Oil Mist Lubrication: What, Where, and Why?
Learn more about the what, where, and why of Oil Mist Lubrication.
Oil mist lubrication is a proven technology used to improve equipment reliability, extend bearing life, and reduce lubrication-related failures in industrial facilities worldwide. While the term is commonly associated with machining processes, Oil Mist Lubrication for rotating equipment serves a very different purpose.
What Is Oil Mist Lubrication?
Oil mist is a carefully controlled mixture of air and oil that appears similar to cigarette smoke. This cool, dry, contaminant-free mist delivers the proper type, quantity, quality, location, and timing of lubrication needed to support long bearing life and reliable equipment operation.
A centrally located generator combines oil and air to produce micron-sized oil particles. Because the particles are so small, the mist can travel long distances—typically up to 600 feet in any direction—through a distribution system.
At the point of lubrication, the oil mist passes through a reclassifier (orifice), which meters the correct amount of oil mist to the bearing. The reclassifier creates turbulence that causes the particles to collide and condense, allowing the oil to properly wet the bearing surfaces and provide effective lubrication.
Where Is Oil Mist Used?
Oil mist lubrication is commonly applied to rotating equipment such as:
- Pumps
- Electric motors
- Cooling tower gearboxes
- Journal bearings
- Gearboxes
In many applications, oil mist completely replaces traditional oil sumps, Opto-Matic Oilers, and slinger rings. This application method is known as Pure Mist, where oil mist serves as the sole source of lubrication for the bearing.
Some equipment, including journal bearings and gearboxes with metal-to-metal contact, still requires an oil sump. In these cases, oil mist is used as supplemental lubrication and contamination protection in a configuration known as Purge Mist.
For electric motors, grease fittings and grease are removed, and oil mist becomes the primary lubrication source.
Why Use Oil Mist Lubrication?
Facilities around the world continue to adopt Oil Mist Lubrication because of the significant operational and reliability benefits it can provide, including:
- Up to a 90% reduction in lubrication-related bearing failures
- Reported reductions of up to 40% in equipment failures for purge mist applications
- Reduced seal failures
- Lower oil consumption
- Continuous preservation of standby and stored equipment
- Reduced maintenance requirements
- Fast return on investmentTypically used to determine the financial viability of a project and expressed as a percentage of the earnings produced by an asset to the amount invested in the asset. (Net Benefit / Total Cost).
By delivering consistent, contamination-free lubrication directly to rotating equipment, Oil Mist Lubrication helps organizations improve reliability, reduce downtime, and extend asset life across critical operations.
About the Author
Keith Macaluso
In his current role with T.F. Hudgins, an Allied Reliability brand, Keith works with clients globally to implement solutions so that their factories run smoothly.
Keith has over 40 years of experience in oil & gas and other heavy industries with expertise in oil mist and compressor lubrication systems, oil analysis, oil purification, and ultrasoundSimilar to vibration analysis, ultrasound is a sound wave or frequency generated by the release of energy. As a predictive maintenance technology, ultrasonic testing can be both passive, listening, or active by emitting an ultrasonic pulse and analyzing the echo return. Ultrasound is often used to find compressed air or steam leaks, or to identify structural defects within a material. technologies. Keith is a Certified Reliability Leader (CRL) and holds certification for Ultrasound Level 1.
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