{"id":4799,"date":"2015-09-14T13:15:26","date_gmt":"2015-09-14T12:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mecoil.net\/?p=4799"},"modified":"2016-09-05T11:58:30","modified_gmt":"2016-09-05T09:58:30","slug":"le-nuove-tecnologie-per-il-monitoraggio-olio-turbine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mecoil.net\/en\/2015\/09\/14\/a-brand-new-batch-of-oil-how-could-you-honestly-assume-that-for-real\/","title":{"rendered":"New technologies for turbine oil monitoring"},"content":{"rendered":"

A \u201cbrand new\u201d batch of oil. How could you honestly assume that for real?
\nIn today\u2019s challenging market of electric energy, power generation plants are undergoing a tremendous revamping and up to date challenge in Maintenance strategies for being competitive as much as possible.
\nNot only \u201crandom failures\u201d are no longer acceptable, whilst great instances for improving efficiencies are constantly requested by the management to reduce costs and increasing Safety and reliability. A big player in modern plants is the lubricant, that only recently has been recognized as a real and critical part of the top plants\u2019 assets; few really evolved managers decided that from now on the oil is vital, and an asset in itself, to be controlled and monitored like any other mechanical part of the factory.
\nIn the recent past, the classic R&O turbine oils have been considered kind of workhorses, lasting almost like the big, heavy duty rotating machines inside where they operated. At slow pace, mild temperatures, big volumes and so on. Very conservative situations, and reduced stress, as well.
\nNowadays, in order to stay in business the new TG plants are no longer engaged with such relaxing atmosphere; the \u201cjust in time\u201d requests for immediate extra power and very short periods of \u201cfull speed\u201d performances are really creating big issues in the classic conditions\u2019 based maintenance strategies.
\nOn the other hand, the lubricants are becoming more and more dedicated and very specific; with base oil turning from Group I to Group II and III category. These new and very progressive formulations have great potential and impressive performances, but at the same time present \u201cdark sides\u201d that are negligible until you reach a certain level of alarm, related with antioxidants additives\u2019 depletion. The results \u2013 finally – if you ignore such early warnings in fluids\u2019 decay is polymerization and agglomeration of byproducts derived from oxidation of the large organic molecules; thus leading to the precipitation of unwanted high molecular weight substances commonly referred to as \u201cvarnish\u201d.
\nIn the oil analysis world many laboratories have been dealing with such issues and the best approach, until recently, to control the Varnish potential has been the special \u201cpatch test\u201d using dedicated membranes and filtering a certain quota of oil, previously settled for a given amount of time. The method is today well known as MPC, giving DeltaE as an indication of an oil\u2019s potential to produce varnish deposits, in a really predictive approach. But this could not be always enough to protect your plants. Sometimes (Mecoil has a strong company experience in this field) we faced a real issue also with supposedly brand new (out of the drum, to say) products that were expected to be in good shape, ideal for tapping up the reservoirs. Unfortunately, we discovered that the amount of \u201cactive ingredients\u201d like the Aminic\/Phenolic AOs ratio, that is the clue for trouble free and reliable operations was totally out of control, probably depleted by an improper storage situation or environmental contamination, like dust, water, etc.
\nWe recently had the chance to discuss many of these topics with one of the most influent and knowledgeable person involved with Proactive maintenance procedures in the lubrication field. Jo Ameye (as an old personal friend) brought to our attention the improvements occurred with the new Ruler system; two days of very dynamic exchange of infos on best practices in fluids\u2019 handling. We really appreciated such great chance to communicate enhancements of technologies related with early warning detection of lubricants\u2019 decay.
\nIn the evening, we took a sightseeing tour to Pensione Bencist\u00e0 for a pleasant dinner in a very cozy and relaxing atmosphere.
\nHope to see you soon back in Firenze, dear Jo.
\nSeptember, 2015<\/p>\n