Technical document

Rotary air compressor lubrication - developing and testing the new generation of lubricants

01/09/2007

Peter W.R. Smith, Ph.D.

Modern rotary air compressors are designed to operate under more severe and extreme operating conditions than their predecessors.

These place greater demands on the compressor oil, in terms of maintaining optimum lubricant performance while giving a longer oil life.

This paper looks at the key lubricant performance requirements for rotary compressors, and gives examples of how these are tested and met by lubricating oil manufacturers such as The Shell Group (Shell), using the latest base fluid and additive technologies.

Compressors are used to compress air or other gases in virtually every type of industry and process. Their lubrication requirements vary, depending on the type of compressor and the gas, and are often very severe requiring specialised compressor oils. Modern rotary air compressors are designed to operate under more  extreme operating conditions than their predecessors. These place greater demands on the compressor oil, in terms of maintaining optimum lubricant performance whilst giving a longer oil life.

This paper looks at the key lubricant performance requirements for rotary compressors, and gives examples of how these are tested and met by lubricating oil manufacturers such as Shell, using the latest base fluid and additive technologies, using as examples the recently redeveloped fully synthetic (polyalphaolefin based) rotary air compressor oil, Shell Corena AS, and two market representative oils designated A and B.

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