Today, in this post, we are going to learn in-depth about the rundown tanks, what is their types, their purpose, and their working.
If you have worked on compressors, you might had came across the rundown tank. This is an important part of equipment that helps the compressor component safe.
Now lets, get into the article and starts by learning what a typical layout is there in the industry.
Table of Contents
Lube oil system layout
- In a compressor, lube oil is used to provide lubrication to the compressor, motor, and other auxiliaries.
- As the figure below describes, the main oil tank is there; an oil pump is used, and oil is pumped, which passes through the filter to remove any particles and debris. It that pass through the oil cooler.
- From that, there is a filling line tapping provided to take the level in the rundown tank, whose overflow line is connected to the main oil pump, and a check valve is installed on the outlet line to provide lube oil during coast time.
Now that we have learned about the layout. let’s dive into the definition, followed by the purpose and operating procedure.
What is an oil Rundown tank in a centrifugal compressor?
A rundown tank is a storage tank and safety equipment for storing lube oil. If the main oil pump gets an issue, the rundown tank lubricates the gearbox and critical components.
The main purpose is to provide the supply of lube oil during coast down time.
What is coast down time?
It can be defined as the time required by the compressor system’s rotating components to continue spinning due to inertia before they fully halt after stops of power supply or in case of tripping.
What is the purpose of the Rundown tank?
In case of a plant trip due to power failure, both the compressor and the lubrication oil pump will cease operation. However, the compressor’s rotating components will not immediately halt due to inertia.
During this deceleration period, a continuous oil supply is essential to prevent metal-to-metal contact and avoid wear and tear on the components. Under such circumstances, the rundown tank ensures the supply of oil to the system through gravity, maintaining lubrication until the compressor completely stops.
Operation of the rundown Tank
- The rundown tank should be kept empty if the compressor is shut down or idle. This ensures that no oil is unnecessarily stored or circulated when the system is not in operation, maintaining the cleanliness and integrity of the lubrication system.
- During startup, the lube oil pump is to be started to take a level in the rundown tank by opening the filling valve.
- Ensure proper functioning of level indicators of the rundown tank.
- After the healthy level switch, the compressor gets a permissible signal, and then we can start the compressor.
- During the shutdown, monitor the oil flow from the rundown to the equipment.
FAQ (Oil Rundown tank)
1. What is a lube oil rundown tank?
It is a tank in which lube oil is stored and acts as safety equipment. It is used in case of a compressor trip due to power failure or in case of a lube oil pump tripping due to any reason by providing lubrication to the parts.
Wrapping Up
This was a detailed article on what an oil rundown tank is and what its purpose, working, and components. If you have any suggestion or you want us to cover any other topic, let us know in the comment section. Till then, keep reading.
