Circulating Oil System
A Circulating Oil System (Recirculating Oil Lubrication System) is a closed-loop lubrication method that continuously draws oil from a reservoir, pumps it through filters and coolers, delivers it to critical points like bearings and gears, and returns it to the tank for reuse, ensuring consistent flow, pressure, temperature, and cleanliness.
In shop floor maintenance, a circulating oil system pumps oil from a reservoir through filters to remove fine particles and a heat exchanger to maintain viscosity, then distributes it via manifolds and branch lines to bearings and gears. After lubricating and carrying away heat and contaminants, oil drains back by gravity through an oil return line to the reservoir, where it passes magnetic or mechanical filters before reuse. Systems use instrumentation for level, temperature, and pressure control, enabling metered delivery to multiple points and positive control of lubricant placement. In CMMS like ServiceGrid, these systems are tracked via lubrication schedules, oil analysis alerts, and failure codes for pumps, filters, coolers, and sensors to drive preventive and predictive maintenance.
How is oil quantity apportioned to multiple lube points?
Quantity is apportioned in inverse proportion to the resistance of restrictor tubes, screw-in restrictors, or metering valve distributors.
Why is a larger reservoir beneficial in circulating systems?
A larger reservoir reduces oil deterioration, increases lubricant life, and enables easier live sampling of oil entering/leaving bearings for quality monitoring.
What redundancy does a circulating system offer over ring-lubricated bearings?
It provides redundancy allowing shutdown before catastrophic failure by maintaining steady flow and enabling monitoring of oil quality/temperature.