EDM Oil with Water Contamination

How is water getting into your system in the first place? This is the real problem which needs to be fixed.

There are oil conditioning units that will separate/filter the oil and water, but they are not cheap. I suggest the best solution is to stop the ingress of water in the first place. a small amount of water in a system can cause failure of multiple components.

How is the water entering the system? All systems I design to be outdoors are completely watertight, all bungs, couplings, filters etc. are all built on tank risers to prevent any water from entering the system. In humid areas I use Desiccant breather filters to remove any moisture from the air before it is pulled into the reservoir. It is essential that the system be sealed from water ingress.

The way I see it, simply trying to separate the oil and water will end up being a vastly more expensive (time/labor/components) option when compared to modifying the system once, and sealing it from possible contamination in the future. I'm guessing this is a system which was designed for use indoors, and has been placed outside?

Fix the real problem, don't put a band-aid on the stab wound when it really needs sutures.

What you are asking is possible...

http://www.cjc.dk/products/filter-separators/

http://www.cc-jensen.com/index.php?m=p&pid=35

http://www.hydrasep.com/

http://www.facetinternational.com/

and many many more...

Fix the real problem IMHO.

Cheers!

Floor space will not allow me to move the machine. I had a tarp over it but it keeps "disappearing". A second roof over the machine will just look ridiculous in a university setting.

I have a suggestion. Approach the engineering department of the university and present them with a challenge. Winning team gets a pizza.

So either its a really crappy university or someone at the top is putting far too much money into the sports programs instead of the educational part of the university system.

(Its not NDSU Fargo is it?)

5 to 7 gallons is a lot of water - is it directly under a serious leak of some sort?

Sorry I have not replied sooner. I woke up under the weather and am just now venturing near the computer.

Yes the machine is indoors and designed for use in that space. The root problem is a roof leak. The roof is flat with a tar coating and the leak can be any where. Not sure what a new roof will cost but even at $2,000 a filter cart will be much cheaper. Regardless I am still stuck with the job of cleaning the mess up when it happens. If I can put together a filter unit to flush the system then the job will be easier in the future. If nothing else comes of this post then I can at least provide good researched information as to what the expense is to keep going as we are versus repairing the roof. I am still searching the net for other options. I started there before posting but could not find a unit to handle this much water on a small scale. I do appreciate all of the replies and suggestions given.

Just wanted to give an update.

I have found a vendor that can help me with removing the water from the oil. The roof has been repaired and is scheduled to be replaced next summer.