Lubrication of the packing in the hydrogen compressor
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Does the lubrication of the piston rod seals in the new hydrogen compressor and the recycle hydrogen compressor for diesel hydrorefining affect the process gases?
Yes, but the impact is minimal; oil can be injected
It does have an impact; an excessive amount of fluid injected can lead to serious liquid contamination in the compressed gas. However, there are now compressors that operate without the need for oil injection. I haven’t seen such compressors myself, I’ve only heard about them. Experts in this field, please provide some explanations.
For the new hydrogen compressor in hydrocracking, the cylinders and packing are lubricated using an oil injector, with a small amount of oil applied. From a safety perspective, oil-free or low-oil lubrication should be preferred as much as possible. Experience has shown that excessive lubrication of the cylinders poses a greater threat to reliability than insufficient lubrication. In compressors with oil-free or low-oil lubrication, the lifespan of piston rings can reach 4,000 to 8,000 hours, while the lifespan of piston support rings and piston rod seal rings can reach 3 years (25,000 hours) or even longer.
Reply to 4# pspc0293: What is the optimal number of drops per minute for the injector? We don’t apply oil to the filler here, and it leaks frequently. It kept the maintenance staff very busy. Our cylinders are not lubricated.