Problems with the lubricating oil pump in piston compressors

The oil has too high viscosity at low temperatures. Isn’t there a device to heat the oil? Or you should start it twice more

Heat the oil up, and then it will work fine. At low temperatures, the viscosity of oil is high, making it difficult for the oil to flow.

It’s the same at the fuel station in our factory: the electric heater is turned on first, then the oil pump is started; the safety valve at the outlet of the oil pump activates due to the low temperature and high viscosity of the oil

The temperature is too low, causing the lubricant to have excessive viscosity, which in turn results in high resistance and overload! Just add a heating device!

If the viscosity of the lubricating oil is too high, running the compressor several times in a low-temperature environment will help. Our factory’s compressors also encounter this problem when used in winter

We have also encountered such situations. My suggestion is to install two heat tracing wires in each of the inlet and outlet pipelines of the main oil pump and the auxiliary oil pump, activating them according to the season (using them in winter and turning them off in summer), or to use temporary steam tape around the inlet and outlet pipelines of these pumps to generate heat and thereby reduce the increased viscosity of the lubricating oil caused by low temperatures.

Reply to 1# xjss121212: Reason: 1. Is the lubricating oil temperature too low (check the oil temperature gauge). 2 Is the oil pump outlet valve fully open? 3 Is the oil filter clogged? 4 Is the lubricant level too low?

Reply to 8# xxp3232: I installed it in this way because the distance from the outlet of the main oil pump to the lubricating oil cooler isn’t very short either. When the main motor starts, the pipes connected to the main oil pump vibrate significantly. I wonder if you have encountered this issue as well.

Reply to 9# zhuyitou8: We were all mistaken in our replies to the post posted by the original poster; I can say for sure that it’s not an issue related to the temperature of the lubricating oil. You can think about it – the ambient temperature of -20°C should be there. I can say that their engines are equipped with a built-in lubricating oil heating system (electric heater or steam heating). Regarding the issue raised by the poster, I would say it’s likely a problem with the fuel system, but the pump itself could also be the cause. As I mentioned above: 1 Is the lubricating oil temperature too low (check the oil temperature gauge). 2 Is the oil pump outlet valve fully open? 3 Is the oil filter clogged? 4 Is the lubricant level too low? Additional note: The inlet filter of Pump 1 is clogged. The seals of the 2 oil circuit pipelines are not tight, causing air to enter the oil circuit system. Regarding your statement that heating coils need to be added to the inlet and outlet pipelines for both the main and auxiliary oil circuits, (first, rule out the possibility that the unit does not have its own lubricating oil heating system). I think it’s sufficient to heat the auxiliary oil pump using steam, as the operation of the unit starts with turning on the auxiliary oil pump to establish an oil circulation. Only after the oil temperature and pressure reach normal levels can the main motor of the unit be started (in some units, there is an interlock system; the main motor can only start once the oil temperature and pressure meet the required conditions).

Reply to 9# zhuyitou8: Continuing to address your question, the pipeline of the main oil pump vibrates greatly. The main oil pump’s pipeline experiences significant vibration, primarily due to the high vibration of Unit 1. It is caused by a clogged oil filter or air in the oil pipeline. 3 It is caused by low oil temperature and unstable oil pressure.