Power October 2022 + 140th Anniversary Supplement - S30

Next-generation power turbines are
4. Synthetic lubricants developed by Phillips
66 have characteristics that can make them
better suited for use in specific sectors, such
as the automotive and trucking industries.
Courtesy: Phillips 66
oil that meets modern requirements,
Phillips 66 engineers use optimal base
oils, antioxidants, rust inhibitors, and
other additives, which interact favorably
to improve oxidation resistance, sludge
and varnish control, and water separation.
Their latest oils also offer improved
Rotating Pressure Vessel Oxidation Test
(RPVOT) retention, rust and corrosion
reduction, and foam and entrained air
release. The effectiveness of the Phillips
66 Diamond Class turbine oil was
confirmed by dry turbine oil oxidation
stability test (TOST) data.
RPVOT is a procedure that determines
the oxidation stability of an oil.
It measures the actual resistance to oil
oxidation, whereas other tests detect
oxidation that is already present in the
oil. Oil oxidation is considered an " undesirable "
series of chemical reactions
involving oxygen that degrades the
quality of an oil.
tasked with operating under severe
conditions marked by increased flow
rates, high energy output, and high
operating temperatures. These design
and operating parameters require more
from turbine oils in terms of protection
against oxidation, sludge, and varnish
formation. Phillips 66 Lubricants has
effectively re-engineered turbine oils to
meet such performance challenges for
steam and combined cycle turbine systems,
and particularly for the expanding
gas-turbine market.
According to Phillips 66 Lubricants,
turbine oils must be formulated to minimize
wear of valves and other components
by preventing sludge and varnish
buildup. Properly balanced chemistries
reduce unplanned downtime by removing
contaminants in the form of
water, heat, and particulates, and by
functioning as hydraulic control fluid.
For formulations, the type of metals
used in gear drive applications is
vital due to the possible presence of
extreme pressure additives in the oil.
Sulfur and phosphorus, extreme pressure
additives, are corrosive to yellow
metals such as bronze or copper. This
will dictate what additive package to
formulate for the gear oil.
Synthetic or mineral base oil is another
choice to make. Synthetics will
increase change intervals and viscosity
indices while reducing oxidation rates.
Mineral-based lubricants, however, will
hold byproducts in suspension better
and are typically less expensive. The
revolutions per minute and the amount
of load exerted on a particular gear set
are two of the most important pieces
of information when selecting the
proper lubrication.
Gas-Powered Turbines
There are several key considerations
for developing lubricants designed to
work with natural gas-powered turbines
and engines (Figure 5). Oil degradation
is a key concern in the natural gas segment.
The gas fuel combustion process
results in a byproduct called oxides of
nitrogen. This is referred to as nitration
of the oil and must be monitored just as
oxidation during analysis.
Sulfated ash is another unique aspect
to natural gas and diesel engines.
An elevated amount of sulfated ash
may cause troublesome deposits on internal
engine components.
Compressor oils are another important
product for industrial use. Compressor
oils can reduce typical wear and
tear, and also can be used for cooling,
sealing, and cleaning. Compressor oils
have been in use since the early 1800s.
To compress means to squeeze and
therefore you can increase the pressure
of a gas by reducing its volume or
'squeezing' it.
Gases are mostly compressible
while liquids are not. That is the main
difference between pumps and compressors.
Pumps use the hydraulic principle
of using incompressible liquids to
transmit force while the compression
of gases will increase its pressure.
Compressors are used for many different
types of gases throughout the power
generation industry. It is an efficient
way for energy to be transmitted.
Lubricant products for power generation
are numerous. Phillips 66 lists
nearly four dozen on its website. With
so many options it can be helpful to
consult with your lubricants supplier to
help select the best products for your
specific operation. Phillips 66 has field
engineers on staff to help you optimize
your complete lubricant program for all
areas of your operation. n
5. Developing state-of-the-art lubricants is a high-tech business. Process experts deploy engineering
models and sophisticated conceptual tools to plan, optimize, and control complex
operations. Courtesy: Phillips 66
30
PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
www.powermag.com
-This article was written by POWER
staff with input from product
engineers at Phillips 66.
POWER Supplement | October 2022

http://www.powermag.com

Power October 2022 + 140th Anniversary Supplement

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