I’ve recently qualified as a marine engineer, but am a bit stumped when it comes to understanding back pressure and how it’s used to make the separation process of heavy and light oil more efficient. All the explanations I’ve read are all related to cars or bikes, which isn’t helpful.
If there’s anyone who has worked with oil purifiers, and can explain this, would help a lot.
Thanks.
In: Engineering
Back pressure is maintained by the gravity disc and is used to limit flow of separated water holding the water inside the purifier. If the hole diameter is larger then back pressure decreases and more water flows out of the purifier and the oil/water interface will expand outwards. If the hole diameter is smaller then the increased back pressure will push the oil inward and the oil/water interface will contract inwards. If your gravity disc is too small then water will start coming out from the purified oil side causing a “leaking purifier”. If your gravity disc is too large then oil will come through the water outlet causing an “overflown purifier”.
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