WITH the growing trend for diesel-fuelled equipment, there’s been a greater demand for “cleaner”, non-contaminated diesel and lubricant oils.
That’s according to Willie Lamprecht, Business Unit Manager, Fluid Technology Low Pressure, BMG, who said, “The control and prevention of contamination of fluids is critical for optimum performance, improved reliability and extended service life of machinery, equipment and vehicles”.
The company’s Fluid Technology division provides filtration, separation and purification solutions for industries ranging from fuel distribution, offshore and aviation services to mining, power generation, agriculture and earthmoving, as well as chemical, petrochemical and military.
Lamprecht said the main cause of contamination in diesel and lubricant oils, is water and dirt ingress. “Foreign materials encourage the culture of bacteria, which feed on hydrocarbons and degrade fuel quality
“Our customers understand that without the implementation of a structured control and contamination prevention programme, premature equipment failure is likely to occur, resulting in unnecessary downtime and costly replacement of parts.”
He said all BMG filtration systems use advanced technology to ensure fluids – including water, fuel and lubricant oil – are within the required cleanliness standards. These systems comprise OMTEC ECO Blue Filters and FG desiccant breathers.
“A growing area of our filtration services is in bulk fuel filtration. Self-bunded tanks, which are used on fuel farms, are fitted with our own OMTEC spin-on filters, that have been specially designed for installation in the pumping compartment.
“These fuel farms are useful to ensure that equipment utilising fuel from the farms is filled with good quality fuel. This results in longer service life for mobile equipment and substantial cost savings. The disadvantages of burning contaminated fuel include damage to equipment, which needs more regular replacement and clogging of filters that causes downtime.”
Lamprecht said the company’s OMTEC ECO spin-on elements aim to ensure quick, effortless and efficient servicing of the fuel filtration system, without the need for specialised tooling, lifting equipment or elevated work platforms. “With this system, filter media has greater protection from environmental contamination during installation and maintenance, than conventional cartridge style elements.”
BMG’s ECO spin-on elements, which consist of three spin-on cartridges and water-repellent cartridges, offer 3 – 6 Micron ratings and a working pressure of 24 Bar. This range is suitable for efficient filtration and water absorption in all diesel fuels and is used largely by transport companies and in mobile equipment, in mining machines and any machine burning diesel for energy.
The filtration product range also encompasses FG desiccant breathers that are designed to protect lubricants and machines from damage caused by moisture and the ingress of particles.
The FG breather replaces conventional dust caps or breathers often found on new equipment. When contaminated air enters the top of the breather, it passes through layered filter media, blocking particles from entering the breather, thus preventing wear to equipment surfaces.
The filtered air passes through a bed of silica gel, which effectively removes moisture. Silica keeps the equipment dry by attracting moisture from inside the equipment reservoir during service or shutdown.
FG desiccant breathers have an enlarged housing, which the company says ensures up to 20% more absorption of moisture than conventional breathers.
“Breathers are suitable for use in hydraulic units, where there are high humidity and temperature fluctuations. The normal hazards of condensation – rapid ageing of hydraulic oil, degradation of additives and corrosion – are prevented.”
In addition, BMG supplies FG coalescer filters, which are used in the fuel line of marine diesel engines, as well as air breather filters with housings made of non-corrosive material.
Low-pressure filters for modern hydraulic systems are fitted with glass fibre PS filter elements, with high differential pressure stability and dirt holding capacity.
BMG’s fluid technology services include solutions for fuel and industrial filtration systems, hydraulics and pneumatics, lubrication, hydraulic hose and fittings, as well as instrumentation, pumps and industrial valves.
