If your job involves working with oil or hydraulic fluid-filled tanks, you may want to invest in a submersible tank magnet. It can help you maintain cleaner tanks while simultaneously protecting mechanical seals and other parts from wear and tear. To learn more about submersible tank magnets, keep reading.
What Are Submersible Tank Magnets?
Submersible tank magnets are sealed magnetic devices designed for use in fluid tanks. They are used to remove ferrous particles.
Over time, engines and machinery can produce tiny pieces of iron. These ferrous particles will often settle at the bottom of oil and hydraulic fluid-filled tanks. Oil or hydraulic fluid will flow through the machinery where it picks up iron shavings. The oil or hydraulic fluid will then carry the ferrous particles to a tank. Rather than allowing ferrous particles to accumulate in tanks, you can use a submersible tank magnet.
How Submersible Tank Magnets Work
Submersible tank magnets work by leveraging a magnetic field to attract and hold ferrous particles. The core typically consists of a high-strength rare-earth magnet, such as neodymium. This rare-earth core is covered in a protective housing, which shields the inner magnet from direct contact with oil or hydraulic fluid.
You can use a submersible tank magnet by lowering it to the bottom of a tank. Once lowered, it will begin to collect ferrous particles. You can then lift the submersible tank magnet to clean and dispose of the collected ferrous particles.
Key Advantages of Submersible Tank Magnets
Why should you use a submersible tank magnet exactly? Allowing ferrous particles to go unchecked in tanks can lead to several problems. First, they can clog pumps. Many oil and hydraulic fluid-filled tanks have pumps that move fluid through the tank and the connected machinery. If too many ferrous particles build up inside of a pump, the pump may fail.
Ferrous particles can also shorten the life of mechanical seals. O-rings, for instance, can wear down from regular exposure to ferrous particles. Eventually, they can fail completely, resulting in fluid leaks. You can prevent problems such as these by using a submersible tank magnet. It will collect ferrous particles so that pumps, mechanical seals and other parts last longer.
In Conclusion
A submersible tank magnet offers a simple and effective way to improve system reliability. By removing ferrous debris before it can circulate, it helps reduce wear, limit unexpected downtime and extend the service life of critical components.