Skip to main content

Splash and Pressure Lubrication in Piston Compressors


Piston compressors have been around for centuries. They can be either oil-injected or oil-free, depending on the application and end use. In oil-injected models, the oil typically serves three crucial purposes: cooling, sealing and lubricating. But not all oil-injected piston compressors lubricate components the same way. There are two common methods of lubricating the pump in piston compressors: splash and pressure lubrication.


Splash lubrication
In splash lubrication, oil is applied to the cylinders and pistons by rotating dippers on the connecting-rod bearing caps. Each time they rotate, the dippers pass through an oil-filled trough. After running through the oil trough, the dippers splash oil onto the cylinders and pistons to lubricate them.
While splash lubrication is effective for smaller engines and pumps, it’s not a precise process. Parts of the pump may be insufficiently oiled or oiled too much. The amount of oil in the trough is vital for proper operation. If there is not enough oil, wear between critical components may occur, and too much oil will cause excessive lubrication, which can lead to hydraulic lock.
The type of oil used and its viscosity is also important in a splash lube system. The oil must be thick enough to provide sufficient lubrication and cling to the dippers, but not so viscous that it heats up as it is churned about in the oil trough. Oil purity is also critical; oil should be filtered regularly and replenished when necessary.
Pressure lubrication
Pressure lubrication is the second type of method used to lubricate piston compressors. It is a more technically advanced and usually more costly method, but it results in longer life for a compressor.
Pressure lubrication is a process where an oil pump precisely distributes oil to key areas of the pump. Typically, the oil is pumped through an oil filter and into the pump where it is then recycled and reused; using a replaceable oil filter can further improve the life of the oil. The oil is transported to the key area by use of an oil pump. Therefore, the viscosity of the oil is not as critical as with a splash tube system.
Either method has been used extensively in many various pump and engine applications, and both are suitable for piston compressor applications. When purchasing a new piston compressor, decide what’s important for you. If upfront cost is important, a splash lubricated compressor may be the way to go. But if you are willing to invest more in a pressure lubricated piston compressor, you’ll be rewarded with added longevity and reliability.
What kind of lubrication does your piston compressor use? Let us know in the comments below. You may also enjoy the following articles:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Did you buy the wrong type of compressed air dryer?

Do you have a desiccant compressed air dryer in your plant? Yes? Do you know the annual running cost of that dryer? It's plugged into a power socked, so it probably uses a bit of electricity… and you need to replace the desiccant every so many years. Right? True! But for many types of desiccant air dryers, there's a hidden cost… and it is substantial! In fact, the yearly cost will probably SHOCK you! The culprit? Purge air! Purge air is air that is used to regenerate the desiccant. (the desiccant needs to be regenerated every few hours, to remove the water that it previously absorbed). There are 2 main types of desiccant dryers: Heated blower regenerated This type uses an external blower and heater to regenerate the desiccant. It requires only electricity (around 1 kW for every m3/min of compressed air). Purge regenerated This type doesn't use electricity to regenerate the desiccant... Great, right!  No!  It uses precious compressed air!!! This compressed air flow is betwe
Post a Comment
Read more
4 Ways to Extend Your Air Compressor’s Life Intelligent management of maintenance and operations of the plant’s  compressed air system  helps increase plant uptime, reduce unplanned shutdowns and help keep the plant profits and employee morale at peak levels. Service Agreement for Out-Sourced Compressor Maintenance With a full range of coverage options available, service provider inspects your air compressor for wear, damage and potential failure. Below are three different types of Air Compressor Service Agreements and their key benefits: OEM Service Schedules – Offer compressed air maintenance according to scheduled service intervals. Includes 46-point compressor inspection, filters and fluid. Annual Maintenance Agreement—  Sakoon offers annual service agreements  to relive plant managers from hassles of air compressor maintenance so that they may focus on production. Trouble Shoot Plan— System Failure – Call the Professionals! Should your system ever fail, customers
Post a Comment
Read more
Decoding the Duty Cycle Rating of Piston Compressors Selecting the correct air compressor for your application can be a complicated process. Before making a purchase, operators need to specify the quality and amount of air their application requires. Each compressor technology (rotary, piston, centrifugal, etc.) has an optimal flow output, so users should choose compressor technology based on the compressed airflow requirement of their application. Some compressors, like rotary screw and centrifugal, are designed to run continuously at full speed while maintaining peak airflow (defined in cubic feet per minute, or CFM). The motors and cooling systems of these compressors are engineered to run 100 percent of the time without overheating. However, this isn’t true for all compressors. Piston compressors do not have the cooling capabilities to run continuously for extended periods of time. Therefore, each piston compressor must have a specified flow output and pressure, as
Post a Comment
Read more