SECTION 5
LUBRICATION REQUIREMENTS: POWER TRAIN AND PLUNGERS
5.1
Lubrication Capacity Requirements
The MSI Hybrid™ Well Service Pump is a dry sump, i.e., it is not intended to contain a volume of lubricating
oil. A separate lubrication oil reservoir is required with a 50 gallon minimum capacity; it should be installed
below the plunger pump power end. It is recommended that a separate reservoir be used for each well service
pump on units with multiple well service pumps. Separate reservoirs prevent contaminants in one system from
affecting both lubrication systems and well service pumps. While the MSI Hybrid™ Well Service Pump
greatly reduces the contamination, it is still prudent for the user to take all precautions to ensure long equipment
life by keeping lubrication systems separate and clean. Fill the reservoir with 45 gallons of the proper
lubricating oil listed in
Section 5.8
. A valve installed at the lowest point in the tank is recommended to allow
for accumulated water to be removed.
The MSI Hybrid™ Well Service Pump is not equipped with an internal lubrication pump. The packager must
add a lubrication pump to one of the PTOs of the prime mover. The lubrication oil pump should be rated for 20
GPM and 300 PSI and be capable of pumping 90 wt oil. One lubrication pump must be dedicated to each well
service pump.
When designing the system, it is important to locate the lubrication oil pump on a PTO on the drive train that is
engaged whenever the prime mover (i.e. diesel engine) is running and not on a PTO that rotates only when the
transmission is in gear. A properly designed system will allow for oil circulation through the MSI Hybrid™
Well Service Pump prior to rotating the pump drive shaft and after the pump drive shaft rotation has been
stopped when the transmission has been returned to neutral. This is recommended so that the oil will warm up
prior to putting the pump into gear. The warmed oil will flow with less resistance and will better lubricate the
moving parts. Additionally, this will allow the oil to cool the pump after the plunger pump rotation has been
stopped.
It is important to mount the lubrication pump as low as possible so that the pump does not cavitate as a result of
having to lift the fluid from the reservoir. If at all possible, the pump should be mounted below the outlet of the
reservoir.
A pressure gauge shall be placed as close the top lubrication inlet port as possible to monitor lubrication
pressure. Pressure at this location must always be kept above 40 PSI, and flowrate to the plunger pump is
recommended to be at least 12 gpm at the inlet for a quintuplex, and at least 8 gpm for a triplex. Connect the
lubrication oil inlet line to the lower lubrication inlet port on either side of the well service pump; plug the
unused lubrication pipe ports with 1/2" NPTM pipe plugs. Do not exceed 450 PSI lubrication pressure at the
MSI Hybrid™ Well Service Pump power end lubrication inlet. (This pressure limitation does not apply to the
fluid end plunger lubrication system.)
Revision K 03/12/2019
MSI - A Division of Dixie Iron Works, Ltd. All rights reserved.
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