This video documents a used motor oil separation test performed on a pilot-scale Alfa Laval disc stack centrifuge (gyro tester) to demonstrate how effectively it can remove water, sludge, and fine solids from heavily contaminated oil. The goal of this trial is to validate centrifuge performance on a real customer sample and translate those results into a full-scale, self-cleaning Alfa Laval disc stack recommendation for continuous industrial operation.
Inside the high-speed bowl, centrifugal forces on the order of several thousand g separate the feed into three distinct phases: clarified oil as the light phase, separated free water as the heavy phase (if present), and compacted solids (sludge, ash, dirt, wear metals) that collect in the solids space of the bowl. After running the test, the separated oil phase was collected and allowed to sit for 60 minutes in a bench-top centrifuge to verify its clarity and stability compared to the original, contaminated sample. Side-by-side photographs (referenced in the test report) show the as-received used motor oil next to the separated oil, demonstrating a clear visual improvement in cleanliness and sediment removal.
In addition to the clarified oil, solids captured during the run were recovered from the centrifuge bowl, confirming the removal of heavy sediment and sludge from the used oil stream. Similar Alfa Laval disc stack testing on used engine oil has shown dramatic reductions in contaminants, with sediment dropping from about 2.4% to 0.06% by weight, ash content reduced from roughly 1.17% to 0.09%, and water reduced from more than 10% to below 1% in properly engineered systems. These results illustrate the potential of disc stack technology to replace or greatly reduce traditional heating, settling, and filtration when processing high-contamination waste oils.
Based on this pilot test, the recommendation is to use an Alfa Laval self-cleaning disc stack centrifuge for this application to continuously separate the used motor oil from heavier sediment and free water. The gyro tester used here is a manual-clean, pilot device with limited separation control, but it still mimics the hydraulic and separation behavior of larger production centrifuges. In full-scale Alfa Laval machines, operators can fine-tune performance using adjustable backpressure and interchangeable gravity discs to precisely set the separation interface, resulting in even cleaner oil and more efficient three-phase separation.
Several key process parameters highlighted in this test carry directly over to production design. Fluid temperature is critical, especially for viscous fluids like used motor oil, because higher temperature lowers viscosity and allows finer separation at the same G-force. Residence time inside the centrifuge bowl also plays a major role: by derating the flow on an oversized centrifuge, the oil remains under high G longer, improving removal of fine solids and residual water. Production Alfa Laval self-cleaning disc stack centrifuges automatically discharge accumulated solids at preset intervals controlled by a PLC, eliminating manual bowl cleaning and allowing long, unattended operation.
The broader context for this test is Dolphin Centrifuge’s waste oil and used oil centrifuge systems, which are designed to process from a few gallons per minute up to tens of gallons per minute continuously, depending on oil quality and required cleanliness. Industrial Alfa Laval disc stack centrifuges used in these systems generate up to roughly 8,000–10,000 g of centrifugal force, enabling removal of particles down to about 0.5–1 micron and separation of essentially all free water in a single pass when operated at proper temperature. Unlike filters, these systems do not rely on disposable media and are well suited to high-sludge, variable-quality waste oils where filters would plug rapidly and require frequent replacement.
By watching this video, you are seeing the same disc stack separation mechanism that is later scaled to fully automatic skid-mounted Alfa Laval systems for used motor oil recycling, black diesel production, and general waste oil purification. If you are evaluating a project involving used motor oil, refinery slop, tank bottoms, or other high-contamination waste oils, this pilot-scale test provides a realistic preview of what an industrial Alfa Laval self-cleaning disc stack centrifuge from Dolphin Centrifuge can achieve in your process. For more information on system sizing, flow rates, and complete waste oil centrifuge modules engineered and built in Warren, Michigan, visit DolphinCentrifuge.com or contact Dolphin Centrifuge to discuss your specific application.
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