Main Primary Equipment
In providing the key functions of an Oil Recirculation System, the system is built from the following primary equipment…
Reservoir or Tanks
To allow for settlement, de-aeration and heating with the ability to facilitate a change of lubricant at the appropriate interval. Tank materials are typically carbon steel or stainless steel, and sized based on the system flow rate and application.
Pumps
Normally gear or screw type, motor driven to ensure the correct amount of lubricant is delivered to the friction points. In many cases, standby pumps are provided as part of the integrated design. These can be electrical or shaft driven, dependent on the application.
Heaters and Coolers
To ensure the lubricant reaches the points of application at the required viscosity. The heaters can be tank mounted electric, steam or inline. The coolers can be plate type or shell and tube with the medium being water or water/glycol. Air can also be utilised for cooling using a fan and radiator.
Filtration and Straining Equipment
To maintain the system cleanliness. Typical oil filters will be either simplex or duplex type in the delivery line, suction line strainers, return line strainers and tank breather/filters.
Jacking Oil Panels
Jacking Oil Panels produce a small flow rate of oil at high pressure to lift the shaft of a bearing before it starts to rotate. Typical applications are large generators, cement kilns and ball mills.
Optional System Components
In addition to the main primary equipment, a number of optional system components can be included, depending on the customer specification and technical requirements.
Reservoir Level Monitoring
Visual indicators, electrical switches and/or transmitters to alert the operator of low or high oil level, and protect the pump and tank immersion heater(s) from operating when the oil level is too low.
Pressure Monitoring
Visual gauges, electrical switches and/or transmitters to alert the operator of low or high pressures in the oil system delivery circuit, and similar pressure differential instruments to monitor the pressure drop across the main supply filter.
Temperature Monitoring
Visual gauges, electrical switches and/or transmitters to monitor the reservoir and delivery line oil temperatures.
Flow Monitoring
Visual indicators, electric switches and/or transmitters to monitor the oil flow to the friction point(s), oil return to the reservoir and cooling water supply. To support this Bijur Delimon have developed the DS405 iPM Lubrication Monitor; a highly configurable product that can be used on Oil Recirculation Systems and Total Loss Oil or Grease systems respectively for real-time monitoring of the flow rate of oil, typically through an oval gear flowmeter.
Control Valves
Pump relief valves to protect the pump against excessive back pressure, system pressure control valves to control the flow and pressure of the lubricant to the friction point(s), and temperature control valve to either modulate the water flow to the water/oil cooler or by-pass the cooler when fitted in the oil supply line when the oil does not require cooling.
Isolation Valves/Check Valves
To isolate the oil or water supply, and prevent the oil from returning to the reservoir.
Air Pressure Vessels
Used in large systems to ensure sufficient pressure exists in the system to provide lubrication to all application points during operation and run down of the parent machine in the event of a power cut.
Run Down Tanks
To provide lubrication to all application points during run down of the parent machine in the event of a power cut.