Regulations
Background
By applying automatic regulations on the cylinder lube oil consumption, more efficient cylinder lubrication is achieved while optimising the costs. Attention on this field has increased the past years due to rising oil prices and increasing focus on environmental impact, among other things. Therefore, Hans Jensen Lubricators A/S has developed a number of systems that can regulate the cylinder lube oil consumption on mechanical cylinder lubricators.
Functionality
With timed cylinder lubrication a small quantity of cylinder lube oil is delivered at each revolution of the engine. Without regulation, it means that the cylinder lube oil consumption in part load areas is usually higher than necessary. Rather than only to regulate according to the revolutions/minute, a regulation according to the engine’s mean pressure (MEP) or the engine’s power (BHP) can be made. Another type of regulation is the LCD regulation, with the purpose of ensuring an extra cylinder lubrication during load changes, e.g. during manoeuvring.
Installation
The regulation modules are installed directly on the cylinder lubricator. Therefore, it is possible to install the regulation modules on both existing mechanical cylinder lubricators and on newbuildings.
MEP and BHP regulation: Reduction of the cylinder lube oil consumption
HJ Mechanical Lubricator is mechanically driven synchronously with the engine. HJ Mechanical Lubricators are set to deliver a small quantity of lube oil at each revolution of the engine.
The quantity per piston stroke is the same regardless of the revolutions of the engine. Due to a reduced wear and lower temperature in the engine at a lower turn, the need for lube oil per piston stroke is smaller than at lower revolutions.
This means that the lube oil consumption in the part load areas is higher than necessary.
Therefore, instead of regulating according to the engine’s revolutions, a regulation according to the mean pressure of the engine (MEP) or according to the engine’s power (BHP) can be made.
In both cases a reduction of the lube oil consumption is obtained.
Furthermore, a reduction of the lube oil consumption will lead to cleaner cylinders and an exhaust that reduces the risk of scavenging air fires.
HJ Mechanical Lubricators can be retrofitted with a mechanical MEP or BHP regulation.
The regulation is installed directly on top of the lubricator and is connected directly to the fuel regulation shaft by means of a linkage.
HJ Mechanical Lubricators can also be installed with HJ Mechtronic. Thereby, both MEP and BHP regulation can be used and in addition regulation algorithms, which the customer defines himself.
Furthermore, these types of regulation can be used on our new lubricator, HJ Lubtronic.
LCD regulation: Extra cylinder lubrication during load changes
Another type of regulation is our LCD regulation.
The purpose of the LCD regulation is to add extra lube oil when the engine is exposed to load changes, e.g. during manoeuvring.
The system is activated automatically, which means that the crew does not have to perform manual adjustments during these conditions.
LCD regulation is an additional choice which can be specified for HJ Mechanical Lubricators.
This system is electronically controlled, based on a pick-up which is installed on the fuel regulation shaft.
The LCD regulation is also integrated in the new lubricator, HJ Lubtronic.
FAQ
What is the difference between MEP and BHP regulation?
MEP regulation regulates according to the effective mean pressure whereas the BHP regulation regulates according to the engine’s load. The BHP regulation provides the largest savings of the two. The design of our mechanical solution is the same for MEP and BHP regulation. The difference lies in the design of the cam, which is produced specifically for each lubricator based on an algorithm calculation.
What is the difference between MEP/BHP and LCD regulation?
MEP and BHP regulations are regulations that make it possible to achieve reductions on the cylinder lube oil while maintaining a safe operational condition during part load.
However, LCD regulation is an automatic intersection regulation that increases the injection of the cylinder lube oil in case of changes in the manoeuvring and load. This means that the cylinder liner is protected by adding a higher feed rate in short periods when it is necessary.
Can MEP/BHP regulations be used together with HJ SIP Valves?
With HJ Mechtronic and HJ Lubtronic MEP- and BHP regulations can be used together with SIP valves. With HJ mechanical cylinder lubricators it is not possible.
