Compressor lubricant specifications
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The exhaust pressure of the reciprocating compressors in our facility (new hydrogen compressor, circulating hydrogen compressor) is 12 Mpa, with an exhaust temperature of 100°C. The lubricant specified in the accompanying documentation is L-DAA150, and the level of mechanical impurities is required to be ≤0.001%. I would like to know whether this value refers to the control parameters for the finished lubricant; I’m also wondering what the acceptable levels are for the impurities that need to be controlled during compressor operation. Please advise. Additionally, lubricant analysis primarily focuses on mechanical impurities, water content, and kinematic viscosity; is it necessary to test for residue?
How much should the machine impurity indicators that need to be controlled be reduced?
The main analysis parameters are mechanical impurities, moisture, ash content, flash point, and corrosion resistance; the specifications for leaving the factory are generally the same as those for use
It’s not just a matter of being large; it’s closely related to the performance of the compressor, and regular inspections and analyses are necessary.
The lubricating oil in turbine compression units must be analyzed regularly; this is very important! Some manufacturers also have iron analysis instruments that can determine more parameters. The analysis of lubricants is similar to a blood test for humans; it is very useful for assessing the operating condition of equipment and enabling appropriate evaluations.
If a brand and model have already been specified, conventionally, no specific metric will be mentioned again. This should be a control indicator during operation. But generally, the control index for the operation process is 0.005%. Therefore, it is recommended to verify with the OEM manufacturer. The necessity of conducting tests for lubricant analysis, including mechanical impurities, water content, kinematic viscosity, and carbon residue. Generally speaking, it depends on the manufacturer’s manual. Previously, we had several diesel engines, Wartisla models, and the requirement was to test the lubricant every 500 hours of operation. As for the bearing housings and pump sets (Sulzer), testing is required every 1,000 hours of operation. If all are within the ranges specified by them, they can continue to be used; otherwise, they need to be replaced entirely. Only the ferrography analysis mentioned above is part of the equipment health check, and it is used to determine the operational health status of the equipment itself.