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A Presentation onA Presentation on

OIL MIST LUBRICATIONOIL MIST LUBRICATION

By,By,

Saurab J Pai B HSaurab J Pai B H

4BD07ME0914BD07ME091

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Contents

History Introduction

Generation of Oil Mist Components of Typical Oil mist system Working principle Types of Oil mist Advantages

Applications Limitations Case studies Conclusion Bibliography

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Brief History of Oil Mist Lubrication

The Oil mist principle was first developed by a

bearing manufacturer in 1930 It came to US in 1948 to steel industry.

The first use of oil mist in the petrochemical industrywas in the gulf coast.

In 1958 air heaters were developed because it wasdiscovered that, by heating the air used to generateoil mist, oils of any viscosity could be atomized.

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Introduction

Oil mist is an aerosol with an appearance of

smoke or fog. Oil mist is used to lubricate high speed

spindles in grinders.

The main components of oil mist system arethe generator head or venturi, reclassifiers,vents and drains.

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Generation of OilMist

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Oil mist is generated by the introduction of

liquid oil and air into the sonic velocities atthe neck of the vortex chamber.

This Oil suspension is in dry instrument air isa mixture of 1 part oil to 2,00,000 parts air.

Cleanliness of oil and air should bemaintained to achieve maximum results.

Generation of Oil Mist

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Components of Typical Oil Mist System

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Working Principle of Oil Mist lubrication

Oil mist is a centralizedsystem in which compressed

air is used to atomize the oil. The compressed air is passed

through a venturi and oil issiphoned from the reservoir bythe air flow, is atomized into

fine spray. There are no moving parts

and system pressure is verylow.

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Features of Oil mist generator

1. Electrical connections

2. Mist-generated head 3. Mist-pressure gauge

4. Air pressure gauge

5. Air regulator 6. Oil level gauge

7. Oil thermometer

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8. Oil heater

9. Solenoid air valve 10. Moisture separator

11. Oil reservoir

12. Reservoir safety valve

13. Oil level switch 14. Mist pressure switch

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Types of Oil Mist

1. Pure oil Mist:- It is a dry sump oil Mist.

Ex: Centrifugal pumps and electric motors. 2. Purge oil Mist:- It is a wet sump oil mist.

Ex: Gear box, Turbines with sleeve bearings.

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Advantages Of Oil Mist Lubrication

Reduced friction losses in bearings. Cooler operating bearings.

Longer bearing life. Exclusion of external contaminants. Reduced lubricant consumption. Elimination of lubricant misapplication. Increased Reliability. Energy efficiency. Reduced operating temperatures. Reduction in friction coefficients. Increase in the nominal life of bearings. Reduced Vibrations.

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Applications of Oil Mist Lubrication

Oil Mist is applied to the centrifugal pumps,

electric motors, gear boxes, fans andblowers of continuous process plants; suchas petroleum refineries, gas and powergenerating plants and textile, steel and paper

mills etc.

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Limitations oil mist lubrications

Spray mist involves environmental hazards.

Performance is sensitive to temperature. Velocities should always be high.

Air streams in feed lines must be kept laminar.

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Case studies

1. An aluminum refinery in the Gulf Coast has a bank of 34 largefans equipped with pillow block bearings. The failure rate was such

that bearings lasted only six months. The bearings were switched topure oil mist in 1998. To date, there have been no reports ofbearing failures.2. One of the largest oil companies in the world says that they havetwo similar olefin plants; both have about 200 pumps. They are bothoperated under the same operating philosophy. One plant has oil

mist and the other doesnt. The one without oil mist has an averageof 50 pump failures per year.

3. A Gulf Coast refinery operating unit spent on average $35,000per year on pump repairs. They installed oil mist in 1989. Since thattime, their pump repairs have averaged < $5,000 per year.

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Conclusion

Oil mist lubrication significantly reduces

maintenance costs, improves machinery availability,reduces energy consumption, reduces the need forwarehoused repair parts, reduces life cycle costs,and reduces the stress of operating a plant.

It is also an effective method for lubricating

electric motor bearings. Studies have shownsignificant increases in bearing life compared togrease lubrication.

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Bibliography

Internet Sources related with oil mist lubrication onGoogle.

C. A. Towne, "Practical experience with oil mistlubrication,.

Heinz P. Bloch & Abdus Shamin, Oil MistLubrication: Practical Applications, (1998).

Branham, D., Improving Machinery Reliability withOil Mist Technology, Lubricating System Company,presented at IMC-2003 the 18th InternationalMaintenance Conference.

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