Things You Should Know About Marine Lube Oil System
Every machinery or engine aboard ships
and other marine vessels require proper lubrication for trouble-free operation.
It takes knowing about the marine lube oil system before you choose the proper
products that will keep engine parts properly lubricated and running smoothly.
For instance, the main engine’s lubrication is essential for cooling and
lubricating the internal parts, which work relative to one another in
generating heat and friction. Without proper lubrication, those parts will be
prone to overheating. Besides cooling the parts, lubrication also works to
remove impurities and debris.
There are different marine lube oil
systems used in marine applications. Here is what you should know about them:
- Hydrostatic
lubrication –
When oil film is unable to form because of dynamic moving parts, oil
pressure must be externally provided. This is where the marine lube oil system is
considered hydrostatic. Slow heavy parts, for instance, move in a way that
makes self-generated lubrication difficult, so they need an external pump
to deliver the oil to their system. Crosshead bearings are usually
designed with an additional crosshead lube pump.
- Hydrodynamic lubrication
– In
this lubrication oil system, the oil forms a continuous film that is
adequately thick and moves between surfaces. The film is generated as the
parts move and generate their own pressure. The main engine bearings are
perfect examples of this lubrication.
- Elastohydrodynamic
lubrication –
This time, the thickness of the lubricating film changes considerably with
the surfaces’ elastic deformation. This can be seen when sliding or
rolling surfaces come into contact with one another when meshing gear
teeth or rolling contact bearings. Elastic deformation of metals happens,
causing more pressure on the lube.
- Boundary lubrication – For this marine lube
oil system, a thin film forms between two surfaces rubbing against each
other. Boundary lubrication is applied and effective due to the slow
speeds, rough surfaces, and high contact pressure.
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