Product & Installation Support
Harvard filtration systems are being used on a wide range of machinery. Some filtration applications are very straight forward in development, others have needed technical input to arrive at the best way to add a Harvard filter system and clean the fluid(s). Kidney loop filtration systems need to have a turnover rate that can keep up with the incoming contamination. This can be said for the various equipment that Harvard systems can be installed on. For example, engines generate more contamination than a turbine system and need to have a turnover of 2-3 times per hour to keep up with the incoming contamination. In contrast, turbine systems have lower contamination ingression and wear and require a lower turnover rate per hour to keep up with contamination. Please use the following descriptions as a guide to basic installation and technical support. If you require more in-depth installation and technical support, please contact Harvard Corporation.
In addition to all the major listed types of applications that Harvard systems can be outfitted for, we also offer options for the following categories in explosion proof specifications, and other custom filtration options. |
Harvard filtration systems are being used on a wide range of machinery. Some filtration applications are very straight forward in development, others have needed technical input to arrive at the best way to add a Harvard filter system and clean the fluid(s). Kidney loop filtration systems need to have a turnover rate that can keep up with the incoming contamination. This can be said for the various equipment that Harvard systems can be installed on. For example, engines generate more contamination than a turbine system and need to have a turnover of 2-3 times per hour to keep up with the incoming contamination. In contrast, turbine systems have lower contamination ingression and wear and require a lower turnover rate per hour to keep up with contamination. Please use the following descriptions as a guide to basic installation and technical support. If you require more in-depth installation and technical support, please contact Harvard Corporation.
In addition to all the major listed types of applications that Harvard systems can be outfitted for, we also offer options for the following categories in explosion proof specifications, and other custom filtration options. |
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Engines
Engines have an oil pressure system to move oil to the lubrication points within the engine. The pressure for the filter comes from the oil pressure already within the engine; this allows the oil to go through the filter at a specific flow rate that will maintain the engine oil pressure. (The oil pumps on engines are sized for more than a new engine requires so losing oil pressure is not an issue). Harvard suggests, in most cases, using a 1/4" line to feed the filter from the engine oil pressure gallery; and a 3/8" or 1/2" hose to return the clean filtered oil to the engine oil pan. However, the size of the filter and hoses depend on the quantity of oil in the engine. Harvard kidney loop filtration has been tried and tested successfully over the years and has worked very effectively while maintaining consistent oil pressure. Please contact Harvard with further questions you may have.
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Transmissions
Transmissions have an oil cooler that circulates the fluid, this is the source Harvard utilizes to move the oil through the kidney loop filter. Most oil coolers have PSI pressures between 15-80 PSI which is plenty to move the oil through a depth media filter. To move transmission oil through the filter, a tee with a 1/4" or 3/8" hose will need to be added to the infeed of the oil cooler line; once through the Harvard filter the clean fluid will be returned back to the transmission case or oil pan using either 3/8" or 1/2" hose. The quantity of oil will dictate the size of the filters needed. Please contact Harvard with further questions you may have.
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Hydraulic Systems
Because of sensitive components within hydraulic systems, they are the most important to keep clean. We will only describe the most common method of connecting a Harvard kidney loop filters to hydraulic systems. Be aware understanding that within hydraulic systems there are significant differences; please contact Harvard for more detailed technical information.
For installation on equipment that has an external oil cooling system, you can install a dedicated Harvard filter housing that is plumbed directly into the system and uses the internal circulation to push oil through the Harvard filter. In these cases, the system needs to have an oil cooling pressure source between 15-80 PSI to push the oil through the Harvard kidney loop filter. Typically, the oil cooler within the hydraulic system meets these needs well. To install a Harvard filter system on hydraulics, add a tee to the oil cooler feed line, using a 3/8" hose to move oil to the Harvard filter(s) and a 1/2" return line that will connect the clean oil back to the reservoir. An important note is that the return oil line will need to be connected below the oil level in the tank to keep aeration to a minimum.
For installation on equipment that does not have an external oil cooler, Harvard provides systems that have a separate pump and motor to circulate the oil. These units can be left to operate while the hydraulic equipment is off, making sure your fluids are kept clean continuously. These come in either dedicated T-frame or Wall-mount options and are plumbed directly into the hydraulic reservoir below the oil level line and wired into the available electrical system. We also provide portable hydraulic filtration cart options that can be moved from one system to another; these come equipped with hoses and a wired plug-in for easy transportation. Please contact Harvard with further questions you may have.
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Gear Boxes
Since most gear systems do not have pumps that circulate oil, a pump motor system is added to continuously filter the oil and keep it clean. Harvard offers dedicated T-frame or Wall-mount options for this that are plumbed directly into the reservoir and wired into the available electrical system. In addition, we offer portable filter carts that come equipped with hoses and a power cord plug-in for easy portability. For either option, it is best to draw oil from the low point in the system and return it either to the opposite side of the reservoir or the top of the gear case. This will return oil to the top of the gears to bathe the gears and bearings in clean high purity oil; or if plumbed to the opposite side of the gear case, it will cause the contamination to migrate to the suction side of the case creating a good cross flow. Please contact Harvard with further questions you may have.
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Fuel Tanks
There are two ways to clean diesel fuels. The single pass method is done by putting a Harvard filter in the dispensing hose of the fuel delivery system. This will reduce the flow rate about 10% due to the higher flow resistance of a depth media system. This will remove particulates and entrained water from the diesel fuel while it is dispensing delivering you with high purity diesel fuel.
Another method is to put a Harvard pump and motor system designed for diesel fuels on the fuel tank. The Harvard diesel fuel system is meant to drop free water out ahead of the depth media filter reducing the water that the filters would need to remove, providing longer life out of the elements. This method requires a power source to power the pump and motor. To install one of these systems onto your tank you should set it up so that the suction of the Harvard system would draw fuel from the opposite side of the tank that normal fuel is drawn from. The Harvard return line would connect to a tee where the fuel is drawn from the tank; thus creating a cross flow in the tank away from the normal flow assuring clean fluid is ready for dispensing when you are ready to draw from the tank. Please contact Harvard with further questions you may have.
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Turbine Oils
Cleaning the turbine oil is usually a matter of removing water and some particles. These oils tend to need a higher level of purity. Typically, on turbines a customer would use a T-Frame or Wall-mount system which are plumbed directly into the reservoir and wired into an available electrical system. In order to ensure complete filtration, you would want to make sure the feed line to the Harvard kidney loop filter system is on the opposite side of the outlet line; where clean high purity oil is dispensed back into the reservoir creating a cross flow. Depending on the application, some customers will use a portable Harvard filter cart for turbines; the portable carts come equipped with hoses and a power cord plug in for easy portability. However, the same cross flow dynamic should be followed for best results. Please contact Harvard with further questions you may have.
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Compressors
Piston compressors can be plumbed similar to the engine configuration, please see the engine description for details. Screw compressors must be handled in a different way. The screw compressor is a fast-moving set of intermeshing screw-like flights that move air or gas to build pressure. Oil is sucked into the inlet port along with the gas, helping to form a seal between the rotating flights and the case. This oil then is removed from the gas in a separating vessel that is under pressure; these pressures can be higher than a normal Harvard filter canister is built for. In this case, you would use a Harvard high-pressure canister. The pressure to the filter comes from the oil under pressure in the separation vessel; using a 1/4" or 3/8" feed line to the Harvard kidney loop filter and then returning the clean oil using a 3/8" hose to the intake tube of the compressor. Please contact Harvard with further questions you may have.
