Issues in understanding the API 614 standard
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Chapter 2 of the API 614 standard deals with oil systems for special purposes, while Chapter 3 covers oil systems for general purposes. What is the difference between these two types of oil systems? Are accumulator needed in oil systems for special purposes? Are no accumulators required in oil systems for general purposes? Thank you, big bro, for the answer.
According to the definition in API614, general-purpose oil refers to lubricating oil used in lubrication systems, rather than seal oil; it is employed for lubricating compressors, pumps, gearboxes, and drive units. Its function is to supply an adequate amount of filtered, clean lubricating oil at the appropriate temperature and pressure to enable the operation of rotating machinery. In terms of its functionality, there is no immediate demand for oil, so a reservoir is not necessary.
I haven’t had any experience with seal oil, so I’m not quite sure whether the oil used in screw compressors is for general purposes or for special applications.
According to the definitions in API614 or ISO10438, the seal oil system must meet the requirements related to various applications, including but not limited to shutdown retention pressure, set values for process safety valves, as well as laboratory tests and field trials. Based on my understanding of process screws, if the purging and sealing of the mechanical seal for the process screw do not involve the use of lubricating oil, and only bearing lubrication as well as rotor lubrication and sealing are used, then it should be a general-purpose oil.
I also want to know that I only have API614 available, not ISO 10438-1. API614 states that the definition of the term \"special purpose\" can be found in ISO 10438-1; I’m curious about how this term is defined in ISO 10438-1, but I can’t find that standard