For many years lubricating oils have been used in machinery as they reduce friction and heat, as well as wear and tear on moving parts in oil and gas engineering companies in chennai. However, with the passage of time and technological changes, the types of lubricating systems used today are different and better than those used earlier. The modern-day lubricating systems are more efficient and can be divided into eight categories based on the reservoir type. These include:
Types of lubricating oil systems
1. Oil Lubrication System
It is the most common method of lubricating machine parts. The oil is directly applied to the bearing surface of the machine part. This method is used for heavy machine parts like crankshafts, connecting rods and piston pins, etc., where a small amount of oil film can be sufficient for lubrication. The oil film on the bearing surface protects against rust, corrosion, and wear caused by moving parts. The oil should be filtered and maintained in good condition to avoid any pollution hazards.
2. Splash Lubrication System
It is also known as a splash feed system or splash feed mechanism. It is based on the principle that when an object falls into a pool of liquid, such as water, it splashes some amount of water onto its surface due to impact on the surface of the pool. In this system, oil is pumped over an object. Due to the impact of falling droplets, oil gets deposited on its surface, resulting in lubrication (splash).
3. Recirculating Oil System
Recirculating lube oil system use a pump to keep the oil in constant circulation through the system. This allows even distribution of the oil as it reaches all moving parts of the machine. Recirculating oil systems have been used since the advent of machines. They are popular today due to their simplicity and efficiency.
4. Air-Oil Lubrication System
The air-oil lubrication system uses compressed air to deliver oil to moving parts of a machine. Air-oil lubrication systems are more complex than recirculating systems because they require additional parts such as valves, filters, and gauges; however, they provide greater control over how much oil is delivered to each part concerning how much pressure is applied by the compressed air source used by this type of system.”
5. Grease Lubrication System
Grease lubrication systems are used to lubricate axles, gears, and other moving parts of machinery. It is the most widely used type of lubrication system in the industry. The grease must be able to withstand high temperatures and pressures. Grease lubricants are made from animal fats (tallow) or vegetable oils (soybean oil).
6. Dual Line Lubrication Systems
Dual line lubrication systems supply a mixture of grease and oil to gearboxes, bearings, and other parts of machinery that require both types of lubricant. it consist of two lines: one for grease and one for oil. A dual-line pump supplies the correct ratio of grease to oil. At the same time, an automatic valve ensures that only the correct amount of each fluid reaches a given component of the machine’s moving parts.
7. MQL (Minimum Quantity Lubrication) System & Near Dry Machining
The MQL system is a lubricating oil system that applies a small amount of oil to the machine’s bearing surfaces. This system was first developed to improve efficiency and decrease costs by reducing the amount of oil needed for lubrication. The MQL system works by applying just enough oil to keep the shafts and bearings from grinding against each other, but not enough for them to lose their shape or become damaged by friction.
The MQL system is commonly used with near-dry machining techniques because it helps prevent overheating and extends the life of machinery parts. It can also help reduce noise levels caused by parts rubbing together while spinning at high speeds.
8. Wet Sump Lubrication System
A wet sump lubrication system is a common type of lubricating oil system. The wet sump lubrication system is used in vehicles like cars and trucks with an engine of more than 3.0 liters. The main difference between the wet and dry sump lubrication systems is that the former uses a pan or tank to hold all the oil. At the same time, the latter has a separate oil tank.
The wet sump lubrication system has several advantages over other types of lubricating oil systems. For one thing, it’s easier to access for routine maintenance purposes. Also, this lubricating oil system allows for more efficient cooling since it doesn’t use coolant from a radiator as dry sump systems do; instead, it uses air-cooling, which means there’s no need for expensive radiators or air conditioners (which can be costly).
Conclusion
All the above lubricating oil systems are used in various industries and machines. The most common type of lubricating system is the original style. They use mechanical pumps to transfer the oil around. Some other advanced versions have electronic pumps, electronic components, and microprocessors.