Alpha lubricator Maintenance

Maintenance of Alpha Lubricator maintenance. This cylinder lubrication, shown in the video is based on a lubricator which injects a specific volume of oil into each cylinder for each (or for every second, third, etc.) revolution. The oil fed to the injectors is pressurized by means of Alpha lubricator on each cylinder, equipped with small multi-piston pumps. The amount of oil fed to the injectors can be finely tuned with an adjusting screw, which limits the length of the piston stroke. The cylinder lube oil consumption in ME type engines, with electronic lubricators, has come down to 0.7 gm / BHP hr.
The whole system is controlled by the Cylinder Control Unit (CCU) which calculates the injection frequency on the basis of the engine-speed signal given by the tacho signal and the fuel index.
The cylinder oil can be introduced to the individual cylinder at any piston position but, preferable, when the piston rings are adjacent to the lubricating quills. The computer synchronizes itself at each revolution, when the piston for cylinder No. 1 is at top dead centre. The injection function is controlled by the computer sending an ON/OFF signal to a solenoid valve. The dosage of oil can be adjusted means of an adjustment screw which limits the stroke of the main lubricator piston. After a predetermined time interval, the computer transmits an OFF signal to the solenoid valve, which shuts off the system pressure and opens the return oil system.
The amount of oil injected varies as required, e.g. at load changes, start/stop, or increased engine load. Alternatively, the dosage of oil fed to the individual cylinders can be adjusted by injecting a calibrated amount of oil, a number of times, at a given number of revolutions. A combination of the two systems can also be used. In the event of malfunctioning solenoid valve or transducer, the oil dosage will automatically be increased to the maximum volume. If the oil pressure falls, the computer will start stand-by pump, close down the faulty pump and sets on the alarm. The Alpha cylinder lubricator has demonstrated a reduction of cylinder oil feed rate to 0.3 gm / BHP hr, which on a 50,000 BHP engine, saves US $ 50,000 p.a.