INTEGRATED PLANT FOR THE RECOVERY AND REGENERATION OF USED INDUSTRIAL AND TRANSPORTATION OILS

The invention relates to an integrated plant for regeneration and recovering waste industrial and engine oils, such as marine oils (MOBILGARD M430 for the main propulsion engines, Devlac MX15W40 for the diesel generators, M-14G2CS for lubricating the stern tube, BARTRAN HV 68 for the blade control system of variable pitch propellers, CASTROL T 68 for lubricating the gas turbine of the main propulsion engine, OMALA 220 for lubricating the gear components), motor vehicle oils, oils for textile machinery, etc., comprising several units, and can also be used across various industries. The technical result of the invention is the improved degree of purification of waste industrial and engine oils and safe operation of the plant. An integrated plant for regeneration and recovering waste industrial and engine oils comprises a module for removing moisture and fuel fractions from the oil to be purified, which module is connected to a module for diagnostics and monitoring of the oil to be purified, a module for controlling the quality of the oil to be purified and a module for applying functional additives to the oil to be purified.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an integrated plant for regeneration and recovering waste industrial and engine oils, such as marine oils (MOBILGARD M430 for the main propulsion engines, Devlac MX15W40 for the diesel generators, M-14G2CS for lubricating the stern tube, BARTRAN HV 68 for the blade control system of variable pitch propellers, CASTROL T 68 for lubricating the gas turbine of the main propulsion engine, OMALA 220 for lubricating the gear components), motor vehicle oils, oils for textile machinery, etc., comprising several units, and can also be used across various industries.

PRIOR ART

A plant for separating and purifying waste motor oils disclosed in RU191308U1 and published on Aug. 1, 2019 is known from the prior art. The plant for separating and purifying waste motor oils comprises lines with shut-off valves, a reservoir for waste oil, a centrifuge, gear pumps, an intermediate reservoir with magnetic plugs, a mixer, a heating element and a coagulant dispenser, an ultra-filtration module which includes housings with ultrafilters placed therein for separating waste oil into permeate and retentate. A flow-type heater and a vacuum water evaporator with a water collector are mounted in series between the waste oil reservoir and the centrifuge, and the ultra-filtration module is firmly attached to the vibrating platform, wherein the additive dispensers for decolorizing the purified oil are placed in the reservoirs with permeate.

A disadvantage of the technical solution disclosed above is its high accident rate and poor quality of oil purification due to the lack of automation, and high energy costs.

In addition, a prototype plant for regeneration of waste industrial oils disclosed in RU85900U1 and published on Aug. 20, 2009 is known from the prior art. Such plant for regeneration of waste industrial oils comprises a preliminary purification filter attached to a valve, an inlet oil pump, a degasser reservoir with inlet and outlet pipes (wherein the first outlet pipe is connected to a vacuum pump through a vapor separator/condenser, and the second one is connected to an outlet oil pump), an outlet filter, and an additive injection reservoir connected to the output of the plant. The plant is equipped with a heater and a device for generating a thin-layer flow of oil, wherein the input of such device is connected to the output of the inlet oil pump, and its output is connected to the inlet of the degasser reservoir, the input of the heater is connected to the output of the preliminary purification filter, its output is connected to the input of the inlet oil pump, and the output of the output oil pump is connected to the output of the plant through the output filter.

A disadvantage of the technical solution disclosed above is its high accident rate and poor quality of oil purification due to the lack of automation, and high energy costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the claimed invention is to develop an efficient integrated plant for regeneration and recovering waste industrial and engine oils.

The technical result of the invention is the improved degree of purification of waste industrial and engine oils and safe operation of the plant.

Such technical result is achieved by the fact that the integrated plant for regeneration and recovering waste industrial and engine oils comprises a module for removing moisture and fuel fractions from the oil to be purified, which module is connected to a module for diagnostics and monitoring of the oil to be purified, a module for controlling the quality of the oil to be purified and a module for applying functional additives to the oil to be purified.

The module for removing moisture and fuel fractions from the oil to be purified comprises a housing, which accommodates the following:

The module for diagnostics and monitoring of the oil to be purified comprises a housing, which accommodates the following:

The module for applying functional additives to the oil to be purified comprises a housing, which accommodates the following:

The module for quality control of the oil to be purified comprises a housing, which accommodates the following:

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

An integrated plant for regeneration and recovering waste industrial and engine oils comprises a module (10) for removing moisture and fuel fractions from the oil to be purified, which module is connected to a module (20) for diagnostics and monitoring of the oil to be purified, a module (40) for controlling the quality of the oil to be purified and a module (30) for applying functional additives to the oil to be purified.

The module (10) for removing moisture and fuel fractions from the oil to be purified comprises a housing, which accommodates the following:

The module (20) for diagnostics and monitoring of the oil to be purified comprises a housing, which accommodates the following:

The module (30) for applying functional additives to the oil to be purified comprises a housing, which accommodates the following:

A module (40) for quality control of the oil to be purified comprises a housing, which accommodates the following:

The pumps (2.10, 6.40) relate to the volumetric-type pumps, such as gear pumps, screw pumps, roller-vane pumps, axial pumps and other pumps.

The claimed integrated plant for regeneration and recovering waste industrial and engine oils operates as follows (using the example of ship engine oil purification).

Before starting the claimed integrated plant, the modules (10, 20, 30, 40) are connected to each other:

Once the integrated plant for regeneration and recovering waste industrial and engine oils is ready for operation, the engine oil pump or the circulation pump of the oil system is started, and the plant can be used for the oil purification both when the engine/system is running or is on standby. Next, the switch (33.10) of the module (10) is turned to its Start position. After that, the touch screen monitor is used to enter all desired parameters: maximum temperature (° C.) of the heater, moisture (%), maximum allowed concentration of the fuel fraction vapors (%), maximum allowed concentration of the insoluble impurities (%), operating cycle time, etc. Once the operation parameters are configured, an oil purification program is selected, for example, maximum cycle (purification from insoluble impurities, fuel fractions and water, oil recovery with deficient additives); next, the selected program is started and, only after that, the shut-off valves of the oil system, where the purification is carried out, are opened.

The oil is purified of insoluble impurities in the module (40); and, once the allowed concentrations of insoluble impurities are achieved, the oil from the module (40) is fed to the module (10) for diagnostics of oil in terms of its moisture and fuel fraction content. Following the diagnostics, the oil is purified of moisture and fuel fractions in accordance with the selected program using the module (20), where the fuel vapors are condensed, and condensed fuel vapors are collected, and the operating environment is tested using the gas analyzers (4.20, 5.20) of the integrated plant's safety system. Once the oil is purified of moisture and fuel fractions, the oil is tested in the module (40) in terms of its content of cleaning additives and, next, the oil is fed back to the module (10), where the oil recovery program specifies the concentration of the additive required for oil recovery. Next, the oil is fed to the module (30), where the oil is mixed with the additives, and the final mixing of the additive and the oil takes place in the operating reservoir of the module (10) which, in addition to other functions required for the operation, acts as a disperser. Once a certain number of cycles is performed, at the final stage, the regenerated and recovered oil must be processed and tested in terms of the oil recovery with the additives in the module 4 and, after that, the oil is fed either to the reservoir for storage or to the operating system of the engine for further use. The module (10) controls the entire integrated plant for regeneration of and recovering waste industrial and engine oils.

Below is the detailed description of the each module's operation.

The waste oil is fed using the pump (6.40), which is operated by the electric motor (7.40) controlled by the control unit (5.40), from the main engine system through high-pressure hose of the unit for feeding the waste oil to the module (40) connected to the engine through connecting sleeve (1.10), with opened controllable electromagnetic valves (17.40, 21.40) to the reservoir (8.40), while all other controllable electromagnetic valves of the module (40) are closed. When the reservoir (8.40) is full, this triggers the high level sensor (15.40) and controllable electromagnetic valves (17.40, 21.40) are closed, and the valves (20.40, 25.40, 27.40) are opened, and the oil from the reservoir (8.40) is fed to the first recirculation circuit, where the oil is pumped, in the recirculation mode, by the pump (6.40) and fed back to the reservoir (8.40) through non-return/shut-off valve (31.40), wherein the sensor (12.40) for monitoring the insoluble impurities and concentrations of cleaning additive, magnetic filter and the sensor for monitoring the additive that maintains the lubricating properties of the oil (13.40) and the sensor (14.40) for monitoring the additive with anti-foaming properties determine the corresponding parameters.

In the first recirculation circuit, the oil is pumped, in the recirculation mode, until the oil is fully tested in terms of insoluble impurities and the need for applying the appropriate additives. Once the complete data is received from the said sensors (12.40, 13.40, 14.40), such data is sent to the control unit (5.40) of module (40) to determine whether there is a need to apply the appropriate amount of additives required for recovering the oil in the module (30).

Based on the data received on insoluble impurities, the module (40) operates to pump the oil through the second recirculation circuit and, to do this, the controllable electromagnetic valve (25.40) is closed and the controllable electromagnetic valve (32.40) is opened, and the pump (6.40) is used to pump the oil through the centrifuges (10.40, 11.40), where the oil is purified of insoluble impurities and then, through non-return/shut-off valve (29.40), the oil is fed back to the reservoir (8.40). After several recirculation cycles in the second recirculation circuit, the controllable electromagnetic valve (32.40) is closed, and the controllable electromagnetic valve (25.40) is opened and the oil is fed to the first recirculation circuit, and the sensor (12.40) is used to determine the content of insoluble impurities. If the oil insufficiently purified, it is fed back to the second recirculation circuit for purification in centrifuges (10.40, 11.40).

When the required content level of insoluble impurities in the oil is reached, which can be ensured by the centrifuges, the controllable electromagnetic valve (26.40) is opened, while the controllable electromagnetic valves (25.40, 32.40) are closed, and the oil is fed to the third recirculation circuit and is pumped, in the recirculation mode, through the fine filter (9.40) and is fed back to the reservoir (8.40) through non-return/shut-off valve (30.40).

After several recirculation cycles in the third recirculation circuit, the oil is fed to the first recirculation circuit, where the sensor (12.40) is used to determine the content level of insoluble impurities. If the content level of insoluble impurities failed to reach the required level, which may be ensured by the filter (9.40), then the oil is fed back to the third recirculation circuit. Once the required content level of insoluble impurities in the oil is reached, the controllable electromagnetic valve (18.40) for feeding the oil to the module (10) is opened, and the controllable electromagnetic valve (27.40) is closed, and the oil is pumped, through high-pressure hydraulic hose connected using the connecting sleeve (2.40) to the module (10), to the module (10) for further diagnostics, regeneration or recovery and, once the oil in the reservoir (8.40) reaches the low level, this triggers the level sensor (16.40) of the reservoir (8.40), which stops the pump (6.40) and closes the valves (18.40, 20.40).

From the module (40), the oil is fed to the module (10) to the unit for feeding the oil to be purified from the module (40), wherein the oil, after passing through the coarse filter (11.10), controllable electromagnetic valves (12.10, 13.10) and the T-bend (22.10) with installed moisture sensor (8.10), is fed to the functional reservoir (1.10) and, once the functional reservoir (1.10) is filled, this triggers the high level sensor (31.10) and the electromagnetic valves (12.10, 13.10) will close.

Next, the computer-controlled (4.10) electrical heater (44.10) is activated and the external air supply is configured to maintain the required vacuum parameters (required pressure) using the valve (21.10) for supplying air to the reservoir (1.10), wherein the external air is fed through the air filter (28.10) and, next, the computer-controlled (4.10) air compressor (3.10) driven by the electric motor (49.10) is activated to create vacuum inside the functional reservoir (1.10). The sensor (10.10) shows the parameters of vacuum (pressure) in the reservoir (1.10); a filter (7.10) is provided to capture any evaporated oil in the vapor/air line used for feeding the vapor/air mixture from the reservoir (1.10), wherein such vapor/air line is connected to the reservoir (46.10) with the drainage valve (42.10) and level sensor (32.10) of the drainage unit made in the form of high-pressure hydraulic hose with electromagnetic valve (26.10) connecting the reservoir (46.10) through a T-bend (25.10).

If the reservoir (46.10) is filled with the oil, this triggers the level sensor (32.10) and the integrated plant will stop until the issue of overfilling is resolved, and there is also a bypass line connected to the reservoir 46, which line comprises a safety valve (26.10) with a T-bend (25.10), which valve is configured for a certain pressure.

If the oil is fed to the vapor/air line (such as, in case of the level sensor's (31.10) failure), an excess pressure builds up in the filter (7.10), and the safety valve (26.10) configured to open at a certain pressure is opened, and the reservoir (46.10) is filled; when the reservoir (46.10) is filled, this triggers the level sensor (32.10) and on-board computer (4.10), which stops the module (10) and sends the signals to the control units (3.20, 5.30, 5.40), which stop the modules (20, 30, 40) and, as a result, the operation of the entire integrated plant is stopped.

Next, the electromagnetic valves (14.10, 15.10, 19.10) are opened, while the electromagnetic valves (9.10, 13.10, 16.10, 17.10, 20.10) are stopped, and the oil is fed from the reservoir (1), using the computer-controlled (4.10) pump (2.10) driven by the electric motor (48.10), to the filter (6.10) of the recirculation circuit and, after that, it is fed back to the reservoir (1.10). In the recirculation mode, the oil is pumped through the filter (6.10) until the moisture and vapor content of the fuel fractions in the oil reaches the required values, as determined by the moisture sensor (6.10), and moisture content in the oil is reduced by heating up the reservoir (1.10) and collecting the vapor/air mixture from the reservoir (1.10) to the module (20), and the vapor content of the fuel fractions in the oil is reduced by collecting the vapor/air mixture from the reservoir (1.10) to the module (20).

To collect the vapor/air mixture from the reservoir (1.10) to the module (20), the computer-controlled (4.10) electromagnetic valve (18.10) of the vapor/air line connected through the connecting sleeve (43.10) for removing the vapor/air mixture to the connecting sleeve (17.20) of high-pressure hydraulic hose of the unit for feeding the vapor/air mixture to the reservoir (1.20) for cooling and collecting the vapors of fuel fractions of the module (20). The external air intake (19.20) is connected to the gas analyzer (5.20) to determine the vapor content of fuel fractions and to the inner space of the module (10). Before the module (20) starts to operate, the reservoir (1.20) is filled with the cooling water using high-pressure hydraulic hose of the unit for feeding the fresh water to the level reached when the sensor (8.20) connected through the connecting sleeve (14.20) with the cooling system is triggered and, at that time, the valve (11.20) high-pressure hydraulic hose is automatically closed. The reservoir (1.10) is connected, using a high-pressure hydraulic hose unit for feeding the coolant into the drainage system, through a connecting sleeve (15.20) to the drainage system, and is connected, using a high-pressure hydraulic hose of the unit for removing the vapors of fuel fractions, through a connecting sleeve (16.20) to the reservoir or system for collecting the vapors of fuel fractions, and is connected, using a high-pressure hydraulic hose of the unit for feeding the vapor/air mixture, through a connecting sleeve (18.20) to the air compressor (3.10) of the module (10).

When the oil is being purified of vapors of fuel fractions in the module (10), the valve (10.10) is in its opened position to create the vacuum in the reservoir (1.10) of the module (10), and remove the vapors of fuel fractions from the functional reservoir (1.10) and, when the oil is being purified from the fuel fractions, the suction pipe of the compressor (3.10) is disconnected from the valves (18.10) and the air is taken from the external environment, and the ejector (2.20) creates the vacuum in the reservoir (1.10), which ensures the safe operation of the integrated plant.

When the compressor (3.10) is switched on, the computer (4.10) of the module (10) sends a signal to the control unit (3.2) of the module (20), and sends a signal to open the controllable electromagnetic valve (13.20) to create the vacuum in the functional reservoir (1.10) of the module (10) and feed the vapors of the fuel fractions to the module (20). This design is provided to make the operation of the integrated plant safe; if the vapor/air flow is fed directly through the compressor (3.10), the fuel vapors can be ignited by the heat of the operating compressor (3.10); and, in this case, the air flow generated by the compressor (3.10) causes the vapor/air mixture to be carried away, thereby, excluding its contact with the housing of the compressor (3.10); and the vapor/air mixture is fed to the reservoir (1.20) of the module (20) for collecting the vapors of fuel fractions and cooling down the vapor/air mixture.

The vapors of fuel fractions from the module (10) are fed to the functional reservoir (1.20) of the module (20), where they condensate at the contact with the water and accumulate at the water surface; and, after the high level sensor (9) is triggered, the electromagnetic valve (12.20) controlled by the control unit (3.20) is opened, and the vapors of fuel fractions move, on their own, to the reservoir or the system for collecting the vapors of fuel fractions; and, in this case, the level in reservoir (1.20) becomes lower and, when the level sensor (8.20) is triggered, the electromagnetic valve (12.20) is closed. When the coolant reaches the temperature, at which the vapors of fuel fractions cannot condensate, the feeding of the vapors of fuels fractions from the module (10) is stopped by closing the electromagnetic valves (18.10) at a signal sent by the temperature sensor (6.20). The fuel fractions accumulated in the reservoir (1.20) are fed to the reservoir or system for collecting the vapors of fuel fractions in accordance with the process described earlier, after which the electromagnetic valve (10.20) controlled by the control unit (3.20) is opened and the coolant is fed to the drainage system and, as the level in the reservoir becomes lower, the electromagnetic valve (10.20) is closed after the triggering of the sensor (7.20). Next, the electromagnetic valve (11.20) is opened and the reservoir (1.20) is filled with the coolant and, when the sensor (8.20) is triggered, the electromagnetic valve (11.20) is closed, and the feeding of vapors of fuel fractions from the module (10) resumes by opening the electromagnetic valves (18.10). The opening and closing cycles are repeated until the oil is completely purified of vapors of fuel fractions in the reservoir (1.10) of the module (10).

Once the moisture and the vapors of fuel fractions are removed from the oil, and based on the information received earlier from the module (40) on the need to apply an appropriate amount of required additives, the computer (4.10) of the module (10) sends a signal to the control unit (3.30) of the module (30) to apply the additives to the operating reservoir (1.30) so that they can be mixed with the oil. To mix the oil with the additives, the controllable electromagnetic valves (15.10, 19.10) of the module (10) are closed, and the controllable electromagnetic valve (17.10) of the module (10) is opened, and the controllable electromagnetic valve (12.30) of the module (30) is opened to fill the reservoir (1.30) for mixing regenerated oil with recovery additives of the module (30), and the oil from the module (10) is fed to the reservoir (1.30) of the module (30). When the reservoir (1.30) is filled, this triggers the low level sensor (13.30) of the reservoir (1.30), and the controllable electromagnetic valve (9.30), and/or controllable electromagnetic valve (10.30), and/or controllable electromagnetic valve (11.30) is/are opened, depending on the additive required for application to the oil to be recovered from the reservoir (2.30) with the cleaning additive, and/or the reservoir (3.30) with an additive that maintains the lubricating properties of the oil, and/or the reservoir (4.30) with an additive with anti-foaming properties, and the flow meter (6.30) is used to record the required amount of the additive to apply when filling the reservoir (1.30). When the high level sensor (14.30) of the reservoir (1.30) is triggered, the control unit (5.30) of the module (30) sends a signal to the on-board computer (4.10) of the module (10) to close the controllable electromagnetic valve (14.10) and open the electromagnetic valve (16.10), and the control unit (5.30) also sends a signal to open the electromagnetic valve (8.30); and, next, the oil is mixed; to do this, the pump (2.10) of the module (10) pumps the oil with the additives through the following recirculation circuit: reservoir (1.30)—electromagnetic valve (8.30)—electromagnetic valve (16.10)—electromagnetic valve (17.10)—electromagnetic valve (12.30)—mixer (7.30) of the oil to be regenerated and additives—reservoir (1.30), wherein the oil and the additive are mixed in the mixer (7.30). Once the mixing of oil with the functional additives reaches a certain number of operating cycles, the electromagnetic valve (8.30) is closed, and the reservoir (1.30) is filled to the level that triggers the level sensor (14.30), and the electromagnetic valve (12.30) is closed; next, the valve (8.30) is opened and the oil is fed to the functional reservoir (1.10) of the module (10); next, the electromagnetic valve (9.10) is opened and the electromagnetic valve (17.10) is closed, and the oil is fed to the functional reservoir (1.10) of the module (10) to be dispersed in a heated state. Once the reservoir (1.30) of the module (30) is drained, this triggers the level sensor (13.30) and the electromagnetic valve (8.30) is closed. Next, following the dispersion in the module (10), the recovered oil is fed from the functional reservoir (1.10) to the reservoir (8.40) for diagnostics and purification of the oil from insoluble impurities in the module (40), and the system of the module (40) conducts the control test using the sensors (12.40, 13.40, 14.40) of the first recirculation circuit, as described above. Once the on-board computer (4.10) of the module (10) processes all information, which was sent by the control unit (5.40) of the module (40) and which was received by the unit (5.40) from the sensors (12.40, 13.40, 14.40), and positively determines that the oil was recovered and regenerated, the on-board computer (4.10) sends a signal to the unit (5.40) to open the electromagnetic valves (17.40, 20.40) of the module (40), while the electromagnetic valves (18.40, 21.40, 27.40) are closed, and the oil is fed by the pump (6.40) of the module (40), through the valve (17.40), back to the system where it was taken from for regeneration and recovery. If the gas analyzer (4.20) finds any leak of the vapors of fuel fractions in the housing of the module (10) or the gas analyzer (5.20) finds any leak of the vapors of fuel fractions in the housing of the module (20), the control unit (3.20) of the module (20) sends a signal to the on-board computer (4.10), which will stop the operation of the module (10) and will send signals to the control units (3.20, 5.30, 5.40), which will stop the operation of the modules (20, 30, 40) and, therefore, the operation of the entire integrated plant will stop.

The integrated plant is fully automated, including both the diagnostics of the industrial and engine oil to be regenerated and recovered, and the safety system that monitors the maximum allowed values of fuel vapors in the operating environment. Also, the design and structural characteristics of the units and components of the integrated plant's modules, the clear interactions between all modules of the integrated plant, the monitoring over the operating parameters of both the integrated plant in general and the parameters of the oil to be purified, the monitoring over the undesirable impurities content (insoluble impurities, water, fuel), as well as desired (functional) additives, allow to improve the degree of oil purification and recovery up to 99.9% and enhance the safety of the integrated plant.

The invention has been disclosed above with reference to its particular embodiment. Other embodiments of the invention that do not change the essence of the invention as disclosed in this description may also be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention should be considered limited in scope only by the claims below.