Lubrication and cooling systems importance

All machinery, equipment or facility incorporates contact and relative movement to develop a specialized work. The reduction of friction among the elements in contact Minimizing losses of material and energy) is achieved by interposing a lubricating film. Together with other functions, lubrication systems additionally get to evacuate part of the temperature generated due to the development of the engine cycle, thereby making cooling function. However, the largest part machinery has a self-cooling system to preserve the temperature of their bodies and mechanisms within precise security settings so the materials remains in their initial properties.

In the design project of a device, besides the fatigue calculation of items such as trees, gears or bearings, it is required to delimit also the cooling and lubrication systems, specifying the procedure to be used in each instance, the components and the type of fluid refrigerant and / or lubricant. These are two equivalent systems, consisting, in many cases, in hydraulic circuits with analogous characteristics.

Although not always required, sometimes have to be made by cooling lubricant, especially in huge machinery (high power generators) and oleohydraulic transmissions through a warm exchanger which circulates a specified quantity of water or cooling of the mechanism itself.

Excluding exceptional cases, as we shall see, in the vast majority of manufacturing machinery and equipment, cooling systems and lubrication are unconnected. Moreover, the random mix of coolant and oil can be harmful, especially in air and moisture. The fortuitous inclusion of a certain amount of refrigerant into the lubrication circuit and the consequent reduce of the viscosity and lubricity of the oil, can initiate the decomposition and accelerate oxidization of metal surfaces of the circuit. Similarly, the presence of grease in the cooling system reduces efficiency and requires disposal of oil available independently. This question, as its known, is particularly significant in refrigeration equipment. As a common rule, you should use coolants and lubricants of extreme quality, prevent the presence of contaminants and provide locking mechanisms and appropriate insulation to prevent the interference of the two systems. This conception is applicable to a Variety of machinery for the machining of metals, engines, etc..

In addition, certain equipment, such as certain types of compressors, has integrated systems for cooling and lubricating, so that there is only a working fluid circuit with a single covering, simultaneously, the lubrication and cooling needs.

To conclude, it should be highlighted that both the lubrication and cooling, as well as enabling the operation of machinery and lengthen its useful life, are part of routine maintenance operations. Indeed, lubricant and coolant must be Changed every few hours, depending on the special conditions of service of every engine and the properties of fluids used, for proper operation and reduce maintenance costs resulting from non-stops scheduled, lack of availability, etc..