A diesel generator set on your anchor-handling supply vessel has a simplex lube oil strainer of the type shown in the illustration, situated on the discharge side of the lube oil pump. At a specified engine rpm and lube oil temperature, you notice that the inlet pressure is increasing and the outlet pressure is decreasing, resulting in an unacceptable pressure drop. What should be done? Illustration MO-0057
• Simplex lube oil strainer operation – where the dirt collects and how it’s removed • Difference between backflushing/cleaning the disks and draining the sludge sump • Safety implications of opening a pressurized oil system while the engine is running
• From the pressure readings (inlet up, outlet down), what does that tell you about the condition of the disk stack and flow through the strainer? • Looking at the illustration arrows, which component (A, B, or C) directly clears the flow path through the disk stack without opening the system to atmosphere? • For each option, ask yourself: would this action be safe on a live, pressurized lube oil system, and would it actually restore normal differential pressure?
• Verify which part (A vs B) is designed to be operated under pressure according to typical marine lube oil strainer practice. • Confirm whether the cleaning handle travel is specified as a partial turn or full turns to sweep the scraper over all passages in the disk stack. • Make sure the chosen action both reduces the pressure drop and avoids risk of oil spray or loss of lube oil pressure to the engine.
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!