Lubrication solutions for compressor cylinders in the Oil & Gas industry

The oil and gas industry is a large industrial sector which includes three main energy sources: electricity, oil and gas.
Faced with this, it is easy to understand the importance of this sector that represents the real engine behind all global activities, as evidenced by the fact that oil and gas constitute 60% of the world's needs.

The processes in this sector are divided into three phases:
- The upstream, which includes Research and Development activities
- The midstream, which includes transportation to the conversion and consumption markets
- The downstream, which includes oil refining and the distribution of gas and refined products.

Alternative compressors are used in the upstream phase and are necessary to suck the air directly from the atmosphere or to compress what is already present from the system, in this case acting as a "booster" to reach very high pressures.
To meet the specific conditions to which the compressors are subjected, a lubrication system must be installed that is capable of reaching high pressures, delivering low quantities of oil and operating in a potentially explosive environment classified as ATEX Zone 2.

The points to be lubricated in this kind of system are located between the cylinder and pistons. If these parts are not
sufficiently lubricated or are over lubricated, the cylinder may be subject to a variety of different malfunctions.

In this case a lubrication system with specific characteristics is required to meet the needs of this application.

Generally, a typical customer’s problem can be obtaining a precise and constant lubrication under some specific conditions to which these machines are subjected:
- Creating a lubrication system that would reach high pressures
- A very low amount of oil delivery
- Suitable for an explosive environment, categorised as ATEX Zone 2.

The points to be lubricated in this kind of system are located between the cylinder and pistons. If these parts are not sufficiently lubricated or are over lubricated, the whole plant may be subject to a variety of
different malfunctions.

The lubrication system is composed of two parts: the main pumping station called the "MAIN UNIT", which includes pumps and reservoir, and the "DISTRIBUTOR UNIT", which includes all distribution elements and
accessories.
The "MAIN UNIT" contains two line pumps, a working one and the other acting as a reserve (for safety reasons, in case the main pump becomes damaged). The 100 litre reservoir completes the main pumping
station.

On the “DISTRIBUTOR UNIT” there is a line from the pumps consisting of PSVs (pressure safety valves), check valves, pressure gauges and the first 'MASTER DIVIDER' (smx divider) that feeds the two secondary
dividers placed directly on the compressor.
The DISTRIBUTOR UNITS consist of two secondary feeders positioned near the lubricating points that are supplied from the master dividers positioned on the MAIN UNIT.

All parts of this system, products, tools and electrical equipment are Atex-certified in line with the working conditions in this industry.