Sloan Lubrication Systems Purging Procedure

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After any maintenance is performed that requires opening the tubing lines on a lubrication
system, those lines must be purged of air and refilled with fluid before operation resumes1.

With the lube rates of a standard force feed system, a 12-inch length of tubing
after a secondary block can take 10-30 minutes to refill so it is critical that purging
procedures are followed every time!

Note: When disconnecting and reconnecting Swagelok fittings, be sure to follow the Swagelok
tube fitting guidelines2 to ensure proper tube nut and ferrule engagement and avoid leaks.

Sloan System Maintenance

When performing maintenance on Sloan Systems that requires opening tubing downstream of
the pumps, such a replacing the primary divider block, changing the high-pressure filter, or
similar maintenance, purge from the system purge point itself first.

• Purge point location will be in the center of the blow out assembly.
• Ensure that your air or manually operated purge gun is full of new,
clean oil that matches the oil being used in the system itself.
• Remove the Swagelok tube cap from the purge point and install the
purge gun outlet onto the fitting.
• Loosen the inlet fitting of your primary divider assembly.
• Pump the purge pump until bubble free oil is flowing from the
divider block inlet.
• Reconnect the divider block inlet fitting and locate the secondary divider that is furthest
from the primary divider. Loosen the inlet fitting of that divider block.
• Pump the purge pump while observing the cycle indicator on the primary block. After
about 30-40 cycles of the indicator, verify that oil has been flowing from the secondary
divider inlet fitting. If not, repeat and check again.
• Reconnect the secondary divider block inlet fitting.

1 See Ariel ER-56.06 V26, page 24 “Purging the Force Feed Lube System”
2 An Installer’s Pocket Guide for Swagelok Tube Fittings (Swagelok document MS-13-151)
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• Pump an additional 30 seconds, observing that the primary divider cycle indicator is
moving, and that back pressure is showing on the pressure gauge.
• Disconnect the purge gun and reinstall the Swagelok tube cap on the purge point.
• Follow the Manual Pump Operation steps numbered 1-5 at the end of this document.

Divider Block Maintenance

When performing maintenance on a secondary divider block mounted on the compressor
frame, purge from the block inlet first.

• Disconnect the block inlet supply line fitting.

• Connect a hand or air operated purge pump to the block inlet.
• Disconnect or loosen a fitting at the end of the longest line from the block outlets.
• Pump the pump until clear, bubble free air is coming from the line.
• Reconnect the line end fitting.
• Pump for an additional 10 divider block cycles, watching the block cycle indicator move
• Disconnect the purge pump and reconnect the divider block inlet.
• Follow the Manual Pump Operation steps at the end of this document.

Cylinder or Check Valve Maintenance

When performing maintenance on a cylinder or line terminating check valve, purge from the
corresponding divider block outlet first.

• Disconnect the tubing line running into the check valve.

• Connect a hand or air operated purge pump to the check valve inlet.
• Pump the pump about 10 times to fill the check valve and tubing line inside the cylinder.
• Reconnect the check valve inlet fitting.
• If the cylinder tubing lines had been drained or the cylinder removed, follow the
additional steps above in Divider Block maintenance to purge from the divider block
inlet.
• Follow the Manual Pump Operation steps at the end of this document.
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Packing Maintenance or replacement

When performing maintenance or replacement of a packing case, purge from the packing case
inlet fitting first after finishing assembly and installation of the packing.
During packing case assembly, be sure to liberally coat all components with new, clean fluid that
matches the oil being used in the rest of the system3.
When installing the packing case on the rod or reinserting the rod into the new packing, ensure
that the rod end and rod surface are liberally coated with new, clean fluid that also matches the
oil being used.
After the packing case and rod installation is complete, but before connecting the supply or
drain lines, follow the instruction below.

• Connect a purge gun full of new, clean oil that matches the oil being used in the system
itself to the packing case inlet.
• Pump the purge gun until clear oil is observed flowing from the packing case drain fitting
or along the rod on the crank end of the piston. The crank end of the rod can be
observed through a removed crank end valve, which will likely be removed already after
packing case maintenance to check crank end piston clearance.
• Remove the purge gun and connect the packing case supply line but do not tighten the
tube nut.
• Disconnect the tubing fitting on the packing feed check valve.
• Connect the purge gun to the inlet of the packing feed check valve.
• Pump the purge gun until oil is observed dripping from the loose packing supply line or
from the packing drain fitting.
• Connect the packing case drain line and tighten the supply line tube nut.
• Reconnect the supply line to the packing feed check valve.
• Follow the Manual Pump Operation steps at the end of this document.

3 See Ariel KBZ:U Technical manual Section 4, “Piston Rod Packing Reassembly” (Page 4-20 of Rev 12/16A)
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Manual Pump Operation

Follow these steps after manual purging to ensure that the system as a whole is operating as
expected and can deliver oil properly through the reassembled components and tubing.

If your system is mechanically driven

• Manually operate the pump plunger until all divider block cycle indicators can be
observed cycling.
• Check the tubing for leaks, verify that the system pressure gauge is reading above 0, and
that, if equipped, any flow rate monitors are reading a value.

If your system is electrically driven:

• Start the electric motor and let the pump(s) run until the primary divider block cycle
indicator can be observed cycling.
• With the pump running, check the tubing for leaks, verify that the system pressure
gauge is reading above 0, and that, if equipped, any flow rate monitors are reading a
value.
• If the monitor has a flow rate readout, ensure that the value shown is close to or
matches the design rate for the equipment you are working on. If not, adjust the pumps
accordingly.
• Continue running the pumps until you observe at least one cycle at a secondary divider
block.
• Stop the pumps and you are ready to start up your equipment.