Main Lube Oil System

The primary function of the Lube Oil system is to supply lubricating oil at the
proper pressure and temperature to the main propulsion turbines and reduction
gears. The lube oil not only lubricates the machinery, but it also cools and helps
reduce rusting. Secondary functions include purifying oil that has become
contaminted and transferring oil to or from the sump tank, gravity tank, storage
tank, settling tank, sludge tank, or deck connections.
The lube oil service system is provided with two lube oil service pumps. One
vertical rotary, motor driven and one reciprocating pump connected so that one unit
is available for standby operation while the other unit is supplying the system. The
lube oil service pump has a capacity of 435 gpm and lube oil standby 450 gpm, at a
discharge pressure of 57.5 psig, and one pump by itself is capable of supplying the
entire oil requirements of the main propulsion unit under any power conditions.
The lube oil system is provided with two coolers, either of which is capable of
handling the full requirements of the system with the other on standby. These
coolers are of the single pass, shell and tube type capable of cooling 435 gpm of
oil, with a viscosity of 500 SSU at 100 F., when supplied with 470 gpm of sea
water at 85 F. Note that oil pressure is greater than sea water pressure.
The coolers are mounted in parallel and the piping arranged so that either unit may
be by-passed. There is a drain connection from each cooler to a common drain line
terminating in the main sump tank. A 5 pound steam connection is provided in the
inlet head of each cooler to allow for the warming of the oil, if necessary, prior to
starting up the main propulsion unit. Steam for this purpose is supplied via a
temporary hose from the auxiliary exhaust and bleeder steam system.
Storage tanks are of welded steel construction and large enough to hold at least one
complete change of oil for the entire system. One storage tank of 3600 gallon
capacity may be filled from the service pump discharge or the deck connections.
The tank, which contains only clean oil, may also be filled with oil from the
purifier discharge. The tank is equipped with a vent to the atmosphere, a pneumatic
type level indicator, a sound tube, and an overflow line which discharges to the
main sump tank via an open funneled line.
A 3600 gallon settling tank is installed as part of the lube oil system. The tank is of
welded steel construction and has enough capacity to hold all the oil from the
entire system. The bottom is sloped to facilitate drainage to the purifier and sludge
tank, with a high drain connection to the main lubricating system. The steam coils
are fitted to heat the oil for settling purposes. The tank is normally used when
settling oil during batch purification. The tank is provided with thermometer, vent,

pneumatic type level indicator as well as a sounding tube, heating coils, and an
overflow line which discharges to the main sump tank via an open funneled line.
The 1800 gallon gravity tank is also of welded steel construction and located in the
engine room at sufficient heights to maintain 10 psi oil pressure at the highest
bearing. The gravity tank must carry at least three minutes supply of oil below the
overflow pipe connection, when the machinery is operating at maximum
continuous power. This reserve oil is to allow time to stop the shaft in the event
that the lube oil pumps fail. The overflow pipe connection is located at a height
equal to 3/4 the tank capacity. The tank is fitted with a suitable alarm to give
warning of low oil supply. The tank is equipped with a vent, a pneumatic type level
indicator as well as a sounding tube, low level alarm, and a continuous overflow
drain to the main sump tank. The continuous overflow to the sump is discharged
through an illuminated sight flow fitting, called a bulls eye, visible from the
operating platform.
The main sump is built into the ship's structure and is located below the reduction
gear casing. The tank is of sufficient size to hold all the oil from the gravity tank
plus the oil in the system. The normal working capacity of the sump tank is 1364
gallons, with a maximum capacity of approximately 3600 gallons. The tank of steel
construction, is fitted with baffles to prevent excessive sloshing of the oil. This
could result in emulsification of the oil. Oil from the gears drains directly to the
sump; and oil from the turbine bearings is collected and drained to the sump tank at
a point remote from the service pump suction connection.
The lube oil piping may be divided into two systems: first, the service system
including lube oil to the turbine, gears and governor; and second, the purifying and
storage system.