Oil Migration

At what oil pressure you are running the compressor.If oil pressure is too much then there is possibility of throwing excess oil.Please check

hi

analysis the compressed gas if that show oil presence then there is problem with the seals and if there is no presence of oil in gas then there may leakage in the cooling system of oil

Can you please write which type of cartridge seals are there? Normally seal oil pressure is more then seal box pressure and in seal cartridge if sour oil can find path to compressor side, it can go inside. This can happen if the sour oil drain holes are chocked or the sour oil traps if installed are not passing oil due to malfunctioning of traps.

Are they: Double Mechanical Seals (if so, we will discuss of Back-to back, Face-to-face or Tandem Seals etc). Or you have: Liquid Film Floating Seals.

Hi

They are double mechanical cartridge type seals.And the oil is migrating into the compressor for sure.

If it is mechanical seal and leaking, the only solution is to stop, strip and attend to it.

Can you scan/insert the 'seal plan and oil flow digram' for us to suggest the possible future remedial action such that the problem may not recur.

Dear Friend,

Please indicate the sketch,we will solve the problem

Are they Mechanical or catridgetype.

regards

G.Surareddy

That is an incredible amount of oil to leak.

Where is it going?

That's what I was thinking. Is there any room left for compressed air? Sounds like it's functioning more like an oil pump.

At that rate of consumption I'd be shopping for a new compressor, or doing a complete rebuild.

Hi

this babe compresses propane@600psi to the heat exchangers bringing in sour gas seperated from crude coming from the oil wells.The seals have been photographed,inspected by many professionals,and are in brand new condition.they were changed a month back for the same reasons.We have placed a drum connected to the trap outlet and are collecting around 150 -200 ltrs of seal oil from there daily.IThe compressor having a two stage lp and hp barrel was sent to holland for refurbishment but no results.They are planning to re open the chamber.

The seals have been photographed,inspected by many professionals,and are in brand new condition.

I can assure you, I am not a professional with these units. Considering that they have been torn down, inspected, photographed, and refurbished by professionals, I think it's unlikely you will find your answer here, especially considering that we can't even see them.

Maybe, if you give make, model, and as much information as possible, someone here may know the answer, it probably won't be me. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

When you find the solution, I would be interested in knowing the cause if you want to post it. Good Luck.

When a double seal arrangement is used, the seal fluid is circulated between seals.

If this fluid is less than the seal chamber pressure, the fluid is referred as 'Buffer fluid' and if the fluid pressure is more than chamber pressure, then it is referred as 'Barrier fluid'.

Buffer fluid: When the inner seal leaks, since the Buffer fluid is at a lower pressure than the chamber pressure, the process fluid gets in between two seals space. This could be collected and analyzed.

Barrier fluid: When the inner seal leaks, since the Barrier fluid is at a higher pressure than the chamber pressure, this barrier fluid pushes the process fluid back to chamber. Thus prevent the process fluid leaking outside. This option is preferred if the process fluid is hazardous (may be highly inflammable or has gases like H₂S).

Now tell us, which is your case, buffer or barrier?

Hello,

sorry i was out of station,yes coming to the subject,we are aware of the buffer and barrier areas.the seal is kaydon cartridge seal and seal oil is migrating into the process.There are no traces of process gas into the bearing housing or the lube oil tank which is common for both.Even the o ring on the seal body looks intact.I am not very sure about the ovality or over lapping in the seal chamber ,but inspections are positive.

If the oil is collected in a drum that explains where it is going.

But where does the oil come from. If it is 'seal' oil then it must be a full time job for someone to keep filling the chambers.

Is the compressor lubrication system feed by the compressor lubrication system. If so the lubrication system pump could be bad allowing this oil to flow through the stuffing box or the low presure side of the packing gland or case. Check the Lubrication system peak presure if its lower than the discharge preasure of the first and secound stages discharge preasure then this my be the problem.