LubOilVent Mist Eliminators

Introduction / Problem

Environmental regulations are becoming stricter across all industries — and even more so in offshore environments.

On offshore platforms, gas compressors typically have bearing assemblies supporting a shaft. These bearings are lubricated with oil, either synthetic or mineral-based.

As this oil undergoes mechanical stress at high temperatures in seals and bearings, it returns to the storage reservoir in the form of submicron particles (mist). These mist particles can condense and form a visible plume, eventually accumulating into oil droplets that not only pose environmental risks but also result in oil losses with no possibility of reuse.

To address this, Clark Solutions developed the LubOilVent, a vessel equipped with a FiberBed® mist eliminator. This technology is ideal for capturing oil mist in compression modules on offshore platforms. While primarily used in this application, LubOilVents can also be installed in any compressor or turbo generator system.

Case Description

A major oil & gas client contacted Clark for a LubOilVent quote for the gas turbine oil reservoir module of the Búzios V project. The existing design was unusual — it had a rectangular geometry and lacked the characteristics of a proper vessel.

Moreover, the synthetic lube oil (SLO) system featured a mist capture process composed of three types of eliminators: a vane, a mesh pad, and a candle element — all unnecessary for this application.

Additionally, the original MLO system included a vessel with a candle-type mist eliminator and a flameproof motor-driven blower.