title: A new approach involving a multi transducer ultrasonic system for cleaning turbine engines' oil filters under practical conditions.
abstract: The purpose of this paper is to provide a green technology that can clean turbine engine oil filters effectively in ships using ultrasound, with ultrasonic devices having a frequency of 25kHz and different powers of 300W and 600W, respectively. The effects of temperature, ultrasonic cleaning times, pressure losses through the oil filter, solvent washing, and ultrasonic power devices were investigated. In addition, the cleaning efficiency of three modes (hand washing, preliminary washing and ultrasonic washing) were compared to assess their relative effectiveness. Experimental results revealed that the necessary ultrasonic time varied significantly depending on which solvent was used for washing. For instance, the optimum ultrasonic cleaning time was 50-60min when the oil filter was cleaned in a solvent of kerosene oil (KO) and over 80min when in a solvent of diesel oil (DO) using the same ultrasonic generator device (25kHz, 600W) and experimental conditions. Furthermore, microscopic examination did not reveal any damage or breakdown on or within the structure of the filter after ultrasonic cleaning, even in the filter's surfaces at a constantly low frequency of 25kHz and power specific capacity (100W/gal). Overall, it may be concluded that ultrasound-assisted oil filter washing is effective, requiring a significantly shorter time than manual washing. This ultrasonic method also shows promise as a green technology for washing oil filters in turbine engines in general and Vietnamese navy ships in particular, because of its high cleaning efficiency, operational simplicity and savings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Energy & Engineering, Kyonggi University, 443-760, Republic of Korea; Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment, Viet Nam. Electronic address: nguyensyduc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dinh Duc
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Huu Hao
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Dankook University, 448-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Energy & Engineering, Kyonggi University, 443-760, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Woong
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Institute for Tropicalization and Environment (ITE), Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Electronic address: buihonghavittep@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hong Ha
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Bui
keywords: Oil filter; Turbine engines; Ultrasonic cleaning; Ultrasonic devices; Ultrasonic irradiation