ABSTRACT
Oil mist lubrication, as shown schematically in a centralized system which utilizes the energy of compressed air to produce a continuous feed of atomized lubricating oil. Oil mist lubrication is a mature, straight-forward, well-understood technology. Since the mid-1950’s, the oil mist lubrication concept has been accepted as a proven and cost-effective means of providing lubrication for centrifugal pumps. A typical optimum header size would consist of two-inch nominal galvanized steel pipe. This size is generally large enough to keep mist velocities low, and rigid enough to limit deflection between pipe supports. Rolling element bearings, on the other hand, are ideally suited for dry-sump lubrication. With dry sump oil mist, the need for a lubricating oil sump is eliminated and oil rings or flinger discs are removed. If the equipment shaft is arranged horizontally, the lower portion of the bearing outer race serves as a mini-oil sump.
