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By,
Saurab J Pai B H
4BD07ME091
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þ History
þ Introduction
þ Generation of Oil Mist
þ Components of Typical Oil mist system
þ Working principle
þ Types of Oil mist
þ Advantages
þ Applications
þ Limitations
þ Case studies
þ Conclusion
þ Bibliography
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þ The Oil mist principle was first developed by a

bearing manufacturer in 1930
þ It came to US in 1948 to steel industry.
þ The first use of oil mist in the petrochemical industry
was in the gulf coast.
þ In 1958 air heaters were developed because it was
discovered that, by heating the air used to generate
oil mist, oils of any viscosity could be atomized.
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þ Oil mist is an aerosol with an appearance of

smoke or fog.
þ Oil mist is used to lubricate high speed
spindles in grinders.
þ The main components of oil mist system are
the generator head or venturi, reclassifiers,
vents and drains.
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þ Oil mist is generated by the introduction of

liquid oil and air into the sonic velocities at
the neck of the vortex chamber.
þ This Oil suspension is in dry instrument air is
a mixture of 1 part oil to 2,00,000 parts air.
þ Cleanliness of oil and air should be
maintained to achieve maximum results.
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þ Oil mist is a centralized

system in which compressed
air is used to atomize the oil.
þ The compressed air is passed
through a venturi and oil is
siphoned from the reservoir by
the air flow, is atomized into
fine spray.
þ There are no moving parts
and system pressure is very
low.
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þ 1. Electrical connections
þ 2. Mist-generated head
þ 3. Mist-pressure gauge
þ 4. Air pressure gauge
þ 5. Air regulator
þ 6. Oil level gauge
þ 7. Oil thermometer
þ 8. Oil heater
þ 9. Solenoid air valve
þ 10. Moisture separator
þ 11. Oil reservoir
þ 12. Reservoir safety valve
þ 13. Oil level switch
þ 14. Mist pressure switch
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þ 1. Pure oil Mist:- It is a dry sump oil Mist.

Ex: Centrifugal pumps and electric motors.
þ 2. Purge oil Mist:- It is a wet sump oil mist.
Ex: Gear box, Turbines with sleeve bearings.
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þ Reduced friction losses in bearings.

þ Cooler operating bearings.
þ Longer bearing life.
þ Exclusion of external contaminants.
þ Reduced lubricant consumption.
þ Elimination of lubricant misapplication.
þ Increased Reliability.
þ Energy efficiency.
þ Reduced operating temperatures.
þ Reduction in friction coefficients.
þ Increase in the nominal life of bearings.
þ Reduced Vibrations.
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þ Oil Mist is applied to the centrifugal pumps,

electric motors, gear boxes, fans and
blowers of continuous process plants; such
as petroleum refineries, gas and power
generating plants and textile, steel and paper
mills etc.

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þ Spray mist involves environmental hazards.

þ Performance is sensitive to temperature.
þ Velocities should always be high.
þ Air streams in feed lines must be kept laminar.
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þ 1. An aluminum refinery in the Gulf Coast has a bank of 34 large

fans equipped with pillow block bearings. The failure rate was such
that bearings lasted only six months. The bearings were switched to
pure oil mist in 1998. To date, there have been no reports of
bearing failures.
2. One of the largest oil companies in the world says that they have
two similar olefin plants; both have about 200 pumps. They are both
operated under the same operating philosophy. One plant has oil
mist and the other doesn¶t. The one without oil mist has an average
of 50 pump failures per year.
þ 3. A Gulf Coast refinery operating unit spent on average $35,000
per year on pump repairs. They installed oil mist in 1989. Since that
time, their pump repairs have averaged < $5,000 per year.
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Oil mist lubrication significantly reduces

maintenance costs, improves machinery availability,
reduces energy consumption, reduces the need for
warehoused repair parts, reduces life cycle costs,
and reduces the stress of operating a plant.
It is also an effective method for lubricating
electric motor bearings. Studies have shown
significant increases in bearing life compared to
grease lubrication.
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þ Internet ³Sources related with oil mist lubrication on

Google´.
þ C. A. Towne, "Practical experience with oil mist
lubrication,³.
þ Heinz P. Bloch & Abdus Shamin, ³Oil Mist
Lubrication: Practical Applications,´ (1998).
þ Branham, D., ³Improving Machinery Reliability with
Oil Mist Technology´, Lubricating System Company,
presented at IMC-2003 the 18th International
Maintenance Conference.