Mechanical lubricating oil system with kidney loop system
A lubricating system includes a kidney loop. The kidney loop includes a reservoir and a kidney loop pump, the kidney loop pump in fluid connection with the reservoir. The kidney loop also includes a cooler, the cooler in fluid connection with the kidney loop pump and a heater, the heat in fluid connection with the kidney loop pump. Further, the kidney loop includes a kidney loop motor, the kidney loop motor in electrical connection with the kidney loop pump and a control system, the control system in electrical connection with the kidney loop motor.
1 . A lubricating oil system including lubricating oil comprising:
a kidney loop, the kidney loop having:
a reservoir;
a kidney loop pump, the kidney loop pump in fluid connection with the reservoir;
a cooler, the cooler in fluid connection with the kidney loop pump;
a heater, the heater in fluid connection with the kidney loop pump, wherein the cooler and the heater are not in fluid communication and wherein the heater is an immersive heater;
a check valve, the check valve positioned between the heater and the cooler adapted to prevent flow between the heater and the cooler at an outlet of the cooler;
a kidney loop motor, the kidney loop motor in mechanical connection with the kidney loop pump; and
a control system, the control system in electrical connection with the kidney loop motor; wherein the control system includes a thermostat, a valve, and a microprocessor, wherein the valve is in fluid communication with the cooler and the heater, and wherein the thermostat and the valve are in data communication with the microprocessor, the control system adapted to: measure the temperature of the lubricating oil using the thermostat; measure the kidney loop motor horsepower draw; when the temperature of the lubricating oil as measured by the thermostat is below a minimum set point temperature, operate the kidney loop motor at less than an oil warmup target and circulate the lubricating oil through the heater.
2 . The lubricating oil system of claim 1 further comprising a filter, the filter in fluid connection with the heater and cooler.
3 . The lubricating system of claim 1 , wherein the valve is a thermostatic three-way valve.
4 . The lubricating system of claim 3 , wherein the thermostatic three-way valve is adapted to switch flow between the cooler and the heater.
5 . The lubricating oil system of claim 1 , wherein the kidney loop pump is a gear pump.
6 . The lubricating oil system of claim 1 further comprising a power end loop.
7 . The lubricating oil system of claim 6 , wherein the power end loop comprises:
machinery;
a power end pump in fluid connection with the machinery;
the reservoir in fluid connection with the power end pump; and
a power end loop motor in mechanical connection with the power end pump.