Centrifugal oil filters and pneumatic oil filters (usually referred to as vacuum or pressurized oil filters) each have their advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the best one depends on your specific application, filtration requirements, and budget. Below is a comparison of the two:

1. Centrifugal Oil Filter

Principle:

The centrifugal force generated by high-speed rotation separates impurities (such as metal particles, water, and colloids) from waste oil. Dense impurities are thrown to the sides of the drum, leaving the clean oil in the center.

Advantages:

- No filter media required: No reliance on filter screens or filter paper, reducing consumable costs.

- Efficient water removal: Can separate free water and emulsified water (suitable for waste oil with high water content).

- High throughput: Suitable for continuous operation, such as batch processing of industrial waste oil.

- Simple maintenance: Maintains only the drum; no filter element replacement required.

Disadvantages:

- Limited accuracy: Less effective for fine particles (<1μm) or soluble impurities.

- High noise and vibration: High-speed rotation (typically 4000-6000 rpm) may require a vibration-damping foundation.

- High energy consumption: The motor power is high, increasing long-term operating costs.

Applications:

- Preliminary purification of industrial waste oils such as engine oil, lubricating oil, and hydraulic oil.

- Treatment of waste oil with high water content (such as ship oil and transformer oil).

2. Pneumatic Oil Filter (Pressure/Vacuum Oil Filter)

Principle:

- Pressurized oil filter: A pump applies pressure, forcing the oil through a high-precision filter element (such as glass fiber or stainless steel mesh) to intercept impurities.

- Vacuum oil filter: The oil is heated under negative pressure to evaporate water and filter impurities.

Advantages:

- High filtration accuracy: Reaching 1-5μm (even nanometer level), suitable for ultra-clean oil products (such as aviation hydraulic oil).

- Thorough impurity removal: Removing tiny particles, colloids, and oxides.

- Versatility: Vacuum-type filters can also perform deep dehydration and degassing (e.g., transformer oil regeneration).

- Stable operation: Low noise, suitable for precision environments (e.g., laboratories).

Disadvantages:

- Filter material cost: Regular filter element or filter cloth replacement is required, resulting in high long-term costs.

- Slow processing speed: High-precision filtration requires low flow rates (especially with vacuum-type filters).

- Complex maintenance: The vacuum system must be leak-proof, and the heating element requires temperature control.

Applicable applications:

- Regeneration of high-value oils (e.g., turbine oil, insulating oil).

- Applications requiring stringent oil cleanliness requirements (e.g., precision machinery, power equipment).

Comparison Summary

|     Comparison Items       |                         Centrifugal Oil Filter                                    |                                    Air Pressure Oil Filter                                          |

|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| Filtration Fineness           | Medium (5-50μm)                                                               | High (1-5μm or higher)                                                                          |

| Water Removal Capacity | Strong (free water, emulsified water)                                  | Strong for vacuum type, weak for pressurized type                              |

| Consumables Cost          | None                                                                                    | Filter Replacement Required                                                                  |

| Energy Consumption      | High                                                                                     | Medium (higher for vacuum type)                                                         |

| Applicable Oils                | Waste Oil Containing Water or Large Particles                   | Oils requiring high precision or requiring dehydration and degassing |

| Maintenance Difficulty    | Low                                                                                      | Medium-High                                                                                         |

| Price                                | Medium (but larger capacity models are more expensive) | High (especially for vacuum oil filters)                                                   |

How to Choose?

- Choose a centrifugal oil filter:

- For large waste oil treatment volumes, high water and solid impurity content (such as waste oil from construction machinery).

- For a limited budget and a desire to reduce consumables costs.

- Choose a pneumatic oil filter:

- For ultra-high cleanliness or dehydration and degassing (such as oil used in power systems).

- For high oil value and an acceptable filter element replacement cost.

Special needs: If both functions are required, consider a centrifugal + vacuum combination oil filter (first centrifugal coarse filtration, then vacuum fine filtration).

It is recommended to conduct a comprehensive assessment based on the actual oil contamination level, treatment volume, and budget, and consult a professional equipment supplier if necessary.