Chevron Customer Benefit Story 3 - switch to cetus® DE 100 synthetic oil helps improve compressor cleanliness

chevron marine lubricants | anglo-eastern ship management

switch to cetus® DE 100 synthetic oil
helps improve compressor cleanliness

Carbon deposits on air compressor valves were a source of concern for the engineers on Saga Horizon — until Anglo-Eastern Ship Management and Chevron Marine Lubricants switched to synthetic compressor oil Cetus DE 100.

Situation

General cargo vessel Saga Horizon, managed by Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, reported issues with carbon deposits on valves when using mineral compressor oil to lubricate its two Tanabe air compressors.

Air compressors often operate under high temperature and pressure conditions. Under these severe conditions, oxidation and degradation of the oil will take place, resulting in formation of undesirable by-products which are precursors to deposit and sludge. The rate of oxidation and degradation is further accelerated by the presence of wear metals and water in the system.

Excessive deposit and sludge in the compressor system and valves can ultimately affect the efficiency and operation of the compressor and jeopardize the safe delivery of compressed air for its many uses onboard vessels, from starting engines to pumping water and cleaning accommodation. A tendency for deposits to form can also reduce the lifetime of the compressor and its components, resulting in more time and resources required for maintenance, cleaning, inspection and overhaul.

 

“I was impressed with the fast improvement to the condition of our air compressor valves after switching to Cetus DE 100.”
Mr. Srijib Saha, Senior Vessel Manager, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management

 

The Solution

Different types of air compressor oils have different performance levels. Once mechanical failure has been eliminated as a cause, the quality of the air compressor oil directly determines the tendency of the air compressor to suffer from coking deposits.

As the base oils of mineral compressor oils are usually refined products from crude oil, they are complex mixtures of hydrocarbons of wide molecular weights and structures as well as undesirable impurities. Conversely, synthetic oils have very consistent molecule sizes and controlled structures with little or no undesirable impurities. In combination with appropriate additive technologies, synthetic compressor oils deliver improved performance and protection compared to mineral compressor oils.

Cetus DE 100 is a fully synthetic oil with tailored additives to help protect and keep air compressors cleaner. This formulation provides performance benefits above and beyond those of many mineral compressor oils, particularly in helping minimize deposit build up, reducing wear, helping protect the compressor components from high temperatures and controlling oil breakdown.

The vessel Saga Horizon had been using a mineral compressor oil. Investigation by Chevron Marine Lubricants and Anglo-Eastern Ship Management identified this as the source of the carbon deposits, and a new lubrication program using Cetus® DE 100 was initiated.

 

The Result

The Chief Engineer aboard Saga Horizon has reported significant improvements in valve and system cleanliness since the switch to Chevron synthetic air compressor oil Cetus DE 100.

By comparing the performance of the two main air compressors while using the two different oils, the advantages of switching to synthetic were clear when crew inspected the compressors.

On the compressor using mineral oil (shown in the left column of the adjoining photos), carbon deposits were observed in the second-stage high-pressure delivery valve and suction valve, as well as small deposits on the unloader valve. The compressor using the synthetic oil (shown in the right column of the adjoining photos) appeared cleaner with minimal deposits on the delivery and suction valves and on the unloader valve — even though this compressor had been in operation for more than 50% longer than the other compressor since its last cleaning, and five times as long since its last overhaul.

As a result of the positive improvements observed, ship’s engineers on the Saga Horizon have been able to maintain their current inspection and maintenance regime for the air compressors. Given the previous carbon deposits when operating on mineral compressor oil, the engineers would have needed to reduce the intervals between inspections if they continued using the same lubricant.

Vessel in-charge, Senior Vessel Manager Mr. Srijib Saha said, “I was impressed with the fast improvement to the condition of our air compressor valves after switching to Cetus DE 100”. He noted several improvements after switching the air compressors on Saga Horizon to using Chevron Marine Lubricants’ synthetic air compressor oil Cetus DE 100.

 

Benefits include:

• Improved performance of the air compressor and its valves;
• Longer inspection and overhaul intervals due to cleaner valves with lower carbon deposits;
• Safer discharge thanks to reduced carbon deposits in discharge valves and pipe lines;
• Reduced wear of components including piston rings, cylinders and bearings;
• Improved reliability and reduced unscheduled downtime.

 

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