Tag Archives: turbine oil

How to Choose the Best Oil Filtration System?

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The choice of a product depends on various external factors.  Price, quality, performance, and reliability are just some the considerations when choosing a product.  The choice of industrial equipment also depends many of the same factors.

In choosing oil processing equipment, you will find that there are many different types of processing units intended for purification of different petroleum based oils  and fluids.

There are a large number of manufacturing companies specializing in oil processing systems. These systems include a wide range of equipment used to process different lubricants, hydraulic and turbine oils, and complex systems for oil regeneration.

The purchase of equipment for the filtration and purification of used oils is justified through the saving of money and resources.  Additionally, this equipment greatly helps in reducing problems with equipment failures and downtime, as well as reducing environmentally harmful waste oil products.  Overall, these modern machines greatly increase the service life of industrial equipment.

When choosing the right processing equipment for your business, strict attention should be paid to the technical specifications of the filters that will be used by the processing equipment:

  1. The physical size of the oil filter. This key component of the purification system must be small enough to save space and weight, but have high filtration performance in both volume and filter fineness;
  2. Filter Test Results.  Oil filters can be monitored in various ways, but one of the most common methods is the beta-factor test.  The beta factor is calculated by dividing the number of the larger particles trapped in the filter medium by the number of particles of the same size downstream of the filter.  For example, if the beta ratio is 10:1, it means that for every ten (10) particles that enter the filter, only one (1)passes through the filter without being trapped in the filter medium;
  3. Pore ​​size of the filter medium; and
  4. Performance and rate  flow.

According to studies conducted by General Motors, and published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), it was determined that the service life of an engine can be increased eight times by using five (5) micron filter mediums instead of the standard 40mm filter medium found in most massed produced automotive oil filters.

This means that the steady improvement of oil filtration systems will continue as the cost of new equipment rises and consumers demand better equipment with longer service lives.  There is an old saying that contends that oil does not wear out, it only becomes dirty.  In any case, keeping oil clean and free from contaminants and moisture will greatly extend the service life of your electric power equipment and hydraulic systems.

The traditional oil change therefore, is no longer necessary.  The high tech equipment available from GlobeCore can keep your insulating oils and hydraulic fluids in new like condition indefinitely.  Oil Processing units from  GlobeCore remove soot and sludge, dirt, moisture and dissolved gases.

If however, you decide to invest in oil processing equipment, it is worth taking the time to carefully consider your needs.  You will soon learn that not all systems for filtering oil are created equal.  Sometimes, bright brochures are specifically designed to confuse the customer.  As the consumer and business manager, you should make sure that filtration and processing equipment has passed all the necessary tests and has verified results of performance.  Here at GobeCore, we work with our customers to determine the best equipment that meets the needs of our customers.  GlobeCore has a very large and diverse line of oil processing equipment.  We work very closely with our customers so you get the best and most cost effective equipment to compliment the needs of your business.

Oil filtration

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During operation, transformer oil accumulate contaminants, which can form various chemicals. These substances reduce the oil’s performance and are, of course, undesirable.

Operation of the transformer becomes unstable. To prevent this, transformer oil is filtered and purified. Some of the methods are discussed in more detail below.

The first stage of transformer oil purification is mechanical. This is a superficial treatment to remove particulate matter and water. The next step is deeper purification performed in vacuum with heating.

The first two stages are, in fact, preliminary. The main process involves various chemicals.

One of the methods is purification of oil with a 98% sulfuric acid solution.

In comparison to other chemical purification methods, the use of sulfuric acid has a significant drawback. Beside reacting with the contaminants, the acid also adversely influecnes the structure of the oil, making it somewhat unstable. Additional processes are required to resolve that problem.

The nature of selective purification is evident from the title. Speical solvents are introduced into the oil to remove specific impurities.

De-waxing is another widely accepted process. In this process, oil is treated with special solvents: acetone, toluene, bensol etc, to remove solid contaminants.

It should be noted that chemical methods influence oil’s stability, but extend the oil’s service life at the same time.

It should also be remembered that any purification process should end with finishing purification, closing the cycle of oil processing and filtration. This is usually done by contact method.

This means that the oil is mixed with special materials, usually clay or bleaching earth. The materials are then mixed and heated. Heating facilitates acviation of all sorbents in the clay.

These absorbents capture contaminants. Deep filtration separates oil from the clay. When selecting adsorbent, it is necessary to pay attention to the content of moisture. It should be suffucient to make production efficient and to make processed oil compliant with specifications.

The most interesting technology today involves the use of bleaching clays (Fuller’s earth). Globecore manufactures a range of CMM type units for filtration of various oils with the use of Fuller’s earth. The advantages of the design are the ability of multiple reactivation of the sorbent, mobility, simplicity of operation and high quality of the output product.

Downtime is significantly reduced by the ability to reactivate the sorbent without the need for frequent replacement, thus increasing process efficiency.

Transfromer Oil Purification Equipment by GlobeCore

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Application

CMM systems designed and manufactured by GlobeCore can perform the following functions: Degassing, dehydration and filtration of transformer oil, cable oil, turbine oil, and other industrial oils.  The CMM units remove gases, free and soluble water, and particulate matter from oils and fluids.  The CMM units are used in the installation, repair and operation of oil-filled high voltage equipment up to 1150 kV (power transformers, high-voltage switches etc.) as well as industrial turbines.

The GlobeCore CMM units perform the following services:

  • Purifying and drying of Transformer Oil
  • Vacuum filling of Transformers and Electrical apparatuses
  • Drying and Purifying of oil in transformers (on and off-line)
  • Vacuum Drying of Transformers
  • Degassing of Transformer Insulating Oil
  • Filtration of Transformer Insulating Oil

Technical Description

GlobeCore CMM units are designed as multipurpose Transformer Oil Conditioning units for field or factory use.  The units incorporate high capacity multi-stage electric oil heaters,  large capacity Vacuum Pumps with external connections for Vacuum filling work, three (3) stage particulate filtration systems, and connections for a large variety of service applications.

The Unit’s measuring devices include vacuum, pressure, and temperature meters.  The equipment can also be optionally supplied with a “water-in-oil” measuring device.  Installation of a water-in-oil measuring device allows in-line monitoring of water content.

Flow rates are variable from 0 to >10,000 liters per hour (L/H) and heating from 24KW to 210 KW in four stages.  GlobeCore systems are designed for easy operation and maintenance.

The principal functions of transformer insulating oils are to serve as a dielectric medium and as a transformer coolant or heat transfer medium.  In order to perform these functions, transformer oil must have the necessary qualities at the time of initial impregnation and filling at the factory and later be able to maintain the same quality in normal operation.

High Vacuum Treatment improves insulating fluids that includes transformer oils and silicone fluids. GlobeCore transformer oil purification equipment was developed as a result of 30 years of experience in vacuum treatment of transformer oils.

Benefit

Every company dealing with oil-insulated high voltage equipment (transformers, high-voltage switches, turbines, etc.), shares the problem of having to change and dispose of contaminated oil and fluids.  The costs of changing and disposing of insulating oils are frequently very high and need a significant investment in time, labor, and money.  At GlobeCore, our equipment offers a practical, proven and economical method to purify oil so that it can be used again and again for your high voltage equipment.

Thermally accelerated Vacuum Dehydration and Degassing of Transformer Oil has gained wide acceptance as one of the most economical methods for the removal of dissolved water and gases.

On-Site Transformer Oil Purification is the most cost effective transformer maintenance service in existence today.  The GlobeCore CMM units not only purify the oil within the transformer, but actively regenerate the Transformer Insulating System by removing impurities that had become built up within the transformer over time.

Thermo-vacuum purification and degassing of transformer insulating oil, as performed by the GlobeCore Process, will result in the improvement of the condition of the entire insulating medium of your electric power transformers.

Here are some additional benefits of the GlobeCore Process:

  • Removal of dissolved moisture from transformer insulating oil
  • Reduction of combustible gases and oxygen
  • Improvement of insulating oil dielectric values
  • Improvement of transformer insulating oil power factor
  • Extension of oil service life
  • Extension of transformer service life and reliability

We at GlobeCore are committed to provide our customers with high quality products that satisfy technical and economic objectives.  We offer our vast experience in manufacturing, servicing and operation of transformer oil purification systems to your company.

Machines by GlobeCore come with a block of approved original equipment spare parts.  These spare parts meet all specifications required of the engineering process.  Over the years, optimal and high quality components have been carefully selected for our equipment.  GlobeCore guarantees the performance of our machines and the results of the oil treatment processes.  We have placed our equipment in more than 70 countries around the world and a reference list available upon request.

Short Process Description

Hot Filtration Mode

A gear type pump draws in the oil for processing via a valve and a strainer.  Processed oil is then pumped through the cartridge filter, the three-way valve and is then discharged to the processed oil vessel via a connecting line.

The above mode is also used for transformer core drying.  Transformer oil is circulated through the oil purification equipment.  After filtering the oil to remove the particles, the oil is heated up to max. temperature of 800C/1472F.  All residual gases are removed and the moisture is evaporated in the vacuum degassing chamber.  Residual moisture content can be reduced down to less than 3 parts per million (ppm).  Oil purification is a necessary maintenance process for oil-filled transformers and can be employed for removal of moisture from the transformer’s core and solid insulation. Heating of the transformer oil moves the moisture from paper to the oil and allows for its removal from the transformer.  The most common mistake made by operators of transformer oil purification equipment is to stop the drying process after reaching oil moisture content of less than 5 ppm.  After some time, when normal transformer operation conditions exist, the moisture content of the oil increases. It is essential to dry the transformer oil continuously throughout a long period.

Transformer Evacuation

Another required process is the immediate evacuation of the transformer after pumping the insulating oil out of the transformer tank.  The “Vacuum Effect” on the insulation surfaces greatly improves moisture content removal.  The process must be repeated several times before the desired effects will be achieved.

Hot Filtration and Thermo-Vacuum Drying

A gear type pump draws the oil in for processing via a strainer and cartridge filter.  It then directs the oil to the heat exchanger where the oil is heated by the heat conductor.  The oil is then fed to the vacuum drier’s sprayer after being heated to 60C/140F.  The Vacuum Pump maintains vacuum in the vacuum chamber.  a Vacuum can be regulated by valve(s) and monitored on the vacuum meter.  Filtered hot air comes into the chamber and removes gases and vapor from the oil’s surface effectively drying the oil.  The air is then discharged into the atmosphere via an oil separator by the vacuum pump.  A gear type pump then directs the oil into the processed oil vessel.  A programmable thermal regulator switch monitors the plant’s function continuously and maintains the pre-set temperature.

Expert Opinion about the Classes of Hydraulic Oil Purity

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Preventive Maintenance to Avoid Corrective Maintenance

Reliable operation of hydraulic equipment, widely used in various industrial facilities, depends mostly on the quality and purity of the internal cooling and lubrication oil.  Industrial machines normally operate under heavy loads and sometimes they operate under very difficult environmental conditions.  Regular maintenance of industrial equipment therefore, can allow maintenance personnel to detect possible equipment malfunctions in a timely manner.  The the essence of Preventive Maintenance is the avoidance of having to perform Corrective Maintenance.

The Problem

The presence of solid particles in oil and hydraulic fluids can quickly degrade the oil and the fluids in your hydraulic equipment.  Also known as particulate matter, among such particles, 70-85% are quartz,  10–15% are aluminum oxide, and  5–10% are iron oxide.  Contamination of hydraulic oil also disrupts the operation of your safety and regulation valves besides causing damage to your hydraulic system.

Although replacing used and/or contaminated oils and fluids is helpful, the complete replacement of oils and fluids is not a complete solution.  That is because the hydraulic system itself is most likely contaminated by metals and sludge.  These “remain behind contaminates” will actually contaminate fresh oil as soon as it is placed into the hydraulic system thereby negating most of the benefits of replacing the oil.  The new oil can also be contaminated during incorrect transportation, storage, handling, and filling of equipment.

Another important point, with regards to your maintenance program, concerns the filtering system of your hydraulic equipment.  The filters built into the hydraulic systems cannot, and do not ensure the required purification of oil circulating in your hydraulic system.

Oil purity class is not an indication of its compatibility with certain industrial equipment types.  Also, a specific purity class cannot give a precise answer as to the oil’s reliable operation.  Equipment loads will always have a direct influence on the rate of degradation of the oil.

The Solution

For reliable operation of hydraulic fluid systems and for the prevention of malfunctions caused by contaminated and degraded oils and fluids, it is necessary to use hydraulic oil purification equipment as part of a comprehensive scheduled maintenance program.

Selection criteria of such systems include consideration of the following attributes: (1) low filtration and regeneration costs; (2) reduction of repair and maintenance costs; (3) high purity level of the processed oil; (4) removal of sludge and contaminants from oil tanks and equipment reservoirs; (5) flexibility through a mobile or stationary design; and (6) compliance with international fire and health regulations.

The Best Solution

In order to provide the hydraulic equipment industry with machines that meet the requirements of the above listed criteria, GlobeCore has developed its line of UVR type units for oil purification and regeneration.  These plants are an efficient one-stop solution for a whole array of filtration and service equipment problems.  One GlobeCore UVR unit on a mobile platform can quickly service several machines regardless of location.  It can easily move around your facility and does not require readjustment for different kinds of oil or equipment.

The use of oil purification and regeneration equipment produced and supplied by GlobeCore increases hydraulic system reliability, reduces your maintenance costs, and extends the service life of your valuable hydraulic equipment.  The GlobeCore Process is a complete regeneration and filtration process and restores your hydraulic oil to its original new specs and reduces the amount of maintenance work and downtime when operating your equipment.

The GlobeCore Process can be used to purify oil before it is placed into your equipment and it can be used to purify and restore your used and contaminated oils and fluids.  GlobeCore equipment is flexible, versatile, reliable, and extremely cost effective.  GlobeCore adds Value to your maintenance program.

It’s time to get with the Process.  The GlobeCore Process!

Hydraulic System Operating Oil – What should we do next?

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The cooling and purification of industrial hydraulic oil is a basic requirement in extending the service life of any hydraulic system.  Efficient cooling and purification solutions increase the reliability and service life of hydraulic equipment systems.  Efficient operation, along with timely prevent maintenance, will increase your long term profits.  To protect your equipment and the components of your hydraulic systems, the GlobeCore company, which operates in more than 70 countries in the field of oil purification equipment, offers a wide range of systems for reclamation and regeneration of any oil type.  This includes transformer insulating oil, hydraulic oils, transmission oils, turbine oils, and industrial oils of all types.

Used oils do not need to be used only as relatively cheap heat or energy sources any longer.  At present, it is possible to restore the used oil to its full market value.  GlobeCore has developed the GlobeCore Process for degassing, drying, and the purification of oils and hydraulic fluids.  Today, GlobeCore regeneration systems will allow your company to profit from used oils instead of having to pay for oil replacement and for the cost of disposing of used oil.

The Problem

Disposal of waste oil is becoming less and less common.  According to the latest expert conclusions, a large amount of waste oil products are constantly being generated in many industrial applications.  This rise in industrial waste oil has led to increases in handling and disposal costs and fines for violations of environmental regulations.

The Solution

GlobeCore offers an excellent solution to the problem.  The GlobeCore Process is now available for the complete restoration of used oil used in commercial applications.  The customer will no longer have to  pay for oil disposal, oil handling and for environmental licenses.  Instead, the customer can now reuse the what used to be a waste product.  A unique oil purification and regeneration process is used in a wide range of GlobeCore products.  The GlobeCore Process is environmentally sound because it does not cause the emission of unwanted gases, liquids and solid materials into the environment.  The use of the GlobeCore Process  facilitates up to a 95% conversion rate and that equates to a tremendous saving for your company in time, labor, oil and money.

GlobeCore has a line of equipment intended for the purification and regeneration of used industrial oil by removing solid particles, water, and other contaminates.  The process produces oil color improvement due to the removal of oil aging products, unwanted additives and finely dispersed asphaltenes.  The GlobeCore machines are quite simple and easy to operate.  They do not require complex adjustments and enjoy the competitive advantage of high mobility and the use of special self-reactivating sorbents for the regeneration of fluids.

Up to 90% of tar, asphaltenes, carbenes and carboids are removed from the used oil in the process of purification with mild effect on the oil’s additives.   Various solid particles and water are removed entirely with complete restoration of the oil to it’s original specification and color.

Complete GlobeCore plants may be used for the filtration and adsorption process of various types of oils, including hydraulic fluids and industrial oils.  The GlobeCore systems does not require readjustment for various oils.  They also do not require filter replacements since the regeneration and adsorption elements automatically reactivate themselves after each cycle of oil restoration/regeneration has been completed.

The uniqueness and affordability of the GlobeCore Process units makes them an excellent and cost effective investment for your company.

It’s time to get with the Process.  The GlobeCore Process!

The laws of hydraulic oil purification

Tierra Fuller, , , , ,

Oils and other operating liquids, used as lubricants and coolants in various industrial equipment, are prone to degrade under the influence of elevated temperatures, pressures or flow. The functionality of oils depends on viscosity, oxidation stability and purity, lubrication capabilities, corrosion and emulsification. The difference of hydraulic oils from other oils is the relatively higher viscosity of the oil for high pressure hydraulic actuators. High viscosity makes operation of equipment unsafe or impossible. On the other hand, to ensure efficient operation of the systems, oil viscosity must exceed 20 cSt. Otherwise the pumps will experience increased wear, causing rapid loss of efficiency.

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Using of the turbine oil: benefits and testing

Tierra Fuller, , , , ,

Oil used in various industries are divided into various types and subtypes. Physical properties and chemical composition divide oil into classes and categories. Various industries require specific oil types.

There is a group of oils for the energy industry, which includes turbine, dielectric (transformer) and compressor oils. Specific requirements are applied to each of the categories.

Also, depending on oil type, moisture and gas content are regulated, as well as some other specifications.

Since oils inevitably age with time under the influence of water and solid particle contamination, the natural process of oil consumption becomes a problem related to the costs of repairs and downtime, with the obvious adverse effect on company revenues.

In the case of turbine oil, sediment on the surface of internal parts may lead to serious problems, including wear of regulation devices, command valves etc. In turn, moisture promotes corrosion, dilutes anti-oxidation additives and increases foaming, which also degrades lubrication.

Therefore, power generation facilities implement systems for turbine oil quality control both during operation and storage. Neglecting the regulations may cause serious problems for turbines, including failures and extended downtime due to complete or partial breakdown of equipment.

Contamination of turbine oils leads to degradation of their original properties and reduces efficiency of oil filled equipment. In the most severe cases this will cause serious malfunctions, requiring long costly repairs.

Coming back to the issues of equipment downtime due to failures and repairs, let us refer to the statistics. Research shows that in similar situations in power plants (thermal and nuclear), turbine adjustment system failure rate has grown in recent decades, including failures of internal rotating part bearings. All of the cases were related to contamination of turbine oil.

The causes named above, after a look at power plant failure statistics, require efficient solutions.

The simplest and the most obvious solution is oil quality control and oil replacement. In practice this is, however, complicated, spawning several problems. First, complete removal of oil, sediment and other contaminants is impossible. Second, the disposal of used oil is a problem in itself. Constant disposal costs may eventually exceed estimated repairs cost.

The optimal solution, all things considered, is purification and regeneration of used turbine oil. Various types of mobile plants connected directly to the turbine assembly from which contaminated oil is drawn, removal gas and water, filter out solid particles and generally fully restore the oil to its original specifications.

For instance, the CMM mobile oil plants degas, remove contaminants and sediment from turbine oil. Among the advantages of these units is their capability to process the oil in one pass, significantly extending oil service life.

Depending on the needs of the facility, CMM plants may be either mobile or stationary. For larger facilities, CMM plants come with extra features, from additional filters to additional regeneration sections.

The main issues for any business are the possible profit and loss. The cost of regenerating 1 ton (depending on the type of purified, regenerated and lightened product) varies between US$6.5 to US$35. At the same time, disposal of industrial waste is a costly affair. Oil purification plants pay for themselves in a rather short time of 5 – 6 months at current prices.

Reincarnation of the hydraulic oil lifecycle

Tierra Fuller, , ,

The lifecycle of hydraulic oil depends on several parameters which can extend or shorten the cycle. Some of these are viscosity, acidity and the amount of additives. Contaminating particles, free water, unfavorable operating conditions (temperature, loads and other conditions) all contribute to aging of oil.

Oxidation is further accelerated at temperatures exceeding 60C or in contact with some other materials. Presence of solid particles, especially larger than 2 micron, promote oxidation.

Contaminants are present in all hydraulic equipment. When the units are operated, friction causes additional solid particles and dust to enter the oil.

Therefore, to maintain high quality of oil and is operational parametes, it is important to protect its chemical composition, avoid overheating and protect the oil from water, minimize the amount of solid particles in the oil.

Oil filtration schedule is important to any industrial business. Filter efficiency depends on pore size. Large solid particles are retained by the filter as the oil passes through it, the smaller ones pass through the filter. Most modern filters successfully remove 1 – 5 micron particles.

Relative amount of solids increases as the size of the particles decreases. This means the oil will still be contaminated after filtration. The amount of contaminating particles will increase during operation and oxidation will be accelerated further.

Using the experience of many companies, it can be inferred that the dominating reason for malfunctions of hydraulic systems is related to contamination of the oil by solid particulate matter. Therefore it is extremely important to remove such contaminants.

As mentioned above, filtration alone is not enough. Microscopic particles pass through fine filters. Besides, water and air need other removal methods.

This is specifically what the UVR systems were designed for. Mobile or stationary design, direct connection to hydraulic systems for oil processing are just some of the features of this regeneration system.

Several filters, special pumps, heating and absorption allow removal of the smallest particles, as well as water and air from hydraulic oil. The sorbent media is can be reactivated shortly after running purification cycle is complete.

Oil purity regulations, savings on new resources and storage, unification of purification and filtration equipment are just some of the benefits of using the UVR type hydraulic oil purification system.