Why Oil Foaming Occurs in Cold Storage Piston Refrigeration Compressor Crankcase

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  • Release time: 2026-10-19
Oil foaming inside crankcase is a common abnormal phenomenon for piston refrigeration compressor. Severe foaming will reduce lubrication effect and accelerate wear of crankshaft and bearings. Refrigerant dissolving into refrigeration oil is the main trigger. When system pressure drops quickly, dissolved refrigerant separates out in the form of countless tiny bubbles, mixing with lubricant and forming foam. Long period of low-temperature shutdown is prone to this fault. Refrigerant continuously migrates into crankcase oil when compressor stops in cold environment. Starting machine without crankcase heater will induce heavy oil foaming. Excessive oil filling quantity also promotes foaming. Too much oil inside crankcase increases the chance of oil splashing and foaming when the shaft rotates at startup. When oil foaming appears, the oil film on bearing surface will break. Metal contact happens quickly, which may lead to permanent seizure of moving components in short time. xtldcool recommends installing crankcase heater for all low-temperature piston compressor units. It keeps oil temperature higher than refrigerant saturation temperature to reduce refrigerant dissolution. Operators should observe oil sight glass regularly. If massive foam is seen during startup, shut down the compressor and check the heating system and oil filling volume. FAQ Q: What is the primary reason of crankcase oil foaming? A: Dissolved refrigerant separates out and generates bubbles inside refrigeration oil. Q: What device helps prevent refrigerant mixing into crankcase oil? A: Crankcase heater maintains oil temperature to reduce refrigerant dissolution. Q: Will overfilled refrigeration oil cause oil foaming? A: Yes, excess oil level increases foaming risk at startup. Q: What damage does heavy oil foaming bring? A: Oil film failure and metal abrasion of crankshaft and bearings. Q: How to judge oil foaming from compressor sight glass? A: A large amount of bubbles can be observed in the oil sight glass. Q: What action should be taken once heavy oil foaming occurs? A: Stop the compressor and inspect crankcase heater and oil level. Q: Which type of cold storage compressor easily suffers oil foaming? A: Low-temperature semi-hermetic piston refrigeration compressor. Keywords embedded: piston refrigeration compressor, cold storage piston compressor, semi-hermetic piston compressor, cold storage refrigeration compressor, piston refrigeration compressor factory, industrial piston refrigeration compressor, piston compression unit, low-temperature cold storage piston compressor, piston refrigeration compressor maintenance supporting, food cold storage piston compressor

Why Oil Foaming Occurs in Cold Storage Piston Refrigeration Compressor Crankcase Oil foaming inside crankcase is a common abnormal phenomenon for piston refrigeration compressor. Severe foaming will reduce lubrication effect and accelerate wear of crankshaft and bearings.

Refrigerant dissolving into refrigeration oil is the main trigger. When system pressure drops quickly, dissolved refrigerant separates out in the form of countless tiny bubbles, mixing with lubricant and forming foam.

Long period of low-temperature shutdown is prone to this fault. Refrigerant continuously migrates into crankcase oil when compressor stops in cold environment. Starting machine without crankcase heater will induce heavy oil foaming.

Excessive oil filling quantity also promotes foaming. Too much oil inside crankcase increases the chance of oil splashing and foaming when the shaft rotates at startup.

When oil foaming appears, the oil film on bearing surface will break. Metal contact happens quickly, which may lead to permanent seizure of moving components in short time.

xtldcool recommends installing crankcase heater for all low-temperature piston compressor units. It keeps oil temperature higher than refrigerant saturation temperature to reduce refrigerant dissolution.

Operators should observe oil sight glass regularly. If massive foam is seen during startup, shut down the compressor and check the heating system and oil filling volume.

FAQ

  1. Q: What is the primary reason of crankcase oil foaming? A: Dissolved refrigerant separates out and generates bubbles inside refrigeration oil.
  2. Q: What device helps prevent refrigerant mixing into crankcase oil? A: Crankcase heater maintains oil temperature to reduce refrigerant dissolution.
  3. Q: Will overfilled refrigeration oil cause oil foaming? A: Yes, excess oil level increases foaming risk at startup.
  4. Q: What damage does heavy oil foaming bring? A: Oil film failure and metal abrasion of crankshaft and bearings.
  5. Q: How to judge oil foaming from compressor sight glass? A: A large amount of bubbles can be observed in the oil sight glass.
  6. Q: What action should be taken once heavy oil foaming occurs? A: Stop the compressor and inspect crankcase heater and oil level.
  7. Q: Which type of cold storage compressor easily suffers oil foaming? A: Low-temperature semi-hermetic piston refrigeration compressor.

Keywords embedded: piston refrigeration compressor, cold storage piston compressor, semi-hermetic piston compressor, cold storage refrigeration compressor, piston refrigeration compressor factory, industrial piston refrigeration compressor, piston compression unit, low-temperature cold storage piston compressor, piston refrigeration compressor maintenance supporting, food cold storage piston compressor

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