Compressor Oil Flow Case Study

Case StudyThis is a case study of a new motor-gear-compressor train installation in which the lube oil pressure became an issue during commissioning and startup. This case study will bring to light the hidden communication gaps that can occur in a new compressor installation. During commissioning and startup, the pressure control valve had to be opened to its maximum to barely achieve the minimum oil header pressure at the compressor deck. There was some type of short circuiting of the oil supply to the bearings. This case study will present the actions taken to troubleshoot and resolve an apparent lube oil header pressure issue on a new installation. This case study will present the steps taken to troubleshoot the system which ultimately pointed to a missing thrust bearing orifice plate. An internal OEM communication gap proved to be the root cause of the short circuiting of the oil supply to the bearings