Machinery Lubrication

Machinery Lubrication March-April 2020

Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation

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30 | March - April 2020 | www . machinerylubrication.com Circulating oil systems or lube skids provide contin- uous flow of lubricant to bearings, gearboxes and blowers. ey lubricate machinery used to pump stormwater, circulate fresh air into mines, extract oil, power ships, manufacture paper and chemicals, and test military equip- ment. In some cases, the bearing manufacturer supplies the lube skid as part of a single-source solution. In other instances, a bearing already in service may be overheating or exhib- iting wear and is in need of a more dynamic lube system. In either case, the responsibility for speccing the oil system lies with the party having f irsthand knowledge about the bearing. e circulating oil system may be less familiar territory. There are three approaches to procuring a circulating oil system. The first is to construct it with in-house resources. is is both a science and an art. ere are many skilled maintenance individuals who can make the connections, assemble the piping and get all the controls to work together. Be prepared to spend time researching components and suppliers. If working without a drawing, you can expect on-the-spot engineering and re-engineering (i.e., fixing mistakes and miscalculations). The second approach is to purchase a prefabricated unit. Some manufacturers of circulating oil systems have off-the-shelf units. ey may be completely assembled or can be quickly constructed from on-hand components. e shortened lead time can be helpful when dealing with a bearing that is overheating in summer temperatures. ere will be limited options to choose from, which could result in an underequipped system or an oversized, less efficient system. e third approach is to design a system with a specialized manu- facturer. ere are inherent benefits to experience and planning. A good manufacturer will offer drafting/ engineering resources, have reliable suppliers and be an expert trouble- shooter. Circulating oil systems often provide decades of service, so it is best to design them to have adequate controls, convenient maintenance and efficient power usage. No matter which approach is employed, forethought should be given to what the system needs to do and how an array of different parts must come together to accomplish it. Circulating Oil Systems: What You Should Know BEARING LUBRICATION Kurt Rommelfaenger | Oil-Rite Corp. "ere is not one size that fits all when it comes to circulating oil systems." Figure 1. An example of a circulating oil system.

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