Process Area Event – 【I See Now-43】The Harmful Lubricant
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This post was last edited by *nht1 on 2016-10-31 08:39. My current workplace has 25 oil-free vertical vacuum pumps of models 200 and 300, and their failure rate is very high; they need to be repaired almost every week, especially due to broken valve plates, low vacuum levels, and cylinder knocking. It took a long time to figure out the reasons; aside from the poor cooling effect and high temperatures mentioned earlier, there seem to be no other causes. I accidentally discovered that employees were sucking lubricant into the exhaust valve of the vacuum pump – and that’s the reason: 【harmful lubricant】. The reason for this is to increase the lubrication of the piston rings, but in reality it has the opposite effect. Originally, vacuum pumps were designed to prevent any liquid from entering them; now, lubricant is introduced manually and must pass through air valves, and the valve plates accumulate lubricant on them, which makes it difficult for these plates to move and can lead to their tearing. Similarly, the movement of piston rings is hindered as well, and the presence of liquid causes cylinder scoring. After the correction, the failure rate of the vacuum pump decreased significantly. The registration address for the event is here: Activities in the Technology Section – 【So that’s how it is】– Theme sharing event titled “I finally understood this issue”. http://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-1633015-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Industry Forum)
The error lies in an insufficient understanding of the unit’s structure and operating requirements, and it cannot be attributed to the lubricating oil. The worldview determines the methodology, and the methodology reflects the worldview.
In fact, it’s because workers lack sufficient professional knowledge; for operations such as those involving vacuum pumps, it’s necessary to have relevant training materials available, and one should not operate them blindly. Moreover, management measures are essential. . .
If operation management is inadequate and employees lack the necessary skills, equipment failures will certainly increase when they start working.