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.

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

Piston skirt

Platform separating cylinder Piston rod

from crank case
Stuffing box

Crosshead, crosshead
bearing (reciprocating)
Oil pumped at
a certain
pressure Connecting rod

Crank pin, bottom end

bearing (rotatory
motion) Journal, journal bearing
(rotatory motion)
Web 2
 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
Oil injection passage

Piston

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

Gudgeon pin while rotating, and splashed
onto the piston and liner

Connecting rod
Crank pin, bottom end
bearing (rotatory
motion) Journal, journal bearing
(rotatory motion)

Web extension
Web
Oil
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 CROSSHEAD
Piston rod LUBRICATION
Telescopic pipes (one
moves inside the
other)

Oil supply Movement of crosshead

Crosshead
bearing

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.

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 Oil passage between bearings in a unit

TRUNK TYPE ENGINE

Gudgeon pin

Connecting rod

Crank pin

Web

Oil passage Journal

(drilled)

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 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 PG

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
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regularly
 Engine lubrication system
Some adverse situations:
• TG- Temperature gauge •Oil inlet pressure to engine LOW
• PG- Pressure gauge
•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

Q t  wN (d o  d r )
2 2

4
• do = outside diameter
• dr = root diameter
• N = rps
 w = depth of gear perpendicular to the screen
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