Automating a Centrifuge System to Assess Oil Quality

CASE STUDY: LK INDUSTRIES

A manufacturer of oil testing equipment offers clients a centrifuge product that is able to read and assess the makeup of an oil sample. When the company wanted enhance the centrifuge by automating the system, ultimately taking pressure off the operator and improving overall data reliability, they sought a product development partner to do so. Reliable, accurate data is critical to this application, as the quality measurement helps companies ensure they’re paying for the correct amount of oil.

With the current centrifuge, the process depends heavily on manual involvement. Running a centrifuge test includes having the operator remove oil from the tank, preheat the oil to get it to the correct temperature for the centrifuge, run the samples in the centrifuge for five minutes, and then manually read and record results. Operators keep a log that can be referenced and analyzed later.

The customer had a short timeline and needed to assess the potential for a solution, and then design and develop it, but needed a product design firm with experience in the oil and gas industry and specific technical expertise.

• Challenge: Analyzing crude oil to understand overall quality.
• Solution: Creating and automating a measurement and analysis system for an existing centrifuge.
• Industry: Oil & Gas.
• Application: Product Development; Automation; Quality Assessment.
• Technologies: Centrifuge, Raspberry Pi 3.