LUBRICATION

PURPOSE AND BASICS

 Outline

What is lubrication

Lubrication Films

Basic Definitions

Function of lubrication

Lube oil system of turbine/compressor

 Lubrication
1/3 of the world
energy production is
consumed in
overcoming friction

Science of
interactions Over 60% of all
between surfaces mechanical failures
moving relative to relates to poor or
improper
each other is lubrication
TRIBIOLOGY

Commonly
encountered types
of friction include A Lubrication must
dry, lubricated, exist to separate
sliding, rolling, and move the
dynamic or kinetic, surfaces apart
static or starting or eliminating the
or viscous destructive friction
forces
 Purpose of Lubrication

• The purpose of lubrication is to prevent direct

metallic contact between the various rolling and
sliding elements. This is accomplished through
the formation of a thin oil (or grease) film on the
contact surfaces.
 Lubrication Films

Formed by motion of lubricated surfaces

Hydrodynamic through a convergent zone. Sufficient
pressure is developed in the film to
film maintain separate the surfaces

Hydrostatic Formed by pumping fluid under

pressure between surfaces
film

Formed by movement of lubricated

Squeeze film surfaces toward each other
Basic Definitions- Flash Point
 Basic Definitions- Auto Ignition Point

• The auto ignition temperature or kindling point of

a substance is the lowest temperature at which it
spontaneously ignites in normal atmosphere
without an external source of ignition, such as a
flame or spark.
 Basic Definitions- Viscosity of Oil

• Viscosity is technically defined as the

fluid friction of an oil
• To put it more simply, it is the resistance
an oil offers to flowing
 Basic Definitions - Pour Point
• The pour point of a liquid is the temperature at
which it becomes semi solid and loses its flow
characteristics.
 Basic Functions of a Lubricant

Dissipate
frictional
heat
Reduce
friction
Absorb loss &
shock power
requireme
nt

Lubricant

Seal out
Minimize
contamina
wear
nts

Remove
dirt &
debris
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 Basic Functions of a Lubricant

REDUCE FRICTION
 Primary function of a lubricant is
to reduce friction.

 It separates the two contacting

surfaces.

REDUCE WEAR
 Lubricant avoids crests/troughs of
the moving surfaces to collide.

 Component life is extended.

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 Basic Functions of a Lubricant
ABSORB SHOCK
 Shock absorption is particularly
significant within gear meshing.
 The mating teeth set up shock waves
with a "chattering" sound.
 This type of shock often results in gear
teeth fracture.
REDUCE TEMPERATURE
 Reduced friction results in reduced
operating temperature.
 A lubricant is excellent dissipater of
heat.
 Excessive lubricant may raise the 13
temperature.
 Basic Functions of a Lubricant

MINIMIZE CORROSION
 Lubrication acts as corrosion
barrier.
 Moisture cause oxidation, leading
to corrosion.
SEAL OUT CONTAMINANTS
 Lubrication keeps the dirt
contaminants out.
 The lubricant's job is to "flush" the
contaminants.
 The lubricant will also act as a
seal against outside dirt ingress.
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Lubricant
Lubricant
Lubricant
 Types of Lubricants

Grease
• Grease lubricants are
relatively easy to handle and
require only the simplest
sealing devices. For these
reasons, grease is the most
widely used lubricant for
rolling bearings. It is used in
pre-sealed with grease
(sealed/shield bearing), or if
using an unsealed bearing, fill
the bearing and housing with
the proper amount of grease,
and replenish or change the
grease regularly.
Oil
• Oil lubrication is
suitable for applications
requiring that bearing-
generated heat or heat
applied to the bearing
from other sources be
carried away from the
bearing and dissipated
to the outside.
Comparison
 Re-lubrication Intervals

• The intervals at which lubricating oil should be changed

varies depending upon operating conditions, oil
quantity, and type of oil used.
• In general, for oil bath lubrication where the operating
temperature is 50°C or less, oil should be replaced once
a year.
• When the operating temperature is between 80°C –
100°C, oil should be replaced at least every three
months.
• For important equipment, it is advisable that lubricating
efficiency and oil purity deterioration be checked
regularly to determine when oil replacement is
necessary.
 Types of lubrication

Generally there are two lubricating methods:

• Fresh lubrication
• By hand
• By grease gun

• Circulation lubrication
• It is a system that delivers controlled amounts of lubricant
to multiple locations on a machine while the machine is
operating.
Types of Circulation Lubrication
 Oil Bath Lubrication

A method which uses an oil bath to lubricate (by

dipping) each part of the machine which needs to
be lubricated.
 Splash Lubrication

A method in which a part of machine dips into the oil

with each rotation and splash it around in order to
deliver the oil to all the parts which need lubrication.
 Ring Lubrication

A ring oiler is a simple device,

consisting of a large metal ring
placed around a horizontal shaft,
adjacent to a bearing. An oil
sump is underneath this shaft
and the ring is large enough to
dip into the oil. As the shaft
rotates, the ring is carried round
with it. The rotating ring in turn
picks up some oil and deposits it
onto the shaft, from where it
flows sideways and lubricates the
bearings
 Forced Lubrication

In this type, a pump is used to force the oil to all the

parts. Oil after lubrication then returns to an oil
reservoir.
 Lube Oil System

The aim of the system is to guarantee the

lubrication of the bearings to permit good
functionality and avoid the damages of the
machine.
Components of lube oil system are as follows
•Oil Console
•Pump
•Cooler
•Filter
•Lube oil pressure & temperature control valve
•Temperature & pressure gauges
 Lube Oil System for Turbo machines

Lube oil
3
header
W
Contr V

ol Oil

3
Filter W
V

Exchanger

TCV PCV

Oil Reservoir
MP TP
Heater
ARRANGEMENT IN RECIP COMPRESSOR GAS END LUB

16 lubricators for different

locations
 WORKING OF LUBRICATOR
Sight Feed Suction Stroke
Dome
The spring forces the
plunger to move down
Suction
NRV Discharge This downward movement
NRV of plunger sucks the oil from
Stroke dome through NRV’s
adjusting This creates vacuum in the
knob Plunger sight dome and oil starts
dripping from the suction
Restoring line.
Spring Discharge Stroke

Cam Lever Plunger As cam moves upward

Stop plunger also moves upside
against spring force
Cam This closes the suction NRV
and opens the discharge
Suction
NRV’s
Line Thus the flow establishes.
Lubrication in Engines / Crankcase
 Oil Purification

The various methods of lubricating oil purification in

commercial use are as follows:
• Settling
• Centrifuges
• Strainers
• Filters
• Distillation of volatile impurities
• Coagulation of impurities with chemicals.
 Centrifuges

Centrifuge is a device designed to separate oil from

water and other impurities by the action of centrifugal
force.
 Working of Centrifuges

• By means of a whirling action which is capable of

imparting a tremendous separating force, the materials
heavier than oil may be separated with great rapidity.
• The used oil enters a receiver at the top and passes
down the hollow shaft to the bottom of the
centrifuge. From this the oil is distributed between
revolving discs which have holes punched in them.
• These holes allow the clean oil to move along the
upper sides of the discs toward the center of the bowl
while water and impurities move along the lower sides
toward the periphery of the bowl.
 Working of Centrifuges

Since oil is lighter than water, the purified oil is forced to

discharge from the middle spout and water from the lower
spout. The solid impurities remain on the side of the bowl,
where they are thrown by centrifugal force and packed
tight. They must be removed from time to time by
dismantling the bowl.
 Tests carried out in FFC

Viscosity Measure

Moisture Content

Total Acid Number

Suspended Solids
Lube Oils Generally Used
 Lube Oils Generally Used

• Shell Omala R 150-220 in gear boxes

• Shell Tellus-68 in centrifugal pumps

• Shell Vetria-150-220 in crank cases

• Shell Alvania in slow speed/high load

bearings