MechChem Africa January-February 2025

⎪ Maintenance and asset management ⎪

developed for high-flow filtration in various industrial processes to efficiently capture a wide range of particulate sizes. Bespoke lubrication and filtration solutions BMG’s Fluid Technology team has recently completed the design, supply and commis sioning of an advanced lubrication system for a main bearing on a ball mill, which has been developed to optimise productivity and minimise maintenance requirements and downtime. This specially designed circulating oil lubri cation system was engineered to ensure the smooth operation and long-term reliability of the mill’s dual-pocket mill bearings and pinion bearings, providing both low-pressure oil conditioning and high-pressure lift oil circuits. “BMG – which has designed and built lubrication systems for large-scale indus trial projects for 50 years – developed this bespoke lubrication solution to ensure du rability, efficiency and extended service life of the critical ball mill,” explains Taylor Black, Business Development Manager for Fluid Technology Projects at BMG. “This lubrication system supports two hydrostatic dual-pocket partial journal mill bearing assemblies that are 1 800 mm in diameter and 420 mm wide, along with two pinion bearings. All BMG lubrication systems comprise quality branded components to ensure adherence to stringent performance and safety specifications, to meet industry requirements. “The circulating oil lubrication system includes a three-compartment reservoir, a low-pressure oil conditioning pump set, a high-pressure lift oil pump set, pressure relief valves and heaters. The system also features critical accessories and various instruments and safeguards to ensure optimal performance and

BMG’s bespoke circulating oil lubrication system supports two hydrostatic dual-pocket partial journal mill bearing assemblies and two pinion bearings.

is delivered to each of the two pinion bearings. • A duplex filter with 25 µm nominal cartridge-style elements is installed in the low-pressure line, equipped with differential pressure transmitters for monitoring. For dependable temperature control, a heater with a thermostat regulates oil tempera ture during startup or low-load operation. Temperature gauges and transmitters are installed at both the oil exit in the cooler and within the reservoir. High-pressure lines are fitted with pressure transmitters and gauges near the mill main bearing for precise control and monitoring, and a water-to-oil plate and frame-type heat exchanger is used to dis sipate heat. Designed to operate with ISO VG 320 grade oil, standby pumps for both low and high pressure flows ensure continuous opera tion in case of a primary pump failure. These

pumps are equipped with isolation valves and pressure relief valves to protect against overpressure conditions. Skid-mounted flow transmitters for low pressure lines and pressure gauges for high pressure lines provide detailed real-time data on system performance. All field instruments using the HART protocol include local displays for ease of use, and silicone-filled gauges and calibrated field transmitters ensure accurate readings and reliable operation. The BMG Fluid Technology team also designs and manufactures hydraulic power packs, bulk fuel filtration systems, grease systems, cylinders, manifold blocks and elec trical panels. “This equipment is supplied for various projects, including crushers, thickener drives, tailings applications, ball mills, filter presses, stacker reclaimers, fuel and oil filtra tion, furnace and winder applications, as well as load out stations,” says Taylor Black. Fluid Technology services include so lutions for fuel and industrial filtration systems, hydraulics and pneumatics, lu brication, hydraulic hose and fittings, as well as instrumentation, pumps and indus trial valves. Through the company’s expert guidance – comprising product selection, installation, maintenance services and a depend able stockholding of components – BMG is able to meet the high demand for depend able filtration services and bespoke solutions throughout the African continent. “Without the im plementation of a struc tured control and contamina tion prevention programme, premature equipment failure is likely to occur, resulting in unnecessary downtime and costly re placement of parts,” concludes Susan Victor. https://bmgworld.net

reliability, even in harsh conditions,” adds Black. Key features include: • A reservoir with

a 1 700 capac ity equipped with inspection cov ers, a removable

strainer bas ket, drip tray, drain, suction port, oil level gauges, an oil level transmitter, air breather and a structural steel base frame. • A low-pressure oil flow in excess of 250 /min provides sufficient lubrication to the system’s components, while high pressure oil flow is delivered to each of the four bearing recesses to support the hydrostatic bearings. Flow at 200 kPa

BMG’s Fluid Technology team has recently completed the bespoke design, supply and commissioning of an advanced lubrication system for a main bearing on a ball mill.

January-February 2025 • MechChem Africa ¦ 29