Drop of knowledge #9

Ecol laboratory – what was happening in September?

1. 1. “Long-lasting” lubricants – a few words about turbine oils 🛢️ 🡪
2. 2. Speech by Karolina Bartosiak at the XXXI Scientific and Technical Symposium Aggregates Cement Lime 2024 🡪
3. 3. Ecol publication in Railway Report magazine 🡪
4. 4. Upcoming conferences we are participating in 🡪
5. 5. Element of the month 🡪

1. “Long-lasting” lubricants – a few words about turbine oils 🛢️

Turbine oils are most often produced as deeply refined mineral oils classified according to requirements according to API groups I, II, III. They mainly contain anti-oxidation and anti-corrosion additives.

General performance characteristics and requirements for turbine oils include:

• appropriate viscosity characteristics at a given temperature,
• thermal and oxidation resistance (prevention of oxidation products and deposits),
• protection against rusting and corrosion,
• deemulsifying properties,
• good water- and air-holding capacity,
• low propensity to foam,
• high flash point,
• oil purity,
• compatibility with seals and other turbine construction materials.

A characteristic feature of turbine oils is their ‘longevity’. The average service life is several to several years!

🧪 Monitoring turbine oil condition – what to test?

Oil properties inevitably degrade during operation due to the operating conditions. Oil degradation is a normal phenomenon, therefore, proper monitoring procedures are essential to determine the condition of the oil in service, assess its suitability for continued use and, where possible, intervene when parameters deteriorate.

It is recommended that full laboratory tests include the determination of the following parameters:

• visual assessment of appearance,
• colour,
• viscosity and viscosity index,
• purity class,
• acid number,
• water content,
• air release capacity,
• water-secreting capacity,
• oxidation (IR spectroscopy test),
• oxidative stability (e.g. RPVOT test),
• content of antioxidant inhibitors (RULER test),
• propensity to foam.

The above scope can and should be expanded to include additional research:

• content of wear metal elements,
• MPC (Membrane Patch Colorimetry) indicator for the propensity to form insoluble deposits,
• corrosion on steel,
• corrosion on copper,
• deeming number (steam turbines),
• flash point,
• filterability.

⚠️ How often should turbine oils be tested? Not less than once a year!

Routine analysis of the turbine oil in broad, in-service operation is carried out at least once a year – irrespective of how long the turbine has been in operation.

Smaller ranges are used at quarterly or monthly intervals. In special cases (e.g. very low anti-oxidation reserve of the oil and inability to stop the turbine), the testing times and ranges are selected individually.

More frequent oil testing may also be advisable in the following cases:

• prolonged downtime or turbine overhaul,
• oil change or total oil change,
• ongoing operational problems,
• oil parameter limits exceeded (e.g. indication in previous test report).

2. Speech by Karolina Bartosiak at the XXXI Scientific and Technical Symposium Aggregates Cement Lime 2024

Karolina Bartosiak, Diagnostic Services Sales Specialist at Ecol, will be one of the speakers at the XXXI Aggregates Cement Lime 2024 Scientific and Technical Symposium, which will be held on 2-3 October 2024 at the Binkowski Hotel in Kielce.

In his speech entitled:

➡️ ‘What worrisome things could be happening in your oil? A recipe for improving fleet performance’

will present key aspects of oil diagnostics that can affect the efficiency of machine operation in industry.

The symposium aims to present the latest technical and technological solutions for the aggregates, lime and cement industry. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss current industry challenges and integrate with representatives from related industry sectors.

The event was held under the honorary patronage of the President of the State Mining Authority, Piotr Litwa, PhD. The symposium is organised by BMP sp. z o.o. sp. k., publisher of the magazine ‘Kierunek Surowce’ and the kieruneksurowce.pl portal.

🗺️ where: Hotel Binkowski in Kielce

📅 when: 2-3 October 2024

3. Ecol publication in Railway Report magazine

The latest issue of Railway Report magazine features an article entitled:

➡️ “Cooling system leaks and the issue of glycol in engine oil”.

The text, available in English, was prepared by diagnosticians from Ecol’s oil analysis laboratory.

This article discusses the issue of mixing of operating fluids in diesel engines. The authors point out that although engine oil and coolant are essential for engine operation, they should not come into contact with each other. Their mixing can lead to a decrease in performance, increased risk of failure and even engine seizure.

5. Element of the month

Antimony (Sb Latin Stibium) – is a silver-white semi-metal with a crystalline structure that is easily powdered. In nature, it occurs as a sulphide and as a common impurity in quartz.

It is used in printing and bearing alloys and as a hardener in lead alloys.

In the diagnostic analysis of elements contained in oil, antimony is classed as a wear metal, although it is quite rarely detected in this test. If it does occur, it is usually in correlation with lead, tin and copper as an alloying element in plain bearings or solder binder.

In the form of sodium antimonogluconate, it is used in pharmacotherapy. Historically, a so-called ‘perpetual pill’ was used to induce diarrhoea – a small ball of antimony which, when swallowed, caused a ‘violent purging of the bowels’.