Plant Applications: Oil, gas company reduces coolant disposal issues with filter

August 1, 2011

Situation

A Texas-based oil and gas company recently formed a team to focus on coolant cleanliness as a means to cut costs and increase plant safety and ecofriendliness.

Dirty coolant leads to shorter tooling life, increased downtime, quality issues, shorter machine-component life, and increased machine maintenance. It also can cause safety risks related to bacteria adhering to the metal particles.

Finally, disposal of coolants or traditional media used to filter coolants can be costly and hard on the environment.

Resolution

The company tried one Eco-Mag™, manufactured by Magnetic Products Inc. The compact unit uses high-power neodymium rare-earth magnets to remove steel and grinding media particles, down to submicron size, from fluids used in honing, tapping, cutting, grinding, and fine-finishing.

After trying one unit, the company orders one filter for each of its 27 turning machines. Each magnet pulls out 5 to 10 lbs. of metal particles per tank every couple of weeks, adding up to about 20 lbs. per month per tank.

The unit does not use consumables such as paper filters, saving costs and reducing landfill waste.

Magnetic Products Inc., P.O. Box 529, 683 Town Center Drive, Highland, MI 48357, 248-887-5600, info@mpimagnet.com.