S Jana
Petroleum
- Jun 18, 2024
- 8
Hello,
Currently we are facing problem water contamination in oil of LPG BOG Compressors.
All systems were fully dried after hydrotest before being put into service. The compressors are operated since end of 2023. The compressors receive gas from a cryogenic source (e.g. gas from the tank is at circa -42degC), so there is no water (free or in the vapour) coming to the suction of the compressor.
The data shows a rising amount of water in the oil.
Compressor A
o 07.06.2023 → 331 ppm
o 10.08.2023 → 734 ppm (Significant increase in 2 months)
o 12.02.2025 → 1642 ppm (Steady rise over 18 months)
compressor B
o 07.06.2023 → 368 ppm
o 10.08.2023 → 734 ppm (Increase in 2 months)
o 11.07.2024 → 823 ppm
o 11.02.2025 → 7331 ppm (Massive increase in just 7 months)
I would be great if you could advise regarding following aspects:
1. from where the water could be accumulated. what is the reason behind it.
2. what are the expected damage within compressor due to this contamination.
3. is it advisable to run the compressor at this stage.
4. How to remove this water. and operate the compressor normally and safely.
5. is water contamination common for this type compressor.
different parameters / data of compressors:
Compressor type: Rotary Screw
Medium: Mixed gas
Oil pump: YES / double
Lubrication Frick #12b
Ambient temp. min/max °C -19/+35
Operating temp. min/max °C -26,4/+85
Design temp. min/max °C -48/+120
Design pressure min/max barg -1/24
Operating pressure min/max barg 0,02/20,21
Type of oil cooling: water cooling
Cheers
Currently we are facing problem water contamination in oil of LPG BOG Compressors.
All systems were fully dried after hydrotest before being put into service. The compressors are operated since end of 2023. The compressors receive gas from a cryogenic source (e.g. gas from the tank is at circa -42degC), so there is no water (free or in the vapour) coming to the suction of the compressor.
The data shows a rising amount of water in the oil.
Compressor A
o 07.06.2023 → 331 ppm
o 10.08.2023 → 734 ppm (Significant increase in 2 months)
o 12.02.2025 → 1642 ppm (Steady rise over 18 months)
compressor B
o 07.06.2023 → 368 ppm
o 10.08.2023 → 734 ppm (Increase in 2 months)
o 11.07.2024 → 823 ppm
o 11.02.2025 → 7331 ppm (Massive increase in just 7 months)
I would be great if you could advise regarding following aspects:
1. from where the water could be accumulated. what is the reason behind it.
2. what are the expected damage within compressor due to this contamination.
3. is it advisable to run the compressor at this stage.
4. How to remove this water. and operate the compressor normally and safely.
5. is water contamination common for this type compressor.
different parameters / data of compressors:
Compressor type: Rotary Screw
Medium: Mixed gas
Oil pump: YES / double
Lubrication Frick #12b
Ambient temp. min/max °C -19/+35
Operating temp. min/max °C -26,4/+85
Design temp. min/max °C -48/+120
Design pressure min/max barg -1/24
Operating pressure min/max barg 0,02/20,21
Type of oil cooling: water cooling
Cheers