Page 143 - Reciprocating Compressors Operation Maintenance

Operation and Maintenance of Reciprocating Compressors I 29

placed by oil. In either case, the glasses should be drained, cleaned and
refilled with clean liquid. Contaminants such as dust and dirt gradually
accumulate in the reservoirs, and the reservoirs and pumps should be
cleaned at intervals of not over one year depending on the cleanliness of
the surroundings. Lint-free wiping cloths should be used for this purpose,

Oil Containers

Only clean containers should be used for storing and dispensing com-
pressor oils, and the containers should be well covered when not in use,
Dirty containers obviously constitute a source of oil contamination.
Galvanized (that is, zinc-coated) iron containers should not be used for
lubricating oils. Zinc may react with certain constituents of oil, com-
pounding materials, or oxidation products to form viscous metallic soaps
that thicken oil and act as catalysts promoting oil oxidation.

Cleaning Air Filters

Intervals between the cleaning of air filters should be determined by
local conditions and will depend on the type and capacity of the filter,
volume of air handled, and the amount of dust in the air. Clean filters
impose very little restriction on the flow of air, and contaminants should
not be allowed to accumulate to the extent that this restriction becomes
excessive.

Oil Analysis

Regularly scheduled lubricating oil analysis is essential for trouble-
free operation and must be part of any maintenance program. If this can
not be handled with in-house facilities, there are several companies that
specialize in this service. One-month sampling and analysis intervals are
typically recommended.
Records should be kept of these monthly analyses and trending of
wear particles performed in order to determine which components may
be wearing and are in danger of failure.

EXTENDED SHUTDOWN PERIODS

Before stopping a compressor prior to an extended shutdown, the oil
feeds to the cylinders should be increased or the force-feed lubricator