Marine separators are a crucial part of a ship’s equipment for managing wastewater from industrial sites. One of their main functions is keeping the ship in compliance with shipping regulations regarding the maritime industry and protecting the environment from pollution. However, they may develop troubleshooting and damage that may affect their proper functioning.
What are the most common problems with marine separators? What can you do to fix them? Let’s see the answer below.
Water-Oil Emulsions
A really common problem in marine separators is the formation of water-oil emulsions. These emulsions can hinder the effectiveness of the vessel. This often occurs due to the presence of certain additives in the oil or improper operating conditions.
You can easily deal with this problem by adjusting the operating parameters. Also, you need to use demulsifying agents to facilitate better separation.
Excessive Vibration and Noise
Excessive vibration and noise indicate mechanical issues in any machinery, let alone in marine separators. These situations and problems can also affect the ship’s overall performance.
To avoid this, you need to regularly check for misalignment, worn-out bearings, and loose components. Perform often necessary repairs or replacements of mechanical parts.
Oil Leakage
Oil leakage is one of the most common problems that can affect how marine separators work. It can be caused by worn-out seals or improper assembly. You need to take extra care of these problems, as they can cause environmental concerns and decreased efficiency. Read more about the environmental benefits of marine separators here.
If you want to avoid this situation, you need to replace faulty seals and ensure proper assembly. Also, to avoid oils that have formed an emulsion in the waste water stream and cannot be removed by coalescing, do not use unapproved degreasers and detergents.
Inadequate Separation Efficiency
Reduced separation efficiency can be a result of incorrect settings, worn-out components, or excessive contaminants inside the separator.
In order to fix this matter, you have to adjust settings according to liquid specifications or the intended use of separator and replace worn-out parts. Moreover, never forget to clean the system thoroughly.
Oil Present in the Water Discharge
The causes of oil being carried over to the outlet stream are many. First and foremost, an oil spill may have overloaded the system. It is also possible that the waste oil decant tank is full, or that you may not have checked and cleaned them properly, according to the maintenance schedule.
Proper check and maintenance are necessary to avoid the appearance of oil in the water discharge.
How to Take Preventive Maintenance Measures
Proper maintenance is always the key to having machinery in good condition and functioning. In order to keep your separator healthy, take these measures into consideration:
- Organize regular inspections.
- Lubricate the separator often
- Replace the separator’s spare parts before they fail.
- Trust experienced and expert technicians for proper maintenance.
- Utilize advanced diagnostic tools.
Lastly, you can increase the efficiency of your marine vessel with Zedmar’s separator spare parts that are suitable for ALFA LAVAL and WESTFALIA separators. The high-quality operation of these significant vessels will be ensured by a complete inventory of spare parts that are in compliance with OEM specifications. Utilize your onboard systems to their full potential by investigating a wide selection of practical and innovative solutions!
