Magnetophoretically enhanced separation of particles in engine oil filters

This study conceptualizes the use of magnetic fields to improve the performance of engine oil filters for the first time. Experimental analysis of the particles extracted from multiple engine oil filters indicates the sensitivity of a large portion of them to external magnetic fields indicating the capability of the magnetophoresis to separate particles. The effect of several parameters, including flow velocity, particle size, oil viscosity, magnetic field intensity, and dipole arrangement on the capture efficiency of the magnetic field is numerically investigated. The capture efficiency of the magnetic field substantially increases with increasing its intensity. Increasing the particle diameter at a fixed particle density or increasing the particle density at a fixed diameter increases the capture efficiency. Also, increasing the oil viscosity generally decreases the magnetic field capture efficiency. Using more dipole moments, up to an optimum number, and placing them equidistantly around the filter raises the capture efficiency significantly. The efficiency rise is higher at lower magnetic dipole moments. The maximum efficiency increase obtained by increasing the dipole number is 20%. When the overall dipole moment is fixed, a similar trend is observed for the capture efficiency, although with a different optimum dipole number. Finally, employing a compound magnetic field generated by means of a magnetic belt to assist particle separation in oil filters is proven to be a promising idea.