Marine Engines and Auxiliary Machinery
DOI: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.24866/2227-6858/2020-3-8

Fershalov Yu., Gribinichenko M., Korshunov V., Tsigankova L.

YURIY FERSHALOV, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Professor, ORCID: 0000-0002-6138-3231,
ResercherID: E-8596-2014, ScopusID: 31267557200, e-mail: fershalovjuriy@mail.ru
MATVEI GRIBINICHENKO, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, Associate Professor, e-mail: gribinichenko.mv@dvfu.ru
VIKTOR KORSHUNOV, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, Associate Professor, e-mail: vickor43@yandex.ru
LYUDMILA TSIGANKOVA, Associate Professor, e-mail: liusivl@mail.ru
Politechnical Institute
Far Eastern Federal University
Vladivostok, Russia

Using the Ranque–Hilsch effect for restoration
of operational properties of waste engine oils

Abstract: An analysis is made for the possibility of creating a device for removing liquid fractions (water and fuel) from used engine oil to restore its operational properties for subsequent reuse in marine diesels.
It is shown that the need for reuse of used motor oils is based on environmental protection requirements. The features of the vortex motion of liquid as a solid body or as a “potential vortex” (Rankine vortex) are analyzed. However, these features do not explain the Ranque–Hilsch effect. A theoretical explanation of the Ranque–Hilsch effect is that in the vortex tubes energy separation of the gas occurs due to the centrifugal effect of the turbulent elements in terms of the tangential velocity. As a result of the separation of inhibited elements under the action of centrifugal force and their adiabatic expansion, the temperature of the central stream decreases. Based on the use of the Ranque–Hilsch effect, we believe it is possible to create a facility for separating fuel and water from oil. The idea is that the rotational motion of a thin film of oil containing water-fuel fractions, like any other rotational motion, creates a centrifugal force. The dispersed phase of water, as the one of higher density, is squeezed to the periphery, and diesel fuel as the one of lower density gets closer to the center of rotation. Engine oil of intermediate density will then be positioned between these layers of water and fuel. According to the Ranque–Hilsch effect, the temperature at the periphery will be higher; it will gradually decrease from the water layer to the fuel layer. The main task in developing a device for removing liquid pollutants is to create such pressure and temperature that moisture evaporates on the outer layer, and fuel evaporates from the inner layer. At the same time, engine oil protected by these two layers, the boiling point of which is higher than that of diesel fuel and lower than that of water, would not evaporate.
Keywords: regeneration, motor oil, Ranque–Hilsch effect, water removal, fuel removal, device for removing water and fuel from oil.

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