Hydraulic Oil Coalescing Separator: Eliminating Water for Peak System Performance
The Hydraulic Oil Coalescing Separator from Lefilter is an advanced filtration unit dedicated to removing water and fine contaminants from hydraulic fluid. Water is a primary enemy of hydraulic systems, causing component corrosion, pump cavitation, valve sticking, and accelerated fluid breakdown. Our separator delivers dry, clean oil, ensuring precision control, maximizing component life, and reducing costly downtime in high-value machinery.
The Impact of Water in Hydraulics
Even small amounts of water (200-500 ppm) can severely impact system performance:
Reduced Lubrication Film Strength, leading to increased wear on pumps and valves.
Corrosion and Pitting of critical components like servo valves and cylinder rods.
Formation of Sludge and Varnish, clogging filters and small orifices.
Lefilter's coalescing separator actively solves this problem, often serving as a “polishing” stage after conventional particulate filtration.
Technology: How It Cleans Your Hydraulic Fluid
Our separator uses a targeted coalescence process, typically installed as a bypass or offline purification unit:
Fluid Conditioning: Oil from the reservoir is directed into the separator. An inlet diffuser promotes initial separation of large water droplets.
Coalescing Filtration: The fluid passes through a specialized coalescer element. This hydrophilic media captures emulsified water droplets, coalescing them into large drops that readily separate from the oil by gravity.
Polishing & Return: The dried oil then often flows through a final absorbent polymer cartridge or fine particulate filter to remove any trace water and particles before being returned to the reservoir in a pristine state.
Advantages for Your Operation
Maintains Fluid Integrity: Keeps water content below 100 ppm, preserving the lubricity and additive package of premium hydraulic oils.
Protects Precision Components: Essential for systems with sensitive servo and proportional valves, preventing rust and stiction failures.
Extends Fluid and Filter Life: Reduces the rate of acid formation and oxidation, allowing for longer oil change intervals and reduced waste.
Improves System Reliability: Prevents the unpredictable failures caused by water-induced corrosion and contamination.
Versatile Deployment: Available as portable filtration carts for maintenance or as permanently installed systems for continuous protection.
Technical Specifications
Parameter | Lefilter Specification |
|---|
Primary Function | Removal of Free/Emulsified Water & Fine Solids from Hydraulic Oil |
Water Removal | Reduces to < 100 ppm (target); capable of lower levels. |
Filtration Level | Coalescer + final polish down to 1-3 microns (absolute). |
Flow Rates | Portable Carts: 2-12 GPM; Fixed Systems: up to 30 GPM. |
Power | Electric or air-driven pump options. |
Construction | Reservoir, coalescer vessel, pump, and final filter on a rugged skid. |
Monitoring | Sight glasses, differential pressure gauges, optional online moisture sensors. |
Applications
Injection Molding Machines
Metal Stamping & Forging Presses
Machine Tool Hydraulic Systems
Marine & Offshore Hydraulics
Mobile Equipment (via portable units)
FAQ
Q: Can it handle high water content (e.g., from a major leak)?
A: It is designed for continuous conditioning. In a catastrophic water ingress event, the system should be isolated, and bulk water should be removed via sump draining or a dedicated vacuum dehydrator first.
Q: Does it also remove air from the oil?
A: While some air may separate, our standard coalescing separator is not primarily a de-aerator. For severe entrained air, a dedicated vacuum de-aeration unit is recommended.
Q: Is it compatible with water-glycol (HFC) fluids?
A: No. This product is for oil-based fluids. Water-glycol fluids require entirely different filtration technology.
