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Coalescing Test Bench

A coalescing test bench is a specialized apparatus used to evaluate the performance of coalescent cartridges and oil mist eliminators in removing oil-air aerosols. These devices are commonly employed in industrial settings to maintain air quality by capturing oil mist and aerosols, particularly in applications like Lube Oil Console for Gas turbines, metalworking, and compressed air systems.

Here's an overview of how a coalescing test bench works and its role in assessing the efficiency of coalescent cartridges and oil mist eliminators:

  • Objective: The primary objective of a coalescing test bench is to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of coalescent cartridges or oil mist eliminators in removing oil-air aerosols and mist from the air or gas stream. These devices are crucial for maintaining air quality and preventing oil contamination in industrial processes.
  • Test Setup: A typical coalescing test bench consists of the following components:
    • A test chamber (oil mist eliminator vessel) or test duct where the contaminated air or gas stream is introduced.
    • A coalescent cartridge or oil mist eliminator that is installed in the test chamber to capture oil aerosols and mist.
    • A controlled aerosol generator that generates a known concentration of oil-air aerosols.
    • Instruments for measuring the inlet and outlet aerosol concentrations and airflow rates.
    • Data acquisition systems and software for recording and analyzing test data.
  • Test Procedure: The test procedure on a coalescing test bench typically involves the following steps:
    • The contaminated air or gas stream, containing oil-air aerosols, is introduced into the test chamber.
    • The coalescent cartridge or oil mist eliminator under evaluation is placed in the path of the aerosol-laden airflow.
    • The aerosol generator is activated to introduce a known concentration of oil-air aerosols into the test chamber.
    • Measurements of aerosol concentration at the inlet and outlet of the coalescent cartridge or eliminator are taken, along with the airflow rate.
    • The test bench records data continuously during the test to determine the efficiency of the coalescent device in removing oil aerosols.
  • Efficiency Assessment: The efficiency of the coalescent cartridge or oil mist eliminator is assessed by comparing the inlet aerosol concentration to the outlet concentration. This calculation allows the determination of the device's capture efficiency in removing oil-air aerosols. The efficiency is usually expressed as a percentage for particle size ranges.
  • Reporting: Test results, including data, aerosol capture efficiency, and other relevant information, are documented in a report. This report provides a clear assessment of the coalescent cartridge's or eliminator's performance.

In summary, a Coalescing Test Bench is a critical tool for evaluating the efficiency of coalescent cartridges and oil mist eliminators in capturing oil-air aerosols. This assessment is crucial for maintaining air quality and preventing oil contamination in industrial processes, ensuring that these devices perform effectively and meet specific efficiency standards.

The Coalescing Test Bench is designed to evaluate air-oil mist filtration performances of the filtration elements and vessel during time. The test bench has been designed to allow the testing of two different arrangement for the filter:

  • Configuration 1, the filter is tested in vacuum operation;
  • Configuration 2, the filter is tested in pressure operation;

To reproduce the real working conditions of the tested filters, the test bench has been designed to generate an oil mist aerosol that is dispersed into the air stream using an atomizer nozzle driven by hot compressed air.

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The Coalescing Test Bench has all the necessary equipment and instrumentations to allow the reliability and repeatability of the test. The test bench allows the remote control of the tests using the Control System that performs all the automatic controls, the main control loops are: 

  • Air flow control, the flowrate is maintained constant using a flow transmitter that controls the inverter of the blower;
  • Air temperature control, the filter inlet temperature is maintained constant using a temperature transmitter that controls the heater of the air;
  • Oil flowrate maintained constant using a liquid flow controller ;

The control System also performs the safety control loops in case of any malfunction, stopping the test and bringing the test bench in a safe state. 

The Coalescing Test Bench has air sampling points allowing the characterization of air-oil mist and the determination of number and mass separation efficiency. 

Evaluable variables are:

  • Pressure drop versus time and flowrate
  • Coalescing filter elements saturation time
  • Determination of mass and number separation efficiency
  • Exit air quality with Draeger and spectrometers measurements
  • Characterization of oil-mist aerosol and relative numerical particle distribution at inlet and outlet of the filter

 

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Brochure Coalescing Test Bench

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