Lubrication features of a large diesel engine

In some engines such as long and superlong stroke engines, the piston is not directly connected to the crank pin via a connecting rod.

The piston has a piston rod extending from the bottom of the piston.
The piston rod is then connected to the connecting rod at the crosshead bearing. The crosshead bearing has a to and fro motion and therefore a continuous hydrodynamic film cannot form. Therefore oil has to be pumped to the crosshead bearing at a predetermined pressure in order to take the loads of compression and combustion. The crosshead is connected to the crank pin via a connecting rod.

Ref: http://www.marinediesels.in fo/2_stroke_engine_parts/cr osshead.htm

Piston Piston rings Piston skirt

Platform separating cylinder from crank case

Piston rod Stuffing box

Crosshead, crosshead bearing (reciprocating) Oil pumped at a certain pressure Crank pin, bottom end bearing (rotatory motion) Web

Connecting rod

Journal, journal bearing (rotatory motion)

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Cylinder liner lubrication

In some engines, lubricating oil in the cylinder is different from the oil supplied to the other bearings. The cylinder oil contains additives to withstand the high temperatures and contaminants from combustion products. The oil is slightly basic in nature to counter the acids formed from combustion.

Scraper rings spread the oil over the liner surface.

Lub. oil is usually injected between the two scraper rings. Oil is injected at a predetermined period during the downward stroke. Before starting, oil is pumped into the liner by manual priming methods. After starting, the oil pump is driven by the engine through a cam shaft.
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Cylinder liner
Compression rings Scraper rings Piston

Oil injection passage

Injection points Cylinder oil pump/lubricator Handle Camshaft

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Trunk type engine (no piston rod)Splash type lubrication

Cylinder liner Piston rings Oil is picked up by the webs while rotating, and splashed onto the piston and liner

Gudgeon pin

Crank pin, bottom end bearing (rotatory motion)

Connecting rod Journal, journal bearing (rotatory motion) Web extension

Oil

Web
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Piston rod
Telescopic pipes (one moves inside the other)

CROSSHEAD LUBRICATION

Oil supply Crosshead bearing

Movement of crosshead

Movement of bearing Stationary pipe Connecting rod

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Journal bearing
Journal

Bearing
Oil supply

The journal bearing may undergo hydrodynamic lubrication or a combination of hydrodynamic and hydrostatic (externally pressurized) lubrication. The oil supply may be from any one or number of positions, depending on the design.

Oil passage between bearings in a unit

TRUNK TYPE ENGINE

Gudgeon pin

Connecting rod Crank pin Web

Oil passage (drilled)

Journal

Lubrication system
TG- Temperature gauge PG- Pressure gauge
TG PG

ENGINE

Shaft

Bearings
PG

Cooler
TG PG

Storage tank

Pump

Filter
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Engine sump
ENGINE Shaft Bearing Connection for filling the tank Pump Storage tank/sump strainer

The storage tank usually forms the bottom-most compartment of the engine.
It is also sometimes known as the sump. Oil from the sump is usually transported to the bearings by an engine driven pump or an independently electric motor driven pump that transports the oil to the journal bearings. Through passages drilled in the crank shaft and webs, it is transported to the crank pin. Usually a strainer is provided on the suction side of the pump to prevent large contaminant particles from damaging the pump and bearings.
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Oil cooler- tube and shell type

Oil in
TG
PG TG TG

Water in

Water out

PG

TG

Oil out In this case, cooling water flows through the tubes. Oil flows in the shell around the tubes and passes the heat to the water. The in/out temperatures of the oil and water are to be monitored. Oil pressure is always kept above water pressure to prevent water contamination of oil However, if there is a leak oil is lost and the sump level is therefore to be monitored 11 regularly

PG

PG

Engine lubrication system

Some adverse situations: TG- Temperature gauge PG- Pressure gauge Oil inlet pressure to engine LOW Oil outlet temperature from engine HIGH Oil outlet temperature from cooler HIGH
TG PG

ENGINE

Shaft

Bearings
PG

Cooler
TG PG

Storage tank

Pump

Filter

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Adverse situations and reasons

All pressure and temperature values in a lubrication system have to be constantly monitored Oil inlet pressure to engine LOW
Filter may be choked blocking flow. Pump defective.

Oil outlet temperature from engine HIGH

Bearing maybe running hot due to excessive friction. Leakage of gas from combustion space past piston rings.

Oil outlet temperature from cooler HIGH

Water flow may be restricted due to choked tubes. Surface of tubes maybe coated with dirt.

Temperature of oil outlet from cooler too LOW (excess viscosity)

Water temperature may be too low- restrict water flow by partially shutting valve.
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Other maintenance and problem issues

With engine is shut down
Oil filters should be cleaned regularly Cooler tubes to be cleaned

Oil level in the sump is to be monitored regularly Low level is indicative of oil leakage somewhere in the system
Can be at the cooler (oil flowing into water side) At the pump At the valves Check constantly around the engine spaces for accumulation of oil
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Lubricating oil pumps

Lubrication pumps are positive displacement pumps They supply a definite amount of fluid for each cycle of rotation regardless of resistance which may oppose the transfer. They do not need any initial priming

Different types are: Reciprocating

Piston, plunger

Rotary
Vane, piston, screw, gear, lobe and screw

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Reciprocating piston pump

Ref: http://www.lcresources.com/resources/getstart/pump.gif

In a reciprocating pump, a volume of liquid is drawn into the cylinder through the suction valve on the intake stroke and is discharged under positive pressure through the outlet valves on the discharge stroke.

The discharge from a reciprocating pump is pulsating and changes only when the speed of the pump is changed.
Often an air chamber is connected on the discharge side of the pump to provide a more even flow by evening out the pressure surges. Reciprocating pumps are often used for sludge and slurry.
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Gear pump
Consists of two meshing gear wheels housed in a tight fit casing. The gears rotate in opposite directions and the vacuum created due to this, draws the fluid into the inlet side of the pump. The fluid is trapped in the spaces between the teeth and casing to be carried round from the suction to the delivery side Fluid is displaced when gear teeth mesh Therefore there is a continuous transfer of liquid from suction to delivery side The theoretical volume displacement is given by

2 2 Q t wN(d o d r ) 4

do = outside diameter dr = root diameter N = rps w = depth of gear perpendicular to the screen
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