated oil for which no improvement of its intrinsic properties is planned, the remaining oil is discharged into outlet tank 4 with outlet valve S3 open and outlet valves SI, S2 closed.

[0158] The mineral oil circulation section located upstream of the circulation device MO is emptied of its oil by suction by the circulation device MO itself. The remaining oil in the treatment circuit 2 just downstream of the circulation device MO can either be expelled by the compressed gas towards the drainage point 21, or optionally be drawn in by the circulation device MO by rotating it in the opposite direction and then expelled towards an additional drain located upstream of the circulation device MO. In the embodiments of the invention presented, the treatment circuit 2 is inclined so as to allow small pockets of residual, non-purgeable oil (for example, a small quantity of oil, barely a few milliliters, that may stagnate at the outlet of the pump body) to drain naturally by gravity. If necessary, any unpurged residues (adhesion to the walls...) can be eliminated by rinsing the treatment circuit 2 with a neutral detergent oil.

[0159] The processing circuit 2 may include a plurality of sensors that send information back to the control unit 6, which then transmits it to the input and display unit 7. The input and display unit then sends commands from these sensors to the control unit for efficient operation of the functional assemblies / units, the purge system P, etc. As illustrated [Fig. 4], the processing circuit includes, along its circulation branch B1:

[0160] - pressure sensors Prl, Pr2, Pr3 for measuring oil pressure; - flow sensors to measure the flow rate of the mineral oil being processed circulating along the branch, to check if the MO circulation device injects oil into branch B1 at an expected flow rate; - temperature sensors T1, T2 to measure the oil temperature.

[0161] In alternative embodiments, the processing circuit may also include one or more sensors directly measuring the viscosity of the oil, its moisture, one or more of its electrical properties, etc.

[0162] As illustrated in [Fig. 4] and [Fig. 5], oil level sensors 25, 25' can also be integrated into the buffer tanks 5, 5' to assess the quantity of oil they contain, and in particular to determine if they are empty so that oil undergoing treatment can be stored in them for later reinjection. in processing circuit 2.

[0163] Figure 5 shows one embodiment among several possible treatment circuit 2 suitable for treating dark and light mineral oils. For this purpose, the decontamination functional assembly is designed to include, in particular, several parallel [circulation] branches. These parallel branches may concern the first decontamination functional assembly dedicated to prefiltration and / or the second decontamination functional assembly dedicated to filtration or purification. The number of parallel branches is not fixed or limited: it depends primarily on the treatment objectives for the treatment circuit 2 and its optimization in terms of oil circulation to perform the treatments as quickly and efficiently as possible.

[0164] In the embodiment shown:

[0165] - The first functional decontamination assembly comprises three parallel branches B1, B2, and B3. Branches B1 and B2 each comprise a prefiltration unit pF1 and pF2. Prefiltration unit pF1 can, for example, be used for prefiltrating a dark oil, while prefiltration unit pF2 can be used for prefiltrating a light oil. Branch B3 is a bypass branch through which the mineral oil to be treated flows during a treatment cycle if the mineral oil does not require prefiltering or if it has been decontaminated during a previous treatment cycle. In another embodiment, prefiltration units pF1 and pF2 could be used to prefilter two dark oils of different types, each unit corresponding, for example, to one of the microfiltration units listed previously.Branch B3 could contain a third pre-filtration unit dedicated to pre-filtering clear oil. In a variant of this alternative embodiment, the first functional decontamination assembly could contain a fourth branch used to divert the mineral oil to be treated. - The second functional decontamination assembly comprises four branches, B4, B5, B6, and B7. Branches B4, B5, and B6 each contain a filtration or purification unit, F1, F2, F3, which may, for example, correspond respectively to a microfiltration unit, a percolation unit, and a centrifugation unit, or, in one embodiment, to two microfiltration units and one percolation unit, etc. Branch B8 comprises injection points II, 12, and 13 for injecting at least one additive from the ADD additive functional assembly into the mineral oil to be treated, and the static MIX mixer. In one embodiment, branch B8 could be used for oil diversion, the injection points II, 12,13 then being positioned at the outlet / downstream of the second functional decontamination unit, upstream of the diagnostic unit D. - a branch B 8 connects the outlet of the first decontamination unit to the inlet of the second functional decontamination unit. Branch B8 includes the heating unit H. In various embodiments, and not limited to, the heating unit H could be included in branch B3, or even in branch BO upstream of the first functional decontamination unit as in the case of the embodiment illustrated [Fig.4].

[0166] Each of the parallel branches Bl, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7 is equipped at its inlet with a controlled valve B10, B20, B30, B40, B50, B60, B70, which is operated by the control unit 6 according to the commands it receives from the input and display unit. The controlled valves are opened or closed depending on which branches Bl, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7 the mineral oil must flow through for processing, and also to clean branches Bl, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7 once the oil has flowed through them.

[0167] For example, in the case where a clear mineral oil is to be treated, the treatment would consist of decontaminating it and then improving its intrinsic properties: - During the first treatment cycle, valves B10 and B30 of the first decontamination unit are closed, and valve B20 is open so that the clear oil to be treated flows into branch B2, which includes the pF2 pre-filtration unit designed to treat clear oils. For the second decontamination unit, valve B70 is closed, as well as two of the three valves B40, B50, and B60. The valve B40, B50, and B60 that remains open is the one in branch B4, B5, and B6, which includes the Fl, F2, and F3 filtration or purification units best suited to effectively treat the clear oil. Subsequently, valve B50 is considered to be open, and valves B40 and B60 are considered closed.The oil is then diagnosed to assess the quantities of additives to be injected and the oil is sent from the outlet of the treatment circuit into one of the two buffer tanks 5, 5' in order to be reinjected into the inlet of the treatment circuit 2 later. - During the second treatment cycle, once the clean oil has been decontaminated, valves B10 and B20 are closed and valve B30 is opened to allow the clean oil to flow towards the second decontamination unit. Valves B40, B50, and B60 of the second decontamination unit are closed and valve B70 is opened so that the decontaminated clean oil can be mixed with the additives.

[0168] The cleaning of the treatment circuit 2 can be carried out entirely at the end of the treatment or partially (purge of a branch arranged in bypass) between two mineral oil treatment cycles.

[0169] In the case of the example described above, in the context of the first treatment circuit, following the storage of the clear oil in one of the buffer tanks 5, 5', i.e. at the end of the treatment, the controlled valves B20 and B50 are left open and the controlled purge valves P10, P20, P30 are opened so that the purge system P injects class 0 compressed air, respectively: - via the controlled purge valve P10, in branch B2 and branch B0 upstream of the functional decontamination unit; any remaining oil in branch B0 being evacuated into the drainage circuit 20 at the drainage point 21 (with the controlled drainage valve 210 open), and any remaining oil in branch B2 being evacuated into the drainage circuit 20 at the drainage point 22 (with the controlled drainage valve 220 open); - via the controlled purge valve P20, in branches B5 and branch B8; any remaining oil in branch B8 being evacuated into the drainage circuit 20 at the drainage point 22 (with the controlled drainage valve 220 open), and any remaining oil in branch B5 being evacuated into the drainage circuit 20 at the drainage point 23 (with the controlled drainage valve 230 open); - via the controlled purge valve P30, any remaining oil in the branch containing the diagnostic unit is evacuated into the drainage circuit 20 at the drainage point 23 (with the controlled drainage valve 230 open); and any remaining oil at the outlet of the treatment circuit 2 is sent into one of the outlet tanks.

Claims

Demands

1. A treatment system (1) for treating at least one mineral oil to be treated and obtaining a treated mineral oil, comprising a treatment circuit (2) having an inlet connected to at least one inlet tank (3) in which the at least one mineral oil to be treated is stored, and an outlet connected to at least one outlet tank (4) suitable for receiving the at least one treated mineral oil, said treatment circuit (2) comprising a circulation device (MO) for circulating the at least one mineral oil to be treated from its inlet to its outlet, and at least one functional decontamination assembly configured to at least partially decontaminate the at least one mineral oil to be treated, said treatment system (2) being characterized in that it comprises an additive functional assembly (ADD) comprising several additive units (Al, A2, A3), each of the additive units (Al, A2, A3) comprising an additive reservoir (RAI,RA2, RA3) containing an additive and connected to an adjustable injection device (M1, M2, M3) to inject the additive at an injection point (II, 12, 13) in the treatment circuit (2), and wherein the treatment system (1) includes a control unit (6) designed to at least control the adjustable injection devices (M1, M2, M3) of the several respective additive units (A1, A2, A3) according to several measurements of intrinsic properties of the oil.

2. Processing system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuit (2) comprises at least one diagnostic unit (D) performing at least one measurement among several measurements of intrinsic properties of the oil, said at least diagnostic unit (D) being at least in communication with the control unit (6).

3. Treatment system (1) according to claim 2, wherein at least one diagnostic unit (D) is placed downstream of the injection points (II, 12,13) ​​of the several respective additive units (Al, A2, A3).

4. Processing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing circuit (2) comprises, downstream of the injection points (II, 12,13) ​​of the several respective additive units (Al, A2, A3), a mixer (MIX), for example of the static mixer (MIX) type.

5. A processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the intrinsic properties of the oil are chosen from: - a cleanliness of the oil, for example particulate cleanliness or soot content or diesel content; - a relative moisture of the oil, for example water content or relative humidity; - an electrical property, for example relative permittivity or conductivity or dissipation factor; - a chemical property, for example rate of alteration by oxygen or nitrogen or sulfur, or elemental metal content, or alkalinity; - a physical property, for example dynamic viscosity or density; - a colorimetric property.

6. Processing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising an input and display unit (7) for inputting at least one of several intrinsic properties of the oil, said input and display unit (7) being at least in communication with the control unit (6).

7. Processing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, for each of the several additive units (Al, A2, A3), the adjustable injection device (M1, M2, M3) comprises a metering pump.

8. Treatment system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the treatment system (1) comprises a drainage circuit (20) connected to at least one point in the treatment circuit, called a drainage point (21, 22, 23), and a purge system (P) connected to at least one point in the treatment circuit, called a purge point (PI, P2, P3), for injecting a compressed gas into the treatment circuit (2) and thus evacuating into the drainage circuit (20) through at least one drainage point (21, 22, 23), a residual oil remaining in the treatment circuit (2).

9. Treatment system (1) according to claim 8, wherein at least one purge point (PI, P2, P3) includes at least one purge point (PI, P2) upstream of at least one functional decontamination assembly, and at least one drainage point (21, 22, 23) includes at least one drainage point (22, 23) downstream of at least one functional decontamination assembly.

10. Processing system (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the at least one purge point (PI, P2, P3) includes at least one purge point (PI, P2) upstream of the functional additive assembly (ADD), and at least one drainage point (21, 22, 23) includes at least one drainage point (23) downstream of the functional additive assembly (ADD).

11. Processing system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one purge point (PI, P2, P3) includes at least one purge point (P3) at the outlet of the processing circuit (2).

12. Treatment system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein at least one drainage point (21, 22, 23) comprises at least one drainage point (21) at the inlet of the treatment circuit (2).

13. Treatment system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the drainage circuit (20) is connected to at least one drainage point (21, 22, 23) by a controlled drainage valve (210, 220, 230), for example a solenoid valve.

14. Processing system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the purge system (P) is connected to at least one purge point (PI, P2, P3) by a controlled purge valve (P10, P20, P30), for example a solenoid valve, and optionally a check valve.

15. Treatment system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the drainage circuit (20) is connected to the outlet of the treatment circuit (2) by a capillary (24).

16. Processing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing circuit (2) includes at least one heating unit (H) for heating the oil.

17. Treatment system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one decontamination functional set comprises at least a first decontamination functional set followed by a second decontamination functional set, said first functional set comprising at least one decontamination unit of the prefiltration unit type (pF, pFl, pF2), and said second decontamination functional set comprising at least one decontamination unit of the filtration or purification unit type (F, Fl, F2, F3).

18. Treatment system (1) according to claim 17, wherein the pre-filtration unit (pF, pF1, pF2) is selected from a pre- filtration for clear oil and a pre-filtration unit for black oil.

19. Processing system (1) according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the filtration or purification unit (F, Fl, F2, F3) is selected from a microfiltration unit, an inline filtration unit, a percolation unit, an absorption unit, a centrifugation unit, a vacuum degassing unit, an ultrafiltration unit, a separation unit and a purification unit.

20. Treatment system (1) according to any one of claims 17 to 19 in combination with claim 16, wherein the heating unit (H) is intercalated in the treatment circuit (2) between the first functional decontamination set and the second functional decontamination set.

21. A treatment system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one functional decontamination assembly comprises at least two parallel branches (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7) each equipped with a controlled valve (B10, B20, B30, B40, B50, B60, B70) to direct the oil into one or the other of the at least two branches (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7), each of the at least two branches (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7) comprising a decontamination unit downstream of the corresponding controlled valve (B10, B20, B30, B40, B50, B60, B70).

22. Treatment system (1) according to claims 17 and 21, wherein the first functional decontamination set comprises at least two prefiltration units (pFl, pF2) on at least two branches (Bl, B2) in parallel, and the second functional decontamination set comprises at least two filtration or purification units (Fl, F2, F3) on at least two branches (B4, B5, B6) in parallel.

23. A treatment system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one functional decontamination assembly comprises at least two parallel branches (B1, B3) each equipped with a valve (B10, B30) controlled to direct the oil into either of the at least two branches (B1, B3), at least one of the two branches (B1) comprising a decontamination unit downstream of the corresponding controlled valve (B10), and at least the other of the two branches (B3) comprising the single controlled valve (B30) without a decontamination unit to form a bypass branch.

24. A treatment system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claim 16, wherein the at least one functional decontamination assembly comprises at least two parallel branches (B1, B2) each equipped with a controlled valve (B10, B20) to direct the oil into either of the at least two branches (B1, B2), at least one of the two branches (B1, B2) comprising a decontamination unit downstream of the corresponding controlled valve (B10, B20), and at least the other of the two branches comprising the heating unit (H) downstream of the corresponding controlled valve.

25. Treatment system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the injection points (II, 12 13) of the several additive units (Al, A2, A3) are positioned downstream of at least one functional decontamination element.

26. A treatment system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one functional decontamination assembly comprises at least two parallel branches (B4, B5, B6, B7) each equipped with a controlled valve (B40, B50, B60, B70) to direct the oil into one or the other of the at least two branches (B4, B5, B6, B7), at least one of the two branches (B4, B5, B6) comprising a decontamination unit downstream of the corresponding controlled valve (B40, B50, B60), and at least the other of the two branches (B7) comprising the injection points (II, 12, 13) of the respective several additive units (A1, A2, A3) downstream of the corresponding controlled valve (B70).

27. ​​Processing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing system (1) comprises at least one buffer tank (5, 5') connected at its outlet to receive at least one mineral oil being processed exiting the processing circuit (2), the at least one buffer tank (5, 5') also being connected at the inlet of the processing circuit (2).

28. Processing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing circuit (2) is arranged on a mobile chassis (8).

29. Processing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one mineral oil to be treated is a clear oil or a black oil.