How We Removed Bacteria and Metal from Water at a Funeral Home
EasyWater Iron Shield
Have you ever had contaminated well-water at your home? How about “hard” public city water at the office? Did you know that there are alternative ways to properly condition and filter your water supply?
At a recent school fund-raiser, I ran into an owner of a local funeral home who had an issue with water contamination in his well-water supply. After a brief discussion, I learned that the well water was contaminated with coliform bacteria. The owner of the funeral home was looking for a quick and easy solution to remove the coliform from the public water supply. The timing could not have been better. We had just finalized a distributor agreement with a company called Frieji EasyWater, enabling us to provide a variety of solutions for commercial water conditioning for both well-water and city-water.
Before we could recommend an appropriate solution to his problem, we opted to first test the water for other issues. It was a good thing we did. In addition to the coliform contamination, we found high amounts of iron and other metals in the water. Needless to say, the funeral home also had “hard water” (excess mineral content), which was causing staining in the sinks and toilets, and scale build-up in the piping and in the faucet aerators.
EasyWater No-Salt Conditioner
Good thing for the funeral home, Frieji helped us to handle all of their problems. In response to the owner’s original concern, the coliform bacteria, we suggested the EasyWater Bacteria Shield. The Bacteria Shield uses a targeted range of ultraviolet light (UV) that inactivates harmful pathogens and prevents bacterial contamination. In order to fix the water hardness we suggested the EasyWater No-Salt Water Conditioner. The No-Salt Conditioner uses “electronic scale-control” technology to reduce hard water scale build-up. It works by applying a small electrical charge to the water molecules, thus dissolving existing scale and preventing scale from building up. As for the excess iron, we suggested the EasyWater Iron Shield. The Iron Shield injects air into a proprietary filtration media that eliminates contaminants along with undesirable iron stains, foul tastes, and odors.
The owner of the funeral home ultimately decided to go with everything that we suggested. We scheduled a date to do the installation and a few days later our service team showed up in person. We had everything up and running in under 3 hours. The owner was very happy and now he wants us to help him out with his other funeral home locations. Success once again… with a little help from our friends over at EasyWater. Thanks guys!
Do you have a question about EasyWater filters or liquid filter systems? Feel free to contact us anytime. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to help you out with your particular issue.
Until next time!
Charlie at Precision Filtration Products
P.S. Have you seen us in our latest VIDEOS? If not, click here to check us out now!
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Sean Saves the Coast Guard… wait, what?
Hydraulic Oil Filter Cart
On 8:00 AM one Friday morning I got a call from the owner of a company (let’s call him Joe) that works mainly with environmental clean-ups on the east coast. He was looking to rent a filter cart to service 1,500 gallons of lubricating oil on a Coast Guard vessel. Joe wanted to move the lube oil from a holding tank to a certified stainless steel tank. But the oil he was working with had a very high viscosity, so he needed something special. Was I able to provide him with a viable solution?
Joe wanted to accomplish two primary goals at the same time: 1. to remove water from the oil and 2. to filter particulate from the oil down to 5 micron. In order to help them out, I proposed our 22-GPM “LCFC” liquid filter cart (PDF), which we had available in our fleet of rental equipment. It’s great for filtering oil of higher viscosities and it’s capable of pumping 500 gallons very quickly. The company needed the filter cart for only a few days, but I offered it to them for a full week just in case they encountered some contingencies. I made sure to also include the appropriate filter elements that would enable them to both remove water and purify the oil. Joe also made a special request for camlock fittings for the end of the hoses so I had our team set up the hoses to accommodate that as well.
Fast forward one week later. Upon returning the filter cart, Joe provided a couple photos (the one close-up above, and this larger view of the operation) showing his setup of a diaphragm pump that he used to pull oil from tanks up to our filter cart. He said he had about 40 engineers standing around watching what he was doing, so needless to say he felt a lot of pressure while he was getting setup. In the end, he reported back to us that the cart worked wonderfully and they were very happy with the oil quality produced by the filter cart. All of the engineers were also impressed. Yes! Another happy customer.
Do you have a question about filters or filtration? Feel free to contact us anytime. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to help you out with your particular issue.
Until next time!
Sean at Precision Filtration Products
P.S. Have you seen our latest videos? If not, click here to check them out now!
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Success Story: Filtering Deionized Water for a National Laboratory
Custom Filter Cart Engineering Drawing
(Note to reader: This is part 1 of a 2-part series.) Picture this… A large national laboratory had just finished fabricating a special magnet system, but there was a lot of debris remaining after the process. This particular lab was circulating deionized water (also known as “DI water”) through the new system, but prior to start-up, the water needed to be filtered and recirculated until the system was clean. This situation actually happened to one of our customers. If it were you, how might you have resolved this sensitive issue?
The system had a high differential pressure of 70 PSI and a flow of 10-GPM to 15-GPM, so we actually needed to incorporate a custom stainless-steel pump in order to meet their flow and pressure requirements. Since DI water corrodes most metals, many of their standard components also had to be upgraded to stainless steel or a suitable plastic polymer.
So what made this situation any different than other filter cart application? This one was unique because the laboratory required the addition of an special compressor to purge the DI water from the system after it was purified. We knew the volume of the system and the pressure that needed to be overcome, so we decided that it was best to use a 5-gallon air tank to have enough air at the system’s disposal. In order to finish the job well, we ended up developing a full-scale custom filter cart that included an on-board compressor, which was needed to force air behind the deionized water and thus push it out of the vein in the magnet. The engineering sketch (click for full size) that you see with this article is the initial drawing that we devised. But we’re not done yet. What trials and tribulations may we encounter at start-up? Will the laboratory see successful results once all the kinks are worked out? Scroll down and look right to subscribe to this blog or click here for our filtration newsletter to be notified when I post part two!
Do you have a question about filters or filtration? Feel free to contact us anytime. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to help you out with your particular issue.
Until next time!
Chris at Precision Filtration Products
P.S. Have you seen our latest videos? If not, click here to check them out now!
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Success Story: How We Helped a Customer to Filter Jet Fuel
Jet-A Fuel with Storage Tanks
Have you ever had a contaminated jet fuel tank? One of my recent customers, a jet fuel storage facility (liquid terminal) had a fuel tank that contained 75,000 barrels of contaminated jet-A fuel. Our initial testing showed high amounts of particulates and significant discoloration. Our Millipore particulate tests showed a contamination level of B7, which meant that we needed to take significant action to lower the particulate counts. The fuel was also “straw-colored” (or yellowish) in appearance, which is definitely not how clean jet fuel should appear! Our Saybolt color analysis showed a discoloration level of 13, which was well below the minimum requirement of 17. We decided that we needed to install a multi-stage filtration system to lower the particulate counts and to remove the color bodies causing discoloration. We needed to quickly help them achieve their fuel quality requirements.
We immediately got to work by mobilizing an on-site service crew with the appropriate filtration technology to help the company to achieve their goals. The first stage of filtration implemented a 0.5-micron paper fuel pre-filter to efficiently remove particulate contamination. Due to the extreme discoloration, clay treaters were installed in both the 2nd and 3rd stages. Dual-stage clay treatment allowed us to maximize resonance time and to achieve the best possible results. After passing the fuel through our multi-stage fuel filtration system, our Millipore particulate tests showed a B2 level and the Saybolt analysis showed a level of 30! Overall, the outbound fuel quality was exceptional, and it significantly exceeded the minimum requirements. We provided a rapid solution that resulted in clean fuel, a significant cost savings and, ultimately, a very happy customer!
Do you have a question about filters or filtration? Feel free to contact us anytime. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to help you out with your particular issue.
Until next time!
Todd at Precision Filtration Products
P.S. Have you seen our latest videos? If not, click here to check them out now!
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Success Story: Paper Mill Lowers Acidity of Phosphate Ester Fluid
Clay Treater Filter Cartridge
Have you ever had high levels of acid in your phosphate ester fluid? Well, check out my new story… A large power plant, located on-site at a paper mill, contacted me regarding some issues they were having with acidic phosphate ester fluid. What is that stuff, you say? Phosphate ester is a synthetic liquid that is used as a hydraulic fluid or as a lubricant (lube oil) because it has a high thermal tolerance. It is often used in high-temperature applications because of its high flash point and self-extinguishing ability. Why were they having issues with its acidity? Well, the lower the pH of oil (i.e. the higher the acidity) the more corrosive it can become, which is bad for the machinery. Higher levels of acid will also have an adverse effect on the additives in the oil, causing them to drop out or degrade in effectiveness.
After thoroughly reviewing their application, I suggested that they use fullers earth filter cartridges in order to lower the acidity of the the phosphate ester fluid. Fullers earth is basically diatomaceous earth media in bulk form, but it’s filtered using a clay treater. With certain brands of phosphate ester fluid you must use Selexsorb, which is an activated alumina bulk media used to condition the oil. However, fullers earth as a filter media is typically less expensive than the Selexsorb media. Fortunately for the paper mill, their brand of phosphate ester was compatible with fullers earth. I also recommended that they use fullers earth because some of my other customers had reported good results using it in similar applications.
Prior to us sending the fullers earth elements the acidity level of their phosphate ester was close to a pH of 2. During 3 months in operation with the fullers earth cartridges that we supplied, their acid numbers have returned to being within the manufacturer’s specifications. To this day the acidity remains at a near-neutral pH of 6. Success once again!
Do you have a question about filters or filtration? Feel free to contact us anytime. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to help you out with your particular issue.
Until next time!
Paul at Precision Filtration Products
P.S. Have you seen our latest videos? If not, click here to check them out now!
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Purify Power Turbine Lube Oil with a Vacuum Dehydrator
Custom-Built Vacuum Dehydrator
Do you ever encounter particulate or water contamination at your power plant? A power facility in Canada had been renting a 50-GPM vacuum dehydrator from us to purify the oil lubrication system of one of their four power turbines. Our basic filtration rental system performed so well for the customer that they decided to purchase a custom-built 50-GPM vacuum dehydrator to purify AND remove the water contamination from ALL of their turbines’ reservoirs.
This particular customer ordered brand new vacuum dehydrators with in-line particle counters, in-line digital moisture indicators, and automatic water drains with an extra pump to carry the collected condensate into a separate storage container for proper disposal.
We look forward to hearing how these vacuum dehydrators help the power plant to achieve their target ISO cleanliness codes as well as improve the reliability of their machinery. Of course, we’ll post something once we hear some results.
Do you have a question about filters or filtration? Feel free to contact us anytime. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to help you out with your particular issue.
Until next time!
Paul at Precision Filtration Products
P.S. Have you seen our latest videos? If not, click here to check them out now!
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Tech Tip: Why You Shouldn’t Use Teflon Tape
Don't Use Teflon Tape
Do you use Teflon tape in the piping of your hydraulic applications? Teflon tape has been a fixture in many tool boxes for years. And for years it has had the potential to inject debris into oil systems, which has caused numerous problems.
Scenario: Imagine a mechanic using Teflon tape to seal a connection on a critical hydraulic system. Now imagine that pieces of Teflon tape are ground into small particles when the piping connection is made. These small particles are carried downstream, where they get caught in a servo valve. Eventually, the clogged valve causes the plant to shut down temporarily.
If that happened to you, how much would it cost you in lost production, repair costs, and lost opportunity? All because someone used a $1.00 roll of Teflon tape.
If you can, try to engineer out of your hydraulic systems all tapered threads. If this can not be done, try using a liquid thread sealing compound. You should only use Teflon tape as a last resort, while making sure that you use the plumbers rule: one and a half turns; one and a half threads back.
Do you have a question about filters or filtration? Feel free to contact us anytime. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to help you out with your particular issue.
Until next time!
Paul at Precision Filtration Products
P.S. Have you seen our latest videos? If not, click here to check them out now!
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Made in the USA: Wartsila Engine Lube Oil Filter
Wartsila Natural Gas Engine
Are you making sure to buy your filter elements and systems from a domestic source? One of our recent customers was a power plant that was operating multiple Wartsila natural gas engines. They came to us to see if we could provide an engine lube oil filter that was made in the USA. They were tired of dealing with the long lead times and high costs for the original filter elements, which were coming all the way from Europe. How did we respond? Yes, we can do that!
In order to properly spec out a replacement, the customer provided an original sample for us to reverse engineer. We conducted various tests on the OEM filter in order to determine its micron rating and to verify its filtration efficiency. After taking measurements and testing thoroughly, we were able to provide an interchange that matched the performance of the original filter element.
By now, it’s been several months since the installation, and we’ve received feedback that our natural gas filter replacements have been successfully maintaining the oil quality at the power plant. The customer now has enjoys the benefit of a lower cost per filter element and lower shipping fees, all while still being able to meet or exceed their oil cleanliness goal.
Do you have a question about filters or filtration? Feel free to contact us anytime. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to help you out with your particular issue.
Until next time!
Paul at Precision Filtration Products
P.S. Have you seen our latest videos? If not, click here to check them out now!
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ISO Cleanliness Code Chart
Did you ever wonder if new hydraulic oil was really clean?? The truth is… it’s not! Straight from the drum, so-called “new” hydraulic oil has a typical ISO cleanliness level of ISO 4406 23/21/18 or worse. Now that number may not mean a lot to you, but it’s four cleanliness code levels below what is considered acceptable for a high-pressure, high-performance hydraulic system.
Looking at it another way, a 25-GPM pump operating continuously in hydraulic oil at the aforementioned ISO rating (23/21/18) will circulate approximately 3,500 pounds of dirt to the hydraulic system’s components each year. That’s enough to cause some serious wear and tear, and possibly premature malfunctions!
Here’s my advice to everyone out there who operates industrial equipment that filters hydraulic fluid… Make sure to keep your systems running at peak performance – Always filter the oil before filling or topping off your reservoirs. Click on the chart to the left for more information about ISO cleanliness code 4406 and how to achieve your target cleanliness levels.
Do you have a question about filters or filtration? Feel free to contact us anytime. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to help you out with your particular issue.
Until next time!
Paul at Precision Filtration Products
P.S. Have you seen our latest videos? If not, click here to check them out now!
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Electric-Powered Spin-On Filter Cart
Have you ever needed to purify hydraulic oil to a specific cleanliness range? We were recently contacted by a liquids product terminal operating company that was looking for a portable filter cart for filtering 1,824 SSU gear oil. The terminal company was looking for something rugged and heavy-duty in order to withstand their industrial operating environment.
After reviewing the application and target cleanliness goals of 17/15/12, I suggested that they use our popular SFC (spin-on filter cart). After reviewing bids by other manufacturers, they chose to purchase our 5-GPM model.
After several weeks in operation, the customer is very satisfied with their filtration equipment. Their target ISO cleanliness codes are being reached with our spin-on filter elements, well within their specifications. The operators are pleased with the cart construction as well. Some of the particular features of the filter cart that appealed to the operators include the sample ports, the strong aluminum construction, the no-flat pneumatic tires, and the differential indicators on each filter head.
Do you have a question about filters or filtration? Feel free to contact us anytime. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to help you out with your particular issue.
Until next time!
The Team at Precision Filtration Products
P.S. Have you seen our latest videos? If not, click here to check them out now!
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The Team at PFP
Chris at PFP
John at PFP
Todd at PFP
Kevin at PFP
Paul at PFP
Sean at PFP
Charlie Dinan at PFP
