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Improving Piston Ring Life

Q. I am using Piston Rings with cast Iron Cylinder in my Reciprocating Compressor where I am getting only 3000 Hrs of life. But to increase the life of my Piston rings to above 10000 Hrs with out effecting the life of my Cylinder liner. Can you suggest any coating / Surface treatments available in India for my Piston Rings. And if at all required for my cylinder liner.

Please suggest.

Anil Kumar Allam
- Coimbatore, India
2003

A. Although newer piston/cylinder technology involves plating of the cylinder liners as well as the rings, simply chrome plating the rings and using your existing cylinder liners is an old and established technology which allowed auto engines to reach 100,000 miles with regularity, and sometimes much more. I don't know what standards are used in compressor manufacturing, and what lubrication is available, but I would expect chrome plated rings to be a tremendous advance for you and to last 10,000 hours in a compressor.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

Q. We are using Compressor oil No. 68 ISOVG for the lubrication. Than what could be the cylinder liner life, if we use the Chrome plated Piston rings. We generally expect the life of cylinder liner is around 25000 Hrs.

Regards,

Anil Kumar Allam [returning]
- Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, INDIA
2003

Q. Dear sir,

We are using ammonia [on eBay or Amazon] refrigerant Reciprocating compressor for cold storage & Ice plant. Using Piston Rings with cast Iron Cylinder both are hard chrome plated in my Compressor. After 100 hours compressor lifting oil & liner damage. Can you suggest any coating / Surface treatments in Piston ring & Cylinder liner. Presently piston ring hardness is 800 hv.

Please suggest.

Anandsinh N. Joddha
Air Control - Ahmedabad,Gujarat, India
2003

A. Hi Anandsinh. Again, I'm not familiar with compressors. But my understanding of long established auto engine technology was chrome plated rings and plain cast iron cylinders. I don't think chrome against chrome is a good plan; in fact, most times a metal runs against itself it is problematic in terms of galling and wear. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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