OIL MIST DETECTORS

What does OMD stand for?

Oil mist inside a diesel engine crankcase can be

produced when lube oil, splashed about due to
the rotating motion of cranks, contacts the surface of
the bearings, where its temperature is
abnormally high (>200℃) because of too much
friction on the bearings. The resulting oil vapor
moves about into an area where the temperature is
lower and changes to a fine mist of oil with a
particle size of 3~10μm. This is called “white
smoke.”.
When the oil mist concentration reaches about
5~10% of LEL—that is, 2.5mg/ℓ~5.0mg/ℓ—the
OMD System should produce a pre-warning
alarm first and then a high concentration alarm.
This allows operators to take immediate and
appropriate action to control the situation.
Crankcase explosion
• Generally, in order to detect any formation of white mist in the
units we use a device called oil –mist detector. White mist is
presence of oil in air, which is having low flash point temp
than lubricating oil and choices of catching of fire easily when
sufficient temp come closer to it
• This OMD works on light comparison principle. It means
comparing the intensities of two lights.

• There are two types of OMD‘s actually named

• 1.Comparative type
• 2. Level type
Comparative type
• measures the opacity of the sample by means of a photoelectric cell as with
the measuring cell. To exclude variables in lamps a single unit is used with
beams directed down the tube by mirrors.

• The photoelectric cell gives an output voltage proportional to the light

falling on it. In this way the opacity of the sample is measured, the voltages
generated in the cell in the measuring and reference tubes are compared in
an electronic circuit. The difference is compared to a potentiometer varied
set point which if exceed initiates an alarm circuit. The alarm circuit,
dependent on installation, will generally declutch the drive to the rotary
valve, give an output signal to the engine room alarm monitoring system
and an output to the engine protection system causing it to slowdown.

• The rotary valve also has a position marked 'O' at which air is supplied to
both tubes, and zero automatically (and manually if necessary) adjusted at
each cycle. In addition at position 'L' an average sample of the crankcase is
compared to air.
LEVEL TYPE
 LEVEL TYPE (Light Scatter)
• The disadvantage of obscuration types is that they are
generally slow to operate and suffer from inaccuracies and
false alarms caused by such things as a dirty lens.
Light scatter do not suffer from these problems, are faster
reacting and do not need to set zero during engine
operations. The relationship between the light landing on
the sensor is nearly proportional to the oil mist density
therefore the unit can be calibrated in mg/l.
•
It is possible to have the sensor and a LED emitter in a
single unit which may be mounted on the crankcase. Several
of these can be placed on the engine each with a unique
address poled by a central control unit. The results of which
may be displayed on the control room
 There are many approved Oil mist
detectors available in the market
• Visatron Schaller
• Oil mist detector Graviner
• Daihatsu Diesel Mfg
• Oil mist detector QMI., Multiplexsel Mfg. Co.,
Ltder
• Oil mist detector Triton.
• Sicoms
 VISATRON schaller OMD
CONTROL
COVER

AIR
MEASURING PRESSURE
HEAD REGULATOR

CONNECTING
BOX
AIR JET PUMP
TESTING
GRAVINER OMD
In the light-scattering method , two receivers are used
instead of one as in the light absorption
method. The first receiver receives light that has
survived absorption, just as in the
light-absorption method. But the second receiver, which
is located at a distance from the light
path, receives light that is scattered from oil mist
particles
The intensity of the scattered light increases with the
increase of oil mist concentration, and
The receiver shows a fairly linear relationship between
input and output. This allows easy signal treatments and
good measurement accuracy
1.Detectors 2.Engine Junction
Boxes 3.Control Unit
testing
 Crankcase relief doors
• The crankcase doors are spring loaded valves
which lift up in case there is any rise of pressure
inside the crankcase. Once the pressure is released
they re-seat to prevent any ingress of fresh air.
This helps especially in case of any ingress of air
that can lead to a secondary explosion followed
by a lot of surge and damage to the crankcase.
• The Crankcase relief doors are also fitted to
prevent any damage to the crankcase and ingress
of fresh air inside the crankcase.
Thanks