Compressor Oil
Premium Quality
Lubricants for Air Compressors
Compressor Oil
has been formulated from highly refined paraffinic base oils and high
performance additives to provide outstanding lubrication in a variety of rotary
and reciprocating air compressors. All ISO viscosity grades are formulated with
outstanding oxidation performance, wear protection, resistance to rust and
corrosion, rapid water separation and foam control.Compressors are an integral part of almost every manufacturing facility.
Commonly referred to as the heart of any air or gas system, these
assets require special attention, particularly their lubrication. To
comprehend the vital role lubrication plays in compressors, you must
first understand their function as well as the effects of the system on
the lubricant, which lubricant to select and what oil analysis tests
should be performed.
Features and Benefits
Compressor Oil
is designed to provide long service life in most compressor applications. The
thermal stability and oxidation resistance of these fluids can help to maintain
cleaner compressors, thereby enabling longer running periods between scheduled
maintenance and oil changes. The outstanding anti-wear and corrosion protection
are designed to enhance equipment life, while reducing maintenance
requirements.
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Features
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Advantages
and Potential Benefits
|
|
Outstanding
resistance to oxidation and thermal degradation
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Reduced
deposits and coking, extended service life with the potential for reduced
maintenance
|
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Potent
anti-wear protection
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Can help
reduce compressor component wear and thereby reduce maintenance requirements
|
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Excellent
rust and corrosion protection
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Internal
components are protected from surface degradation, thereby extending
component life
|
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Rapid release
of foam and air release control
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Rapid release
of foam and air, protecting components from aeration and cavitation damage,
leading to reduced wear
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Rapid water
separation from the oil
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Less
carryover to downstream equipment.
Reduced sludge formation in crankcases, discharge lines, coalescers, and
coolers
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Applications
- Compressor Oil 68 is suitable for
use in rotary vane and screw compressors.
- Compressor 68, 122 and 220 are
effective as "once-through" lubrication of reciprocating
compressor cylinders as well as crankcases and some types of rotary
compressors.
- Recommended for Vacuum pumps and
as R&O lubricants in other industrial oil applications
- Compressor Oil is not
recommended for breathing air or oxygen compression
- In severe service applications,
where equipment is subject to higher operating temperatures, subject to
excessive deposits varnish and shortened service life.
- Follow the compressor manufacturers
recommendations for lubricant selection
- For gases other than air or
natural gas and for specific compressor lubricant recommendations, please
your Imperial Oil representative.
Typical Properties
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Compressor
Oil
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68
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122
|
220
|
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Kinematic
Viscosity
@40°C
@100°C
|
68
9.1
|
122
12.3
|
220
18.4
|
|
Pour Point °C
|
-21
|
-15
|
-12
|
|
Flash Point
°C
|
240
|
230
|
245
|
|
Density @15°C
|
0.868
|
0.882
|
0.889
|
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Colour, ASTM
|
1.0
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2.0
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2.5
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Health and Safety
The products
described on this data sheet are manufactured from high quality petroleum base
stocks, carefully blended with selected additives. As with all petroleum
products, good personal hygiene and careful handling should always be
practiced. Avoid prolonged contact to skin, splashing into the eyes, ingestion
or vapor inhalation. Please refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet for
further information.
Compressor Types and Functions
Many different compressor types are available, but their primary role
is almost always the same. Compressors are designed to intensify the
pressure of a gas by reducing its overall volume. In simplified terms,
one can think of a compressor as a gas-like pump. The functionality is
basically the same, with the main difference being that a compressor
reduces volume and moves gas through a system, while a pump simply
pressurizes and transports liquid through a system.
Compressors can be divided into two general categories: positive displacement and dynamic. Rotary, diaphragm and reciprocating compressors
fall under the positive-displacement classification. Rotary compressors
function by forcing gases into smaller spaces through screws, lobes or
vanes, while diaphragm compressors work by compressing gas through the
movement of a membrane. Reciprocating compressors compress gas through a
piston or series of pistons driven by a crankshaft.
Centrifugal, mixed-flow and axial compressors are in the dynamic
category. A centrifugal compressor functions by compressing gas using a
rotating disk in a formed housing. A mixed-flow compressor works similar
to a centrifugal compressor but drives flow axially rather than
radially. Axial compressors create compression through a series of
airfoils.
A compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. An air compressor is a specific type of gas compressor.
Compressors are similar to pumps: both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can transport the fluid through a pipe.
As gases are compressible, the compressor also reduces the volume of a
gas. Liquids are relatively incompressible; while some can be
compressed, the main action of a pump is to pressurize and transport
liquids.
Lubricant Selection
Ensuring you have the proper lubricant will be critical in the health
of the compressor. The first step is to reference the recommendations
from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Compressor lubricant
viscosities and the internal components being lubricated can vary
greatly based on the type of compressor. The manufacturer’s suggestions
can provide a good starting point.
Next, consider the gas being compressed, as it can significantly affect
the lubricant. Air compression may lead to issues with elevated
lubricant temperatures. Hydrocarbon gases tend to dissolve lubricants
and, in turn, gradually lower the viscosity.
Chemically inert gases such as carbon dioxide and ammonia may react
with the lubricant and decrease the viscosity as well as create soaps in
the system. Chemically active gases like oxygen, chlorine, sulfur
dioxide and hydrogen sulfide can form tacky deposits or become extremely
corrosive when too much moisture is in the lubricant.
You should also take into account the environment to which the
compressor lubricant is subjected. This may include the ambient
temperature, operating temperature, surrounding airborne contaminants,
whether the compressor is inside and covered or outside and exposed to
inclement weather, as well as the industry in which it is employed.
Compressors frequently use synthetic lubricants based on the OEM’s
recommendation. Equipment manufacturers often require the use of their
branded lubricants as a condition of the warranty. In these cases, you
may want to wait until after the warranty period has expired to make a
lubricant change.
If your application currently utilizes a mineral-based lubricant,
switching to a synthetic must be justified, as this often will be more
expensive. Of course, if your oil analysis reports are indicating
specific concerns, a synthetic lubricant can be a good option. However,
be sure you are not just addressing the symptoms of a problem but rather
resolving the root causes in the system.
Which synthetic lubricants make the most sense in a compressor application? Typically, polyalkylene glycols (PAGs), polyalphaolefins (POAs),
some diesters and polyolesters are used. Which of these synthetics to
choose will depend on the lubricant you are switching from as well as
the application.
Featuring oxidation resistance and a long life, polyalphaolefins
generally are a suitable replacement for mineral oils. Non-water-soluble
polyalkylene glycols offer good solubility to help keep compressors
clean. Some esters have even better solubility than PAGs but can
struggle with excessive moisture in the system.
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