The right turbine oil provides reliability for power plant
Written by John Sander
Lubricant Formulation
Compared to some of the other types of lubricant formulations, turbine oil formulations are quite simple. They are a mixture of the following ingredients:
• Base oil
• Corrosion inhibitors
• Oxidation inhibitors
• Defoamants
• Demulsifiers
The base oil is usually 97 percent or more of the turbine oil formula. Additives are blended into the base oil at low levels to protect both the oil and the turbine parts. Additives should be chosen so that they provide optimized performance in the turbine, per OEM requirements.
Recently, however, many turbine lubricants have been formulated with base oils that were refined with newer techniques. Most laboratory bench test data indicated that the use of these new base fluids should provide longer lubricant life in field applications. Unfortunately, this has not been found to be true. In addition to the newer base fluids, studies have linked certain antioxidant combinations to the formation of sludge and varnish. Lubrication Engineers has found that its Monolec® Turbine Oils eliminate the problems mentioned above, as demonstrated by field performance. How?
LE's Monolec Turbine Oils are formulated using a specially optimized mix of base oils and additives, including Monolec, LE's exclusive wear-reducing additive. Field experience has shown that this formulation provides the proper synergy between the turbine and the turbine lubricant. The LE technical staff has conducted many hours of literature research to understand why this would be the case. Prior to three to four years ago, the oil analysis industry did not have much in the way of tests that would reliably predict a lubricant's tendency to form sludge or varnish. New tests have been developed and are being used to evaluate varnish-forming tendencies. One of these is the Quantitative Spectrophotometric Analysis, QSASM, a test developed by Analysts, Inc. from which is produced a varnish potential rating, VPR (7, 8). The LE technical staff continually monitors the industry for developments and evaluates new test methods as they become available. Although the main evidence of Monolec Turbine Oil success thus far has been field performance, it is also possible to use good science to explain this success.
