How to Remove Oil Stain From Diesel Generator?

How to remove oil stain from diesel generator set?

All parts of diesel generator that come into contact with various oils must be cleaned of oil after disintegration. Oil can be divided into two categories: saponifiable oil, which is oil that can interact with strong alkali to produce soap, such as animal oil and vegetable oil; and a type of oil that is not saponifiable, which cannot work with strong alkali, such as various mineral oil, lubricants, vaseline and paraffin. They are not soluble in water, but are soluble in organic solvents. These oils are removed mainly by chemical and electrochemical methods. Common cleaning solutions include organic solvents, alkaline solutions and chemical cleaning solutions. There are two methods of cleaning: manual and mechanical.

1. Cleaning solution

(1) Organic solvent

Common are kerosene, light diesel, gasoline, alcohol and trichloroethylene. Organic solvent oil removal is based on dissolving dirt, it has no damage to metal, can dissolve all kinds of grease, does not require heating, easy to use, good cleaning effect. However, most of the organic solvents are flammable, and the cost is high, which is mainly suitable for small-scale units and scattered maintenance work.

(2) Alkaline solvent

It is an aqueous solution of alkali or alkaline salt. The alkaline solution is used to chemically react with the saponifiable oil on the surface of the part to generate soap that is easily soluble in water and glycerin that is not easy to float on the surface of the part, and then washed with hot water to easily remove oil.

In the case where unsaponifiable oil and saponifiable oil are not easy to remove, an emulsifier should be added to the cleaning solution to emulsify the oil and separate it from the surface of the part. Commonly used emulsifiers are soap, water glass (sodium silicate), and gum. Different cleaning fluids should be used to clean parts of different materials. Alkaline solution has different corrosion effect on metal, especially on aluminum.

When cleaning with an alkaline solution, the solution is generally heated to 80 ~ 90°C. Rinse with hot water after degreasing to remove residual alkali solution on the surface to prevent parts from being corroded. Alkaline solution cleaning is widely used.

(3) Chemical cleaning fluid

It is a chemically synthesized water-based metal cleaning agent, which is mainly used as a surfactant. Because its surface active substances reduce interfacial tension and produce wetting, penetrating, emulsifying and dispersing, etc., have strong decontamination ability. It also has the advantages of non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-combustible, non-explosive, non-pollution, having certain anti-rust ability and low cost.

2. Cleaning method

(1) Scrubbing

Place the parts in a container containing diesel, kerosene or other cleaning fluids, scrub with cotton yarn or brush. This method is easy to operate, simple equipment, but low efficiency, and is used for small and medium-sized parts produced in small batches. Under normal circumstances, gasoline should not be used, because it has fat-solubility, which will damage human body and easily cause fire.

(2) Boiling cleaning

Place the prepared solution together with the parts to be cleaned into a cleaning tank of appropriate size welded with steel plate. A heating stove is arranged at the lower part of the pool, and the parts are heated to 80-90°C for washing.

(3) Spray rinsing

Spray the cleaning fluid with a certain pressure and temperature onto the surface of the part to remove oil. This method has good cleaning effect and high efficiency, but the equipment is complex, and it is suitable for cleaning parts with less complicated shape and serious oil dirt on the surface.

(4) Vibration cleaning

It is to place the cleaned parts on the cleaning basket or cleaning rack of the vibration cleaning machine, immerse it in the cleaning liquid, simulate the artificial rinsing action by the vibration of the cleaning machine, and cooperate with the chemical action of the cleaning liquid to achieve the purpose of removing the oil contamination.

(5) Ultrasonic cleaning

It achieves the purpose of removing oil stain of the parts by the combination of the chemical action of the cleaning solution and the ultrasonic oscillation effect introduced into the cleaning solution.