On Distribution of Lubricating Oil within Piston-Cylinder Clearance and Oil Consumption through Piston Cylinder in a Reciprocating Compressor.

Abstract

A laser-induced fluorescence technique was applied to a study on the behavior of lubricating oil in the piston-cylinder clearance of a reciprocating compressor. The technique was found to be very useful for visualizing extremely thin oil film in the area of the ring land surface. It was experimentally proven that a slight change of the piston cylinder clearance could induce a significant change of the lubricating oil film within the clearance, and hence marked increase or decrease in Oil consumption.