"What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a centralized lubrication system?"

The use of centralized lubrication systems to provide lubricating grease or circulating oil for parts that require lubrication is rapidly increasing. These types of systems are now used in mobile and stationary industrial equipment, process and production line equipment, and machine tools.

There are many advantages to using a centralized lubrication system, including:

There are also some shortcomings, especially if operators and maintenance personnel fall into a common trap, thinking that the centralized lubrication system can solve all their lubrication problems, instead of carefully checking and maintaining the system properly.

The second disadvantage is that improperly designed or maintained systems may cause some personnel to adjust system components incorrectly and cause further failures. One thing to remember is that the centralized lubrication system is another machine component and must be inspected and maintained regularly like any other component.

A basic centralized lubrication system consists of an oil tank (used to store oil or grease), a pump (to provide flow to the system), a control valve (to guide lubricant through various pipelines), one or more metering valves (for measuring and Lead the necessary lubricant to the parts to be lubricated), and safety valves or pipes (to allow excess lubricant to return to the oil supply container).

In some systems called direct systems, pumps are used to pressurize the lubricant and meter it to the point of application. Other systems called indirect systems use pumps to provide pressurized lubricant, but have metering valves at every point of application.

There are two basic types of indirect systems: parallel or series. The parallel system, also known as the "non-progressive" type, uses a metering valve driven by a pump system to bring the main distribution line to working pressure. The metering valves are operated at the same time.

Series or "progressive" systems contain online metering valves. After the main line reaches its working pressure, the first valve starts to work, and then the flow of lubricating oil flows to each subsequent valve in turn. In this system, if a valve fails, they will all stop running.