Online Viscometer Ideal for Gas Compressor Lubrication Oil
Posted on Wed, Sep 08, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston, MA - When lube oil viscosity goes out of spec, compressor bearings fail and loss of proper lubrication leads to production downtime and high repair costs. This is particularly challenging for refineries and other petrochemical operations using large gas compressors where the operating environment can be extreme.
“Our problem was at start-up and lower operating temperatures, where light hydrocarbons can mix into the lube oil, instantly dropping the viscosity. With inadequate lubrication, the bearings degrade, and then the rotor assembly on the screw compressor is critically damaged. We found monthly checks were not good enough, that we needed an online viscosity measurement tool. We turned to Cambridge Viscosity and have achieved real-time condition monitoring,” according to a plant engineer for a large Gulf Coast refinery.
Robert Kasameyer, president of Cambridge Viscosity says, “Cambridge online viscometers are widely used to monitor real-time changes in lubricant viscosity that can happen between regular oil lab analysis intervals. This is particularly prevalent in high value equipment in processes where the costs of failure are high.” In the case of refinery gas compressors, replacement parts and repairs can easily cost over $250,000 for these types of failures.
Contact Cambridge Viscosity at 781-393-6500 or email us at info@cambridgeviscosity.com. For more information, visit our website: www.cambridgeviscosity.com.
Contact:
Michael D'Alelio
339 674 9151
Process Industry Informer – One of the UK’s leading magazines for Process Instrumentation