Method and system for detecting leaks in stuffing box of two-stroke engines

• US 20080207474A1
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S (A.P. Møller Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S (A.P. Møller Holding A/S)
• Inventors: Damm, Klaus-Werner, Leahy, Richard
• Application Number:
  US12/001,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20080207474A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 508/391
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/083 for lubricating cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/022 for lubricating cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 9/02 having means for introducing additives to lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/202 using mass spectrometer detection systems

Abstract

The present invention provides for a method for detecting leaks in a stuffing box of a two-stroke engine. Blended cylinder oil is produced by blending base fluid, at least one additive and a metal source having a first concentration. The metal source includes metals other than calcium and transition metals. The engine is operated by supplying the blended cylinder oil and a fuel to the engine cylinder. The concentration of the metal source is monitored using x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (“XRF”) to obtain a second concentration of the metal source. The first concentration of the metal source is compared to the second concentration of the metal source.

Claims

1. A method for detecting leaks in a stuffing box of a 2-stroke engine, comprising:

(a) producing a blended cylinder oil by blending a base fluid, at least one additive and a metal source having a first concentration, said metal source comprising metals other than calcium and transition metals;

(b) operating the engine by supplying the blended cylinder oil and a fuel to the engine cylinder;

(c) monitoring a second concentration of the metal source using x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF); and

(d) comparing the first concentration of the metal source to the second concentration of the metal source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the base fluid is selected from the group consisting of:

base oil, system oil, used system oil, trunk piston engine oil, or used trunk piston engine oil.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of detergents, anti-oxidants, and friction modifiers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said additive includes one or more of the following metal-organic detergent additives:

(i) non-overbased or overbased TBN calcium phenate, (ii) non-overbased or overbased TBN calcium sulphonate, (iii) non-overbased or overbased TBN calcium salicylate, or any combination thereof, wherein the at least two additives have a weight ratio ranging from 90;

10 to 99.9;

0.1.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said metal source is selected from the group consisting of an organometallic, an organic metal salt, and an overbased metal detergent.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal source contains a metal selected from the group of metals consisting of Group IA and Group IIA.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the metal source contains barium.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the 2-stroke engine is operated on a marine vessel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said blending is performed on the marine vessel.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said blending is not performed on the marine vessel.

11. A composition suitable for use as a cylinder oil in 2-stroke engines containing a base fluid of lubricating viscosity, a mixture of at least two of the following metal-organic detergent additives:

(i) non-overbased or overbased TBN calcium phenate, (ii) non-overbased or overbased TBN calcium sulphonate, (iii) non-overbased or overbased TBN calcium salicylate, or any combination thereof, wherein the at least two additives have a weight ratio ranging from 90;

10 to 99.9;

0.1, and a metal source having a first concentration, said metal source comprising metals other than calcium and transition metals.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the base fluid has a viscosity in the range of 9 cSt to 30 cSt at 100°

C.

13. The composition of claim 11, wherein the calcium phenate has a TBN ranging from 20 TBN to 250 TBN.

14. The composition of claim 11, wherein the calcium phenate has a mole ratio of metal to phenate ranging from 0.2:

1 to 1.5;

1 for a Group IIA metal and ranging from 0.1;

1 to 0.5;

1 for a Group IIA metal.

15. The composition of claim 11, wherein the calcium sulphonate has a TBN ranging from 10 TBN to 300 TBN.

16. The composition of claim 11, wherein the calcium sulphonate has a mole ratio of metal to phenate ranging from 0.1:

1 to 2;

1 for a Group IIA metal and ranging from 0.1;

1 to 0.5;

1 for a Group IIA metal.

17. The composition of claim 11, wherein the calcium salicylate has a TBN ranging from 10 TBN to 200 TBN.

18. The composition of claim 11, wherein the calcium salicylate has a mole ratio of metal to phenate ranging from 0.1:

1 to 2;

1 for a Group IA metal and ranging from 0.1;

1 to 0.5;

1 for a Group IIA metal.