Oil Pressure

Under the action of oil pressure, a round diaphragm is pushed to discharge blood
from the artificial heart and then pulled back to draw blood into the heart.

From: Multiphysics Modeling, 2016

Related terms:

Hydraulics, Turbine, Pistons, Hydrogen, Actuators, Lube Oil, Steam Generator, Oil
Pump, Oil Temperature, Shutdown

View all Topics

Automotive Instrumentation
William B. Ribbens, in Understanding Automotive Electronics (Eighth Edition), 2017

Oil Pressure Measurement

Engine oil pressure measurement is similar to coolant temperature measurement in
that it frequently uses a warning message display rather than an indicated numerical
value although certain high-performance vehicles contain a display that either sim-
ulates an analog oil pressure gauge or uses a galvanometer-type display. Whenever
the oil pressure is outside allowable limits, a warning message is displayed to the
driver. In the case of oil pressure, it is important for the driver to know whenever
the oil pressure falls below a lower limit. It is also possible for the oil pressure to
go above an allowable upper limit; however, some manufacturers do not include a
separate high-oil-pressure warning in the instrumentation.

The simplest oil pressure warning system involves a spring-loaded switch connected
to a diaphragm. The switch assembly is mounted in one of the oil passageways such
that the diaphragm is exposed directly to the oil pressure. The force developed on
the diaphragm by the oil pressure is sufficient to overcome the spring and to hold
the switch open as long as the oil pressure exceeds the lower limit. Whenever the
oil pressure falls below this limit, the spring force is sufficient to close the switch.
Switch closure is used to switch on the low-oil-pressure warning message lamp.
One of the deficiencies of this simple switch-based oil pressure warning system is
that it has a single fixed low-oil-pressure limit. In fact, the threshold oil pressure for
safe operation varies with engine load. Whereas a relatively low oil pressure can pro-
tect bearing surfaces at low loads (e.g., at idle), a proportionately higher-oil-pressure
threshold is required with increasing load (i.e., increasing horsepower and RPM).

An oil pressure instrument that operates with a load- or speed-dependent threshold

requires an oil pressure sensor rather than a switch. Such an oil pressure warning
system is illustrated in Fig. 8.36. This system uses a variable-resistance oil pressure
sensor (e.g. piezoresistive) such as seen in Fig. 8.37. Sensors of this type were
discussed in Chapter 5. A voltage is developed across a fixed resistance connected in
series with the sensor that is a known function of oil pressure. It should be noted that
this assumed pressure sensor is hypothetical and used only for illustrative purposes.

Fig. 8.36. Oil pressure measurement instrumentation.

Fig. 8.37. Oil pressure sensor. (A) Configuration and (B) schematic.

During the appropriate measurement time slot, the oil pressure sensor voltage is
sampled through the MUX switch and converted to binary numbers in the A/D
converter. The computer reads this binary number and compares it with the binary
number in memory for the allowed oil pressure limits. The oil pressure limit is
determined from load or crankshaft speed measurements that are already available
in the engine control system. These measurement data can be sent to the instrument
subsystem via a MUX system as described with respect to Fig. 8.5 and over an IVN.
These measurements serve as the address for a ROM lookup table to find the oil
pressure limit. If the oil pressure is below the allowed lower limit or above the allowed
upper limit, an output signal is generated that activates the oil pressure warning
light through the DEMUX (see Fig. 8.7).

It is also possible to use a proportional display of actual oil pressure. A digital display
can be driven directly from the computer. An analog display, such as a galvanometer,
requires a D/A converter.

> Read full chapter

Force, pressure and flow

A.C. Fischer-Cripps, in Newnes Interfacing Companion, 2002

1.5.7 Pressure

Simple switch type

The oil pressure switch is screwed into a drilling from the outlet side of the oil pump.
The oil pressure switch consists of a diaphragm which opens switch contacts if the
oil pressure is sufficient to overcome the force of an opposing spring.

Bourdon gauge type

The Bourdon gauge consists of a tube bent into a coil or an arc. As the pressure in
the tube increases, the coil unwinds. A pointer connected to the end of the tube can
be attached to a lever and a pointer calibrated to indicate pressure.

A typical 50 mm diameter tube has a displacement of up to 4 mm. Pressures of about

35 kPa to 100 MPa are typically measured. The movement may translate directly into
a meter movement, or activate a displacement transducer that provides an electrical
signal suitable for computer data acquisition.
The tube itself is made from brass and has a flattened elliptical or rectangular
cross-section.

> Read full chapter

Test cell safety, control, and data acqui-

sition
Anthony J. Martyr, David R. Rogers, in Engine Testing (Fifth Edition), 2021

Checks immediately after start-up

• Oil pressure is above trip setting. In the case of manually operated cells the
alarm override is released when pressure is achieved.
• If stable idle is possible and access around the engine is safe, a quick in-cell
inspection should be made. In particular, look for engine fuel or oil leaks,
cables or pipes chafing or being blown against the exhaust system and listen
for abnormal noises.
• In the case of a run scheduled for prolonged unmanned running, test the
emergency shutdown system by operating any one of the stations.
• Restart and run the test.

• Note: If safe entry to a newly started cell can be managed by a trained operator,
in addition to a quick visual inspection, their hearing and sense of smell can
often pick up insipient faults before the control system.

> Read full chapter

Selection of PVT Correlations

Ahmed El-Banbi, ... Ahmed El-Maraghi, in PVT Property Correlations, 2018

Selection of PVT Oil Properties Correlations

Numerous PVT correlations exist for each oil (and gas) property. The number of oil
correlations available exceeds that of gas correlations (Appendix A: Oil Correlations
Formulae and Appendix B: Gas Correlations Formulae).

Oil and gas PVT correlations can usually be grouped into correlation families.
Researchers of PVT correlations usually develop a separate correlation for each PVT
property from their PVT laboratory-measured data. For selection of correlation(s) to
use for a specific fluid, the following approaches are available: (1) use of geographical
location, (2) use of the type or obvious characteristics of the fluid, (3) use of corre-
lations based on application, (4) use of data ranges and ranking, and (5) use of an
expert system or set of rules.

Correlation Selection Based on Geographical Location

Many oil PVT correlations were developed with data sets that belong to a specific
region. Among the commonly known geographical correlations are Al-Marhoun
(1988) correlations for Saudi Arabian crudes; Standing (1947) for California crudes;
Petrosky (1990) for Gulf of Mexico crudes; Hanafy et al. (1997) for Egyptian crudes;
and Omar and Todd (1993) for Malaysian crudes. Appendix C, Oil Correlations Range
of Applicability, gives the application ranges of each correlation and identifies the
geographical origin of each correlation, where applicable.

In absence of laboratory-measured PVT data, many engineers use specific corre-

lation families for crude oils based on geographical origin. Although it is logical
to assume that oil in different reservoirs in a particular geographical location is
of the same origin, it is erroneous to assume that this approach is consistently
reliable. The geographical PVT correlation families may have been developed from
PVT data collected from relatively shallow reservoirs. Deeper reservoirs developed at
a later stage usually contain more volatile oil and richer gas condensate fluids. New
correlations are required for the fluids more recently discovered in these traditional
regions when sufficient data becomes available. Therefore, caution is advisable in
use of the geographical correlation approach.

In addition, Al-Shammasi (2001), in a large comparison study, showed that geo-

graphical location-based correlations are not guaranteed to work.

Correlation Selection Based on Type of Fluid

Several correlations that pertain to specific fluid type were developed for oils or gases.
For example, the correlations of De Ghetto et al. (1995) were developed for heavy and
extraheavy crude oils, and therefore, use of these correlations is recommended for
heavy oils. Use of these correlations outside their range of applicability usually leads
to errors that may be easily avoided.

Correlation Selection Based on Required PVT Model (Application)

In some applications, the required PVT model determines the correlations to use.
If the black-oil model is to be used, many correlations are available. If the modified
black-oil (MBO) model is needed for a certain application, fewer options are avail-
able. Although individual PVT properties are available for some MBO PVT properties,
two correlation families are available for all four MBO PVT properties [solution
gas–oil ratio (GOR); vaporized oil–gas ratio; oil formation volume factor; and gas
formation volume factor]. These correlations and their applications were discussed
in Chapter 5, Gas Condensates, and Chapter 6, Volatile Oil (El-Banbi et al., 2006;
Nassar et al., 2013).

Correlation Selection Based on Data Range and Ranking

One successful practice in selection of PVT correlations based on input data entails
identification of a suitable range for every correlation. Al-Shammasi (2001) reviewed
multiple correlations and compared their performance against a large database of
oil PVT data. Al-Shammasi (2001) performed a study for bubble point pressure and
formation volume factor correlations only. The study concluded that greater accuracy
in prediction from PVT correlations could be achieved if correlation selection is based
on API gravity values input. According to Al-Shammasi’s grouping idea, Glaso (1980)
bubble point pressure correlation is most suitable for very heavy oil (API gravity less
than 10°API); Macary and El-Batanoney (1992), for medium API gravity oil (between
10 and 20°API); and Al-Marhoun (1988), for higher quality oil (20–30°API).

Al-Zahaby et al. (2012) expanded Al-Shammasi’s work and created clusters of input
data. For each cluster, they found the best correlation(s) to use among a reasonable
number of oil PVT correlations out of all oil PVT properties. They also collected
the ranges of applicability of the correlations recommended in their work. Their
approach is based on two steps: (1) the selection of a subset of correlations for every
PVT property by use of the input data and applicability ranges for each correlation
and (2) the ranking of PVT correlations within the cluster by use of a PVT data set. A
limited data set was used in this work.

The applicability ranges for gas and oil correlations can be used to reduce the
number of applicable correlations for a particular fluid. These ranges are based on
the database used to develop each correlation. The ranges are given in Appendix C,
Oil Correlations Range of Applicability and Appendix D, Gas Correlations Range of
Applicability, for oil and gas correlations, respectively.
Correlation Selection Based on Expert System or Set of Rules
Al-Gathe (2015) developed an expert system (a set of rules) for oil PVT correlation
selection. The study checked the accuracy of correlations against a large database of
PVT laboratory-measured data. From the input data for each correlation, the correla-
tions are ranked according to their accuracy. In these calculations, intermediate PVT
properties required as inputs to the following correlation calculations are assumed
to be accurate. Fig. 9.2 shows the input data required to compute each PVT property.
The usual four inputs are required in the selection process for all PVT properties. The
workflow starts with selection of the bubble point pressure correlation. The value of
the bubble point pressure is needed in the selection of the other PVT correlations
such as solution GOR, saturated oil formation volume factor, saturated oil density,
undersaturated oil compressibility, and saturated oil viscosity correlations. The value
of dead oil viscosity is also required in selection of both saturated and undersaturat-
ed oil viscosity correlations. In absence of laboratory-measured PVT data, dead oil
viscosity must be estimated from correlations. In ranking correlations for saturated
and undersaturated oil viscosity, Al-Gathe (2015) assumed that dead oil viscosity is
known. Nevertheless, testing this approach on a large data set (which was not used
in development of the expert system) demonstrated the accuracy of this approach in
the majority of cases. This result means that the expert system is capable of selecting
one (sometimes two) correlation(s) for every PVT property that provides the values
closest to laboratory-measured values.

Figure 9.2. Flow chart showing inputs needed for each correlation in PVT correlation
selection.

The rules developed by Al-Gathe (2015) are represented graphically in Appendix F,

Worksheets for Oil PVT Correlations Selection. Although the correlations used in
development of these selection rules were fewer than those presented in this book,
the rules increase the chances of selecting correlations that provide lower error
compared to measured values.
Selim (2018) developed an expert system similar to that of Al-Gathe (2015), but
dependent on selection of correlation families (rather than individual correlations
for each property). Selim (2018) identified the best correlation family to be used for
any set of input data. In his study, the input data for every PVT property correlation
are grouped in clusters. One family of correlations is selected to calculate all PVT
properties (e.g., bubble point pressure, solution GOR, oil formation volume factor,
oil compressibility, oil density, and oil viscosity). The correlation families considered
include Al-Marhoun (1988), Standing (1947), Farshad et al. (1996), etc.

> Read full chapter

Sperry Gyrofin, Controls and Opera-

tion
W. Burger M.Sc. Extra Master, A.G. Corbet Extra Master, in Ship Stabilizers, 1966

ALARM CUT-OUT switch. Lube oil low pressure.

When the lube oil pressure in either the port or starboard lube oil pressure tanks and
fin housings falls below 12 lb/in2 a horn sounds in the engine room indicator unit to
warn the engineer officer on watch and warning lights glow on the engine room
indicator panel and the local control panel(s) (see last section).

The horn is silenced by putting the system alarms switch on the engine room panel
to cut-out. The warning lights will continue to glow until the lube oil pressure is
restored to a level above 12 lb/in2 and when this happens the horn will sound again
until the system alarms switch is put to normal.

> Read full chapter

Boiler Control System

Swapan Basu, Ajay Kumar Debnath, in Power Plant Instrumentation and Control
Handbook (Second Edition), 2019

10.7.5 Control Loop HFO/LFO Flow Control at Boiler Front (Fig.

8.48B)

The fuel oil pressure is measured by a pressure transmitter with sufficient

redundancy and at the appropriate location near the burner front to get a repre-
sentative measurement. The measuring point is important so that the highest and
remotest burner gets sufficient pressure to cater to the requirement. The type and
installation of the pressure transmitter are discussed above. The set point is sent
through a “max” circuit to ensure a minimum header pressure at the boiler front.
The error created by the set point and the actual pressure is sent to the PI controller to
regulate the valves to cater to the HFO flow demand. When the opening of the valve
is < 2% (i.e., closed), signal is sent to FSSS to close the trip valve for positive isolation.
The loop description and drawing are given for HFO only, but will be similar for LDO.

> Read full chapter

Boiler Control System

Swapan Basu, Ajay Kumar Debnath, in Power Plant Instrumentation and Control
Handbook, 2015

10.4.5 Control Loop HFO (/LFO) Flow Control at Boiler Front

The fuel oil pressure is measured by the pressure transmitter with sufficient
redundancy and at the appropriate location near the front of the burner to get
a representative number (refer to Figure VIII/10.4-1(b)). The measuring point is
important because it ensures that the highest and remotest burner gets sufficient
pressure to fulfill requirements. The type and installation of pressure transmitters
were discussed earlier. The set point is sent through a max circuit to ensure that
under all conditions a minimum pressure in the header at the boiler front is
maintained. The error created by the set point and actual pressure is sent to the PI
controller to regulate the valve(s) to fulfill the HFO flow demand. When the opening
of the valve is less than 2% (i.e., closed), the signal is sent to the FSSS to close the
trip valve for positive isolation. The loop description here and in Figure VIII/10.4-1(b)
is given for HFO only but is similar for LDO.

> Read full chapter

Reservoir Fluids
James G. Speight PhD, DSc, in Introduction to Enhanced Recovery Methods for
Heavy Oil and Tar Sands (Second Edition), 2016

4.4.1.1.4 Other Factors

Although crude oil composition, temperature, and pressure have the most sig-
nificant effects on wax deposition, other factors that have been identified as
contributing to wax deposition include (1) flow rate, (2) gas–oil ratio, and (3) pipeline
wall roughness. In terms of flow rate, wax deposition is influenced more by laminar
flow than when flow is in the turbulent regime, and increasing the flow rate from
laminar to turbulent reduces maximum deposition rate and at the same time lowers
the temperature at which maximum deposition rate occurs. Low flow rates offer the
moving oil an increased residence time in the flow channel which allows more heat
loss to the surroundings, leading to a higher chance of the bulk oil temperature
falling below the WAT and sufficient time for wax separation and deposition. In
addition, there is a difference in texture between wax deposited at high flow rates and
wax deposited at low flow rates (Jessen and Howell, 1958; Tronov, 1969). Paraffin wax
deposited at high flow rates appears harder, being more compact and more firmly
attached to the deposition surface.

The gas–oil ratio influences wax deposition in a manner that depends on the
pressure—above the bubble point, where all gases remain in solution, solution gas
helps to keep wax in solution (Luo et al., 2001; Singh et al., 2004). A high gas–oil
ratio would result in more expansion and subsequent cooling as pressure of the oil
system depletes—a situation that can increase wax deposition.

> Read full chapter

Wax Deposition and Fouling

James G. Speight PhD, DSc, in Fouling in Refineries, 2015

7.3.3.4 Other Factors

Although crude oil composition, temperature, and pressure have the most sig-
nificant effects on wax deposition, other factors that have been identified as
contributing to wax deposition include: (1) flow rate, (2) gas-oil ratio, and (3) pipeline
wall roughness.

In terms of flow rate, wax deposition is influenced more by laminar flow than when
flow is in the turbulent regime and increasing the flow rate from laminar to turbulent
reduces maximum deposition rate and at the same time lowers the temperature at
which maximum deposition rate occurs (Hsu et al., 1994). Low flow rates offer the
moving oil an increased residence time in the flow channel which allows more heat
loss to the surroundings, leading to a higher chance of the bulk oil temperature
falling below the WAT and sufficient time for wax separation and deposition. In
addition, there is a difference in texture between wax deposited at high flow rates and
wax deposited at low flow rates (Jessen and Howell, 1958; Tronov, 1969). Paraffin wax
deposited at high flow rates appears harder, being more compact and more firmly
attached to the deposition surface.

The gas-oil ratio influences wax deposition in a manner that depends on the pres-
sure—above the bubble point, where all gases remain in solution, solution gas helps
to keep wax in solution (Luo et al., 2001; Singh et al., 2004). A high gas-oil ratio
would result in more expansion and subsequent cooling as pressure of the oil system
depletes—a situation that can increase wax deposition.

> Read full chapter

Turbine plant systems

Turbines, Generators and Associated Plant (Third Edition), 1991

3.5 Mechanically-operated trips

Included under this heading are any trips which may be implemented by means of
a direct mechanical or hydraulic action onto the latching trip lever.

The low lubricating-oil pressure trip is sometimes implemented in this manner (Fig
2.45). Lubricating oil under pressure is supplied to a single-acting spring-loaded
trip cylinder. The oil is supplied via a deadweight accumulator common to front and
rear channels. This smooths out fluctuations in oil pressure and, in the event of a
sudden loss of oil pressure, will maintain the pressure to the trip cylinder for several
seconds, thus allowing possible recovery by starting of the emergency pumps.
FIG. 2.45. Mechanically-operated trips (front tripping system only)

Similarly, a direct high exhaust-pressure trip is often implemented using the same
spring-loaded trip cylinder as shown in the upper part of Fig 2.45. For the front
tripping system, there are two sets of detectors labelled 1 and 2. Lubricating oil is
supplied to the detectors via an orifice plate. The downstream pressure is controlled
by a leak-off valve, actuated by a bellows unit. The top half of the bellows is evacuated
and sealed at a reference pressure close to zero mbar absolute. The lower half
of the bellows is connected to the condenser. The leak-off valve is normally fully
 seated, since the force supplied by spring A exceeds that exerted by the condenser
pressure. As the condenser pressure rises, a point is reached where the spring force is
counter-balanced and a further pressure increase causes the leak-off valve to unseat.
As lubricating oil pressure is lost within the vacuum trip unit, plunger B is moved
downwards by spring force and the pressure in the short length of pipe C is lost.
If detector 2 also trips, lubricating oil supplying the front trip cylinder is connected
to drain, thus releasing the trip latch. A similar pair of exhaust pressure detectors
operate into the trip cylinder of the rear system. On-load testing is enabled by a
mechanical interlock on the trip test lever, so that when the front protection system
is isolated, its two associated exhaust pressure detectors can be tested in turn by
slowly raising the pressure by a needle valve admitting atmospheric air. This permits
resetting of the trip point if desired.

> Read full chapter

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