Waste Fuel Oil Density Control via Mass Flow Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current waste fuel oil separation systems face issues with incomplete separation of oil and water due to similar densities, leading to contamination of bilge tanks and unsuitable fuel for engines, as well as clogging from high solid presence.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a control device with a mass flow meter to measure the density of recovered oil and stop the flow if above a predetermined density, ensuring minimal water in the oil outlet and oil in the water outlet, employing a centrifugal separator and waste fuel oil separator with adaptive gravity discs and level rings to manage density variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a centrifugal separator is used to separate oil and water from sludge, then the separation process can be automated and continuous, but incomplete separation occurs due to similar densities of oil and water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system using mass flow meters to continuously monitor the density of recovered oil and separated water. When the density of recovered oil exceeds a predetermined threshold (indicating water contamination) or the density of separated water exceeds its threshold (indicating oil contamination), the system automatically adjusts the gravity disc position or level ring settings to optimize separation performance, ensuring continuous operation while maintaining separation completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters including gravity disc position, level ring height, and separator speed based on real-time density measurements. By adjusting these parameters, the separation interface between oil and water is optimized to account for density variations in different fuel types and contamination levels, resolving the contradiction between continuous operation and separation effectiveness.
2Device complexity
If high presence of solids in separated water is allowed, then the separation process remains simple, but clogging occurs at the water outlet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary solid particle removal through the centrifugal separation process itself, where solids are separated from both oil and water phases before the water outlet. The centrifugal force precipitates solids to the periphery where they are collected separately, preventing them from reaching the water outlet and causing clogs, while maintaining a relatively simple single-stage separation system.
3Manufacturing precision
If density measurement and flow control is implemented, then separation precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the physical property of density itself to control the separation process. Mass flow meters automatically measure the density of recovered oil and separated water, and the control system uses these measurements to self-adjust the gravity disc position and level ring settings without requiring complex external control mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the measured density information directly to optimize separation, minimizing the addition of complex control equipment while maximizing separation precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively minimizes remaining oil in the water outlet and water in the oil outlet, preventing unsuitable fuel delivery and clogging, thereby maintaining the integrity of the fuel system and ensuring clean propulsion fuel.
Implementation Method 1
a first mass flow meter connected to the first outlet for measuring the flow rate and the density of the recovered oil flowing from the first outlet
Implementation Method 2
a first centrifugal separator for separating sludge and water from heavy fuel oil or light fuel oil
Implementation Method 3
a waste fuel oil separator connected to the first centrifugal separator for recovering oil from the sludge separated by the first centrifugal separator
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a waste fuel oil separation system (1) the method being configured to be performed by a control device (100). The waste fuel oil separation system (1) comprising: a first centrifugal separator (6) for separating sludge and water from heavy fuel oil or light fuel oil; a waste fuel oil separator (16) connected to the first centrifugal separator (6) for recovering oil from the sludge separated by the first centrifugal separator (6); a first outlet (29) of the waste fuel oil separator (16) for the recovered oil; a first mass flow meter (22) connected to the first outlet (20) for measuring the flow rate and the density of the recovered oil flowing from the first outlet (20), and the control device (100), which is connected to the system (1). The method comprises: determining (s101) the density of the recovered oil by means of the first mass flow meter (22); and stopping (s102) the flow of the recovered oil from the first outlet (20) if the determined density of the recovered oil is above a predetermined density. The invention also relates to a waste fuel oil separation system.