Lubricator

The lubricators are driven by a common drive from the engine it supply cylinder oil for the cylinder liner lubrication of main engine in ships. They are synchronized with the engine to provide timed lubrication.

How to arrange to supply oil to cylinder or when they supply L.O to engine ?

Lube oil be fed to the piston at the time when the top two piston rings pass the lubricating holes in the cylinder during the pistons upstroke.

What is Timed lubrication  ?

1. Lubricators of each cylinder are synchronized with engine to provide timed cylinder liner lubrication.
2. Cylinder oil is fed; at the time when top two piston rings pass the oil feed points, in the cylinder during piston upstroke [4/S and 2/S Uniflow engines]

Disadvantages of Timed lubrication ?

1. It requires  very rapid injection  of oil at correct time, with correct amount, and pressure
2. It is discharging through  very small bore;  with long pipes to various oil feed points
3. Having a  non-return valve  at the top of lubricator, hence it complicates the timed injection
4. The hot combustion gases tend to carbonize the oil, and block the orifices.

Where lubricator quill is fitted?

Lubricator quills are arranged around the periphery of the cylinder liners and connect cylinder lubricators with oil feed points in the cylinder liners.

What are the requirement of lubricator ?

1. Must be capable of delivering regularly every stroke a quantity of oil against moderate pressure
2. Must have a wide range of adjustment
3. The quantity of discharged oil per strike should be clearly visible
4. Can be operated by hand

How do you do lubricator quill overhaul ?

1. Remove nut on lubricator quill (L.O connector)
2. Take out lubricator quill fitted directly to the cylinder without passing through the jacket cooling space.
3. Remove lubricator quill (L.O outlet side)
4. Take out spring and non return ball valve.
5. Clean all parts in diesel oil.
6. Check non return valve for occur.
7. Check spring tension.
8. Place the non return valve and spring into the lubricator quill then tighten out.
9. Fit the lubricator quill to the cylinder tighten the nut.
10. After fitting the lubricator quill, It is operated by hand at the same time check the cylinder liner wall for sufficient oil come out and effective cylinder liner lubrication is taking place.

What are the requirements of cylinder lube oil ?

1. It must  reduce sliding friction  between piston rings and cylinder liner to a  minimum.
2. It must process  adequate viscosity at high working temperature  and still be sufficiently fluid to spread rapidly over the entire working surfaces to form a good adsorbed oil film.
3. It must  form an effective seal  in conjunction with the piston rings, preventing gas blow by, burning away of the oil film and lack of compression.
4. It must  burn cleanly, leaving as little and as soft a deposit as possible.
5. It must  effectively prevent the build up of deposits  in the piston ring zones and exhaust ports.
6. It must  effectively neutralize  the corrosive effects on the mineral acids formed during combustion of the fuel.

 What are the effects of excess cylinder liner lubrication ?

1. Fouling of ring grooves and resulting ring zone deposits.
2. Consequently, loss of gas sealing effect and blow by follows.
3. Fouling of scavenge space and scavenge fire follows.
4. Also affecting combustion process.
5. Leading to breakage of piston rings
6. Fouling of exhaust system and turbocharger.
7. Increased cylinder oil consumption.

What are the effects of reduced cylinder liner lubrication ?

1. Promote wear of liner and rings
2. Overheating of local area resulting micro seizure due to lack of boundary lubrication.
3. Consequently major damage to piston and cylinder liner.

How to check correct amount of cylinder liner lubrication by a marine engineer?

Checking by open scavenging drain (little coming out O.K) at sea.

In port:  Check the liner is wet or not (thin layer wet O.K)

Oil has to not collect at the scavenge space.

 

Reference:

Oral Guide by – MIN ZAR TAR