Machinery Lubrication May June 2014 May June 2014 | Page 12

contaminants must be removed from
the oil system. However, in extreme
cases, the level and type of impurities
may exceed the separation capability of
the system filters and threaten future
equipment operation, resulting in loss
of
production.
The
standard
maintenance approach then is not
enough. Immediate cleaning of the
entire interior of the oil system with
subsequent turbulent flushing should
be performed. Often, if the oil doesn’t
meet specific requirements, oil
replacement (exchange) is also required.
Because proper cleaning of an oil
system is not easy within an overhaul
process or when assembling a new
system, a variety of technologies and
strategies have been used, such as
mechanical cleaning with ramrods,
chemical cleaning (with solvents, oil
additives, etc.), steam blowing or
utilizing
different
oil
flushing
procedures. In dirty oil systems, most of
these practices do not produce the
desired results within a reasonable
amount of time and money. Frequently,
positive results do not last long but
diminish, resulting in the need for
additional cleaning.
With the cost of operating dirty
lubrication systems in turbines far too
significant to neglect, more efficient
solutions have been developed. One
effective method of preparing new oil
systems and restoring operated oil
systems for future reliable operation
involves the technology of hydrodynamic
cleaning and flushing of oil systems.
This alternative to obsolete or inefficient
methods has become a preferred choice
of
many
original
equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) and powergeneration repair companies.

The Problem of Dirty Oil
Systems
One of the most expensive and
underestimated problems associated
with the use of machinery is the
inadequate cleanline