Rod Drop Probe
Rod Drop Probe
(OP)
Can anyone enlighten me the necessity of having a Rod Drop Probe which observes the piston rod position in reciprocating compressor? I am slightly confused if we really need this type of probe or not required for our equipment details below:
Compressor is oil lubricated diaphragm type with:
Frame configuration = L type
Diaphragm head stroke = 160 mm
Rated speed = 265 rpm
Piston speed = 1.4 m/s
Max operating rod load = 73.9 KN for 1st stage and 76.7 KN for 2nd stage.
Regards,
Mu85922
Compressor is oil lubricated diaphragm type with:
Frame configuration = L type
Diaphragm head stroke = 160 mm
Rated speed = 265 rpm
Piston speed = 1.4 m/s
Max operating rod load = 73.9 KN for 1st stage and 76.7 KN for 2nd stage.
Regards,
Mu85922





RE: Rod Drop Probe
The secondary purpose of a rod drop probe is to look at the piston rod runout in an effort to determine if there are alignment problems, packing problems, cross head problems, etc. Since your diaphragm machine is very short stroke, and given the configuration these are not really issues for you either.
Bottom line is that for your machine, you don't need them. If the instrument salesman insists that you do, tell him he needs to go do some homework on the application.
RE: Rod Drop Probe
RE: Rod Drop Probe
I have lots of experience with diaphragm pumps, and for those I like Lewa and Bran-Luebbe. We put a number of these in a plant we recently built in Holland.