Lubrification system for rotating equipment

Abstract

A lubrification system for rotating equipment is disclosed. The lubrification system comprises at least an oil circuit (10), an oil tank (20), an oil filtration system (30), an oil cooling system (40), an oil pressure control system (50), an oil circulation 5 pumping system (60) and a control system (70), wherein the oil filtration system (30), the oil cooling system (40), the oil pressure control system (50), the oil circulation pumping system (60) and the control system (70) are arranged on a shared baseplate (100) and the oil tank (20) is arranged external to the baseplate (100). 10

Description

Lubrification system for rotating equipmentDescriptionTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure concerns a lubrication system for rotating equipment. More particularly, the disclosure provides an improved arrangement and integration of components for efficient and reliable lubrication of industrial rotating machinery.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Rotating equipment, such as turbines, compressors, and pumps, are critical components in many industrial processes. These machines require efficient and reliable lubrication systems to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Traditional lubrication systems often face challenges related to space constraints, maintenance accessibility, and energy efficiency.

[0003] Accordingly, an improved lubrication system for rotating equipment to address the issues of the current art would be beneficial and would be welcomed in the technology. More in general, it would be desirable to provide improved lubrication systems that address these issues while providing enhanced control and reliability.SUMMARY

[0004] In one aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein is directed to a lubrication system for rotating equipment that offers a compact, efficient, and easily maintainable solution. The system integrates key components on a shared baseplate while positioning the oil tank externally, allowing for optimal space utilization and accessibility.

[0005] Further features and embodiments are described herein below and set out in the appended claims.

[0006] In particular, in one aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein concerns a lubrification system comprising an oil circuit, an oil tank, an oil filtration system, an oil cooling system, an oil pressure control system, an oil circulation pumping system and a control system, wherein the oil filtration system, the oil cooling system, the oil pressure control system, the oil circulation pumping system and the control system arearranged on a shared baseplate and the oil tank is arranged external to the baseplate.

[0007] In another aspect, the oil tank is arranged in line with the baseplate. Also, the oil tank can be cylindrical and can be arranged horizontally, and preferably is supported by two or more saddles.

[0008] In one aspect, the oil pressure control system does not comprise a pressure control valve and is integrated with the oil circulation pumping system into an integrated oil pressure control and pumping system, the integrated oil pressure control and pumping system comprising at least one variable speed pump. The integrated oil pressure control and pumping system can comprise at least one main variable speed pump and at least one auxiliary variable speed pump. In one aspect, the main variable speed pump and / or the auxiliary variable speed pump are driven by respective variable frequency drive motors. In another aspect, an inverter is provided for each variable frequency drive motors and the inverter is arranged on the variable frequency drive motors.

[0009] In still another aspect, the oil filtration system is arranged upstream of the oil cooling system and can comprise a duplex oil filter. In one aspect, the oil cooling system comprises a plate cooler, which can be a single plate cooler.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] A more complete appreciation of the disclosed embodiments of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:Fig. l illustrates a schematic of a lubrification system for rotating equipment according to an embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the disclosure, not limitation of the disclosure. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can bemade in the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” means that the particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment s). Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0012] When introducing elements of various embodiments the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

[0013] A schematic of an exemplary lubrification system for rotating equipment is shown in Fig.l. The lubrification system for rotating equipment comprises an oil circuit 10, an oil tank 20, an oil filtration system 30, an oil cooling system 40, an oil pressure control system 50, an oil circulation pumping system 60, and a control system 70.

[0014] An important feature of the disclosure is the arrangement of the oil filtration system 30, oil cooling system 40, oil pressure control system 50, oil circulation pumping system 60, and control system 70 on a shared baseplate 100. The oil tank 20 is positioned external to the baseplate 100. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the oil tank 20 is positioned external to the baseplate 100 and in line with it. This configuration allows for efficient space utilization and improved accessibility for maintenance.

[0015] The oil tank 20 of Fig. 1 is cylindrical and arranged horizontally, supported by three saddles 21. This design provides stability and facilitates easy inspection and maintenance of the tank. In a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical tank is dimensioned to meet retention time requirements (e.g., 5 to 8 minutes as defined by API 614 standards), and includes essential internal features such as baffles, vents, drains, a fill connection with a strainer, inspection holes, and provisions for an oil clarifier system,an oil mist eliminator, a heater, and instrumentation connections, ensuring robust performance and compliance. Its cylindrical shape offers superior manufacturability, being easily rolled with minimized welding activity compared to squared tanks, leading to reduced production costs and weight. The separate installation of the oil reservoir from the pump skid enables a modular design that facilitates optimized transportation, reducing shipment costs and installation time, as both the tank and the skid can be sized independently. This separation also significantly enhances maintenance accessibility, as the entire area surrounding the cylindrical tank is easily reachable.

[0016] Furthermore, the cylindrical tank design provides an optimization of the required oil volume, particularly concerning the pump suction elevation, suction loss level SLL as defined by API 614, and the first filling level FFL, also known as run down level RDL per API 614. In standard designs, where a parallelepiped tank is integrated onto the main skid, the pump suction line’s elevation necessitates a higher SLL. This creates a substantial volume of oil below the suction point, often thousands of liters, that is unused during normal operation. As the FFL is directly related to the SLL, this results in a direct cost impact for the end-user and an increase in the overall product dimensions. By contrast, the cylindrical shape of the external tank is geometrically more efficient; for any required increase in oil level, the corresponding increase in volume is significantly smaller than in a parallelepiped tank close to the bottom of the tank and below the suction side point. This inherent efficiency ensures that both the SLL and FFL are achieved with a minimal, optimized volume of oil, reducing initial costs and the system’s footprint and the design also benefits from improved structural resistance. Concurrently, core functional components such as pumps, motors, filters, temperature control valves, and coolers are efficiently mounted on a separate, light frame or skid, allowing for simple, cost-effective ground installation and easy maintenance of these integrated elements.

[0017] A significant aspect of the disclosure is the integration of the oil pressure control system 50 with the oil circulation pumping system 60. This integrated system eliminates the need for a separate pressure control valve, instead utilizing at least one variable speed pump. In more advanced configurations, such as the configuration shown in Fig. 1, the system may include a main variable speed pump 61 and an auxiliary variable speed pump 62. At least one of the variable speed pumps 61, 62, generally the auxiliary variable speed pump 62, is configured as an emergency pump. To thisaim, the auxiliary variable speed pump 62 is connected to auxiliary energy sources (batteries or engine generator). Both variable speed pumps can also be connected to the auxiliary energy sources, this option involving an increased cost.

[0018] The variable speed pumps 61, 62 are driven by variable frequency drive motors 63, 64. To enhance control and efficiency, each motor is equipped with its own inverter, which is arranged directly on the motor. This arrangement allows for precise control of oil pressure and flow, adapting to the changing needs of the rotating equipment.

[0019] In the oil circuit, the oil filtration system 30 is positioned upstream of the oil cooling system 40. The filtration system comprises a duplex oil filter, allowing for continuous operation during filter changes or maintenance. The oil cooling system 40 utilizes a plate cooler, preferably a single plate design, for efficient heat transfer. The oil cooling system 40 downstream of the oil filtration system 30 allows for less dirt to get into the oil cooling system 40, differently from the API, according to which the oil filtration system shall be positioned downstream of the oil cooling system 40, for safety reasons. Also, by using a plate heat exchanger instead of a tube bundle, there is less risk of dirt getting into the oil.

[0020] This arrangement of components offers several advantages: compact design: the shared baseplate configuration minimizing the overall footprint of the system; improved control: the integrated pressure control and pumping system with variable speed pumps allowing for precise and responsive control of oil pressure and flow; energy efficiency: the variable speed pumps and motors with inverters optimizing energy consumption; ease of maintenance: the external oil tank and modular component arrangement facilitating easier access for maintenance and inspections; continuous operation: the duplex oil filter allowing for uninterrupted operation during filter changes.

[0021] The lubrication system is particularly suited for use in industrial applications where reliable lubrication of rotating equipment is critical, such as power generation,oil and gas processing, and manufacturing.

[0022] While the disclosure has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, changes, and omissions are possible without departing form the spirt and scope of the claims. In addition, unless specified otherwise herein, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.

Claims

Lubrification system for rotating equipmentCLAIMS1. A lubrification system for rotating equipment, the lubrification system comprising: an oil circuit (10), an oil tank (20), an oil filtration system (30), an oil cooling system (40), an oil pressure control system (50), an oil circulation pumping system (60) and a control system (70), wherein the oil filtration system (30), the oil cooling system (40), the oil pressure control system (50), the oil circulation pumping system (60) and the control system (70) are arranged on a shared baseplate (100) and the oil tank (20) is arranged external to the baseplate (100).

2. The lubrification system of claim 1, wherein the oil tank (20) is arranged in line with the baseplate (100).

3. The lubrification system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the oil tank (20) is cylindrical and is arranged horizontally.

4. The lubrification system of claim 3, wherein the oil tank (20) is supported by two or more saddles (21).

5. The lubrification system of one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the oil pressure control system (50) does not comprise a pressure control valve and is integrated with the oil circulation pumping system (60) into an integrated oil pressure control and pumping system, the integrated oil pressure control and pumping system comprising at least one pressure measurement device (51) configured to measure the pressure of the oil in the oil circuit (10) and being arranged along the oil circuit (10) downstream of the variable speed pumps (61, 62) and upstream of the lubrification oil inlet of the at least one rotating equipment, and wherein the integrated oil pressure control and pumping system (70) is configured to control the pressure of the oil in the oil circuit (10) by operating the variable speed pumps (61, 62) according to the measured value of pressure.

6. The lubrification system of claim 5, wherein the integrated oil pressure control and pumping system comprises at least one main variable speed pump (61) and at least one auxiliary variable speed pump (62).-7-7. The lubrification system of one or more of claim 5 or 6, wherein the main variable speed pump (61) and / or the auxiliary variable speed pump (62) are driven by respective variable frequency drive motors (63, 64).

8. The lubrification system of claim 7, wherein an inverter is provided for each variable frequency drive motors (63, 64) and the inverter is arranged on the variable frequency drive motors (63, 64).

9. The lubrification system of claim 7 or 8, wherein at least the variable frequency drive motor (64) of the auxiliary variable speed pump (62) is connected to auxiliary energy sources.

10. The lubrification system of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary energy sources comprise batteries or an engine generator.

11. The lubrification system of one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the oil filtration system (30) is arranged upstream of the oil cooling system (40).

12. The lubrification system of claim 11, wherein the oil filtration system (30) comprises a duplex oil filter.

13. The lubrification system of claim 11 or 12, wherein the oil cooling system (40) comprises a plate cooler.

14. The lubrification system of claim 13, wherein the plate cooler is a single plate cooler.-8-

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