Oil leakage from the crankcase filling port of a reciprocating compressor
Thread Content
Our company has several reciprocating compressors. At present, oil is leaking out from the filling caps located at the crankcase filling ports of a few of these compressors. What could be the cause of this? The filling ports are situated above the crankcase; could it be that air is leaking from the cylinder gaskets into the crankcase, causing pressure to build up inside it?
It’s for this reason, you know, OP. Also, when the piston rod moves in and out, air will definitely be drawn in and expelled
No way, there’s an exhaust vent on the crankcase anyway – how could pressure build up there?
Check whether the breathing line is unobstructed
I’ve encountered this before: fuel leaks out when the fuel cap won’t fit properly
It needs to be modified to become a breathing mask, and then the problem will be solved.
It was caused by the movement of the crankshaft; silicone was applied at the point where the upper cover meets the fuselage
It is recommended that the poster check whether there are any abnormal fluctuations in the crankcase pressure. If such fluctuations exist, it may be due to compressed gas leaking through the gaskets; when this gas passes through the high-pressure cylinders and intermediate cylinders, it cannot be properly expelled from the cylinders and thus leaks into the fuel tank via the piston rods. This is a very dangerous situation. It would be best to use a hydrogen detector to check whether the leaked gas contains hydrogen. If not, it can be concluded that the gas is not coming from a leak in the high-pressure system. In that case, we can check whether the crankcase breather valve is not functioning properly, as the lubricating oil in the crankcase serves to cool the rotating components of the bearings, and its temperature naturally rises. As the temperature increases, oil vapor is generated. If the crankcase breather valve does not work properly, this oil vapor gets trapped inside, and when the pressure becomes too high, it escapes through areas with poor sealing. I’ve said it this way; the original poster should know how to handle it now
What model of compressor? Is there no intermediate block between the cylinder and the crankcase (which includes an intermediate gasket)? Personally, I don’t think it’s air leaking from the filler; besides, doesn’t that compressor have nitrogen protection or air leakage recovery systems? Check for packing leakage at the above two locations. As for oil leakage from the crankcase, it’s best to start by checking the breather valve located on the crankcase. I agree with the previous comment: check whether the breather valve is functioning properly, and also analyze the lubricating oil in the crankcase to see if it has deteriorated; replace it if necessary.