Oil change brings advantages to offshore operation
A
Kluber Lubrication GB product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jan 29, 2002
Since changing oils, a oil and gas exploration company in the North Sea has improved lubricant life with no related mechanical problems and no downtime due to excessive servicing
Offshore Oil and Gas operators world wide are constantly striving to maintain operational reliability, energy savings and reduce overall costs.
This was just the case when a leading oil and gas exploration company running a number of platforms in the North Sea approached Kluber.
Initially Kluber were asked to find a solution to gas dilution problems with a GHH-MAN Screw compressor for LPVR (Low Pressure Vapour Recovery), which were resulting in high oil usage, extensive downtime and compressor replacement.
The oil was also on a synthetic base stock.
Furthermore, industrial mineral based oils used in gas, refrigeration and air compressors require more frequent changes after a set number of operating hours.
Using mineral oils in screw and vane compressors in particular can lead to varnish and carbon build up in the entire system thus increasing energy consumption, reduced compressor capacity, shorter separator life and increased downtime due to additional service and maintenance costs.
To virtually eliminate these air-end effects and achieve cleaning without taking the compressor out of service, prior to refilling the compressor with Kluber oil, the unit was pre-conditioned with the fully synthetic compressor conditioner Kluber Summit Varnasolv.
This special non-detergent fluid is added to the existing oil charge in a 10% ratio and the compressor is operated as normal for 40 to 60 hours.
Varnasolv dissolves the varnish and carbon residues leaving the air-end clean thus saving many hours of service effort and cost.Following this cleaning and conditioning process, analysis of the gas stream, inlet temperature/pressure and sump/discharge temperature, Kluber allowed the correct recommendation to be made, in this case Kluber Summit PGS 100.
Oil analysis commenced immediately after refilling with the new lubricant and over a period of nearly 8000 hours showed a stabile viscosity of approximately 70cSt with no sign of wear on the same charge.
The OEM recommendation for this compressor is minimum 30 cSt for adequate bearing protection.
On this particular compressor, the customer had numerous problems with rapid wear due to viscosity degradation.
Since changing to Kluber Summit oils, achievements have been much improved lubricant life with no related mechanical problems and no downtime due to excessive servicing.
No matter whether reciprocating, screw-type or sliding vane compressors are in operation, synthetic compressor oils by Kluber offer the following advantages: * Excellent lubricity and anti wear properties.
* Very low viscosity-temperature dependency, thus excellent lubricity and sealing also at extreme temperatures.
* Prevention of residues due to high oxidation stability, minimum tendency to carbonisation, excellent water separation.
* Extended oil change intervals and increased efficiency.
* Operational reliability based on low evaporation tendency, high flash point and high auto-ignition point.
* Energy savings of 3 - 7% in reciprocating compressors and 2 - 5% in screw-type compressors.
* Oil quantity reduction by 75% owing to oil change intervals, which are 4 - 6 times longer.
* Clearly reduced disposal cost due to the lower quantities required.
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Contact Kluber Lubrication GB
Tel +44 1422 319146
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