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US Coast Guard Utilizes PHoenix™ To Remove Contaminants From PAG Lubricants

PH20enix Us Coast Guard P.A.G. - Eal (Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants) Water And Salt Removal
PH20enix Us Coast Guard P.A.G. - Eal (Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants) Water And Salt Removal

US Coast Guard P.A.G. - EAL Water And Salt Removal

The US Coast Guard is the first US Fleet to replace the oil in any of its hydraulic systems (such as CPP - Propeller Pitch Control Systems) that may allow flow of oil into the environment (due to seal leaks). The USCGC is currently changing from mineral oils to EAL Environmentally Friendly Lubricants and has chosen PAG (Poly-alkylene Glycol). PAG was chosen since it is both biodegradable and does not form a sheen on top of the water in the event of a leak.

Although PAG lubricants have many benefits they also have a high ability to absorb water which is miscible in the lubricant to a very high level which overtime may damage the system. In addition, typical water removal technologies such as centrifuges, water absorbing filters and coalescers are unable to remove water contamination. Therefore, Dehydration is the only technology which will work to remove damaging water contamination from these fluids.

Typical oil dehydrators are both expensive and cumbersome to use onboard ships. The PHoenix™ Membrane Oil Dehydrator and Purifier, built exclusively by MSC Filtration Technologies, was the best solution. This simple and effective portable or permanent kidney loop filtration system works either offline or online and can handle high viscosity liquids.

The Solution: PHoenix™ C4 - 4 gpm purifier carts

The US Coast Guard has so far purchased 15 PHoenix purifier carts for use on various ships with more purchases expected. The PHoenix™ C4 - 4 gpm carts are for use on several ships that have had either seal leaks or sea water cooler leaks into their systems. The Coast Guard uses the Phoenix™ since it is easy to move around, is simple to hook up and run on 110V and is effective in removing both water and dissolved salts from hydraulic fluids.

The Results:

When oil contaminated with sea water is dehydrated, the salts brought in by the sea water will precipitate out into crystals since they are no longer miscible in the oil and then are removed as particulate by the PHoenix™ particulate filter.


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