Regarding the use of lubricant at the bearing bush location
Thread Content
In our company, recycled lubricant is generally used for the bearing housings of centrifugal pumps (the company has an oil filtration unit). However, there are 4 piston pumps and 2 multi-stage pumps, and all of these six units have sliding bearings. I was wondering whether it’s appropriate to use recycled lubricant for such bearings, as they seem to be quite delicate; perhaps it would be better to use new lubricant with special care. I’d appreciate insights from those with experience: hug:
It depends on the speed and load. Under normal circumstances, as long as the regeneration parameters are satisfactory, it should be fine to use it for a short period of time, but equipment without a backup unit had better not be used whenever possible. Devices like the ones you mentioned don’t require much lubricant; it’s recommended to use new oil
It still depends on the operating conditions of the equipment. In my opinion, it’s fine to use recycled oil for ordinary equipment, as long as the equipment doesn’t have very strict requirements regarding lubricant quality. There is actually no fundamental difference between recycled oil and new oil; one cannot rely on intuition in making this decision.
One thing is certain: it is possible to use recycled oil in equipment. For me, recycled oil is also used for lubricating key components such as the crankshaft lubricant in hydrogen compressors, as well as the radial and thrust bearing lubricants in high-pressure feed pumps, provided that all the quality specifications of the lubricant meet the requirements for equipment operation. These specifications include viscosity, flash point, mechanical impurities, acid value, freezing point, moisture content, water-soluble acids and bases, and oxidation stability. Given that these parameters are met, it not only ensures proper equipment operation but also helps save costs – so why not do it?
The material commonly used for bearing shells is babbitt, which is relatively soft and has a low melting point； If the quality of the lubricant is good, its useful life is longer; if the quality is poor, the useful life is shortened ； There are specific requirements for the use of oils; generally, lubricants can last for two years, and oil filters are used to remove impurities from them on a regular basis ； Some oil filters, especially those with heating functions, may cause degradation and emulsification of the oil. It is recommended that the poster use new oil and manage the oil quality well, which in turn means proper equipment maintenance. In fact, it also reduces maintenance costs and increases the equipment’s operational rate.