Thread Content
The centrifugal compressor is one of the core equipment in the chemical industry, and its management level determines the safety, stability, and efficiency of chemical production. Lubrication health management can not only reflect the health of the oil, but also indicate the wear level of the equipment by considering it as the \"blood\" of the equipment. The most critical components of a centrifuge are the thrust bearings and the speed increase gearbox; due to high temperatures and pressures, as well as the possibility of lubrication failure, stringent requirements are placed on lubrication management ； Traditional routine inspections and periodic laboratory tests become ineffective, missing the best opportunity to address problems. Quoted from the American magazine \"Machinery Lubrication August 2016\", as shown in the figure below, the lifespan of a machine is divided into three phases: the initial phase falls within the Proactive Domain, during which it is essential for equipment managers to select the right lubricants and ensure proper installation of the equipment ； The most important phase is the Prodictive Domain, that is, the period of predictive maintenance; the first thing to appear are wear debris in the oil, namely particles resulting from wear ； Vibration, noise, and temperature come afterward. Centrifugal compressors generally use turbine oil of grade 32 or 46. The recommended sensors are as follows: cleanliness (left), ferrous particles (middle), and moisture (right). Moisture is the enemy of lubricating oil; if it is not detected in time, it can lead to weakened oil film strength, accelerated oxidation, and the precipitation of additives. However, if it is detected and addressed promptly, most system problems can be prevented. Cleanliness is an important parameter for turbine systems, as the clearances in thrust bearings and valves are very small. Poor cleanliness can easily cause valve sticking and overheating in bearings. Ferrous particles indicate the distribution of ferromagnetic particles in the oil (starting from 50um, with 50um representing one scale level), and the wear rate can be calculated using built-in algorithms, thereby reflecting the overall condition of the thrust bearings. Photos of the actual installation on site are shown below. Wear caused by ferrous particles was detected during operation; after taking appropriate measures, the wear level returned to normal.