CURRENT STATE AND TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OIL LEVEL OILS
Compressing gases are of particular significance in refinery and chemical plants’ technological processes. Compression of gases is carried out with the help of special equipment - compressors. Compressor equipment can be of different types and classifications. Air-pumps are used in such technological processes where high reliability and performance are important for long-term continuous exploitation. Modern requirements for air compressors oils are formulated in the international DIN 51 506 and ISO 6743-3A standards. In this research, the requirements of DIN 51 506, the VDL level, which regulate the strictest requirements, are considered. The requirements of the standard reflect the ability of compressor oil to prevent the formation of carbon deposits on the surface of equipment that deteriorate the equipment exploiting conditions and can lead to fire and explosion. Compressor oils are used for stable and continuous operation of the equipment. The oil is designed to lubricate compressor parts (cylinders, valves, pistons), which reduces the friction parts wear out and minimizes energy losses due to friction, and acts as a sealing medium for the compression chamber. In Russia, the imported compressor oils and foreign companies’ additive packages’ volume of supplies is increasing every year: Shell, British Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, etc. It is important that Russia does not produce additive packages for compressor oils of VDL level; therefore, the production of high-quality compressor oils depends on importing, which is highly undesirable in the light of recent economic and political developments. The purpose of this paper is to study the physicochemical and operational properties of imported compressor oils of the VDL level. The obtained ranges of values can be reference points for the creation of a competitive analogue.