Problems with lubricating oil in reciprocating compressors
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Our company has three YuanDa reciprocating compressors, model 2D32-94.4, which were installed and put into use at the end of 2014. Due to the renovation of the production facility 15 years ago, the total operating time is only about half a year. Before the machine starts up, the auxiliary oil pump is used to supply oil; once the main engine is running, it drives the shaft-mounted pump to supply oil, at which point the auxiliary oil pump stops operating. The lubricant was not changed during this period. During recent startup operations, it was found that there was a large amount of foam in the oil tank viewports of two compressors, making it impossible to observe the oil level. I would like to ask fellow sailors what the reason is; could it be that the oil has gone bad? Another common issue with these two compressors is a slight leakage of liquefied gas at the packing of the cylinder piston rods; whereas the leakage at the packing of the third cylinder, where there is no foam in the lubricating oil, is not significant. Is it related to medium leakage? (There are dedicated outlet pipes for leaks at the filler points)
Filter it with our oil filter!
The tightness issue is caused by lubricant getting in, and it is related to packing leakage
Not necessarily. Test the lubricant, and the problem will become clear.
Can it be confirmed that the leaking medium is the cause of this phenomenon?
Test the lubricating oil to check for moisture, and also analyze the composition of the gas coming from the filling port. If there are no issues, check whether the temperature of the oil in the crankcase is too high, as high temperatures can also cause this phenomenon.
Lubricating oil usually contains antifoam agents; water or other substances entering the oil can cause it to emulsify. It’s up to you to determine where the impurities come from, with leakage of other fluids being the most likely source.
Check if there is air leakage at the pump’s inlet? Is the oil level too high? The appearance of foam is likely not closely related to air leakage from the filler.
Materials may enter the oil, and poor sealing of the piston rings allows gases along with those materials to enter the cylinder, resulting in the deterioration of the oil. Additionally, the typical replacement cycle for lubricant is 1 year； The packing is leaking; it needs to be replaced ；
It can be confirmed that there is no water ingress, and there are outlet pipes designed to handle leaks at the packing area, leading to the liquid collection tank
It is a two-cylinder compressor with a piston force of 32 tons. The oil level used to be just right; this is a phenomenon that has only appeared in recent days. :)