LUBRICATION

Section 7
LUBRICATION
 LUBRICATION

Purpose:
To minimize friction and carry heat away from:
A. Thrust Bearings
B. Journal Bearings
C. Gear Mesh
 LUBRICATION
Sources of heat in bearing or on contact surfaces:
Friction between moving parts
Shaft conducting heat from turbine case
Atmospheric temperatures
Excess steam leaking from turbine glands
Proximity of steam piping
Uninsulated turbine and piping
Misalignment
 LUBRICATION
Sources of heat in bearing or on contact surfaces:
Shaft distortion
Undersize bearing
Improper lube oil
Insufficient oil flow
Water in lube oil
Loss of cooling water
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Friction:
Defined as a force that resists sliding motion.
Moving a dry load is friction at its worst.

Adhesion:
Caused by load at rest. Flattens surface points,
increasing contact area
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Types of Friction:
Sliding friction - the most basic type.
One solid body pulled or pushed across the
surface of another. As with sleeve type
bearings.
Rolling friction
Any system of rolling elements reduces
friction. Similar to ball bearings.
 LUBRICATION
Types of Friction:
Fluid
Full film of lubricant separates surfaces, the
only friction is from motion within the fluid.
Typical with properly lubricated sleeve and ball
bearings
 LUBRICATION
Lubricating Oil
Major oil companies produce an oil satisfactory for
turbine use. It is advisable to consult with your oil
supplier for specific recommendations.

As a minimum, the selected oil should meet the

following:
 LUBRICATION
Properly refined highly
filtered mineral oil.
Maximum metal wetting
ability, and ability to
prevent the formation of
rust on metal parts bathed
in oil.
Free from acid or alkali.
Ability to separate rapidly
from water.
Minimum tendency to
oxidize or form a sludge
when agitated at actual
operating temperatures
when mixed with air and
water
Minimum tendency to
emulsify or foam when
agitated with water/or air.
 LUBRICATION
Viscosity Requirements
Ring Oiled ISO VG 68 SAE 20

Ring Oiled/
Pressured Lubed ISO VG 46 SAE 10W
By Others

Pressure Lubed ISO VG 32 Light Turbine Oil

 LUBRICATION
Recommended Bearing Temperature Limits
Metal Temp. Oil Temp.
F C F C
Normal 220 104 180 82
Operating
Alarm 230 110 185 86

Shutdown 250 121 195 90.5

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Lubricating Oil
Forced feed systems, oil temperature out of the
cooler should be 120F to 130F.

Oil temperature entering the cooler should be no

more than 54F above oil temperature leaving the
cooler
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Lubricating Oil

In ambient temperature is below 41F or sump

temperature exceeds 203F, special lubricants and /or
special temperature controls must be used.
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Water In The Lube System

Can occur frequently in turbines, especially

those with forced feed systems.

Cooling water may be the source, but most

often it is steam leaking past end seals.
 LUBRICATION
Water In The Lube System
Water often combines with chemicals to make them
corrosive.

If water-laden oil absorbs these chemicals from the

air they combine with the water and become
corrosive.
 LUBRICATION
Water In The Lube System

Water mixed with oil forms a thick emulsion.

An oil-water emulsion can plug oil filters.

 LUBRICATION
Water In The Lube System

If moisture in oil is greater than .1%,

immediate action is required.

Over .2% reached, shut down as soon as

possible.
 LUBRICATION
Water In The Lube System

May be caused by:

Worn seals
Incorrect or plugged leakoff lines
Excessive lagging between bearing housing and
turbine case.
Oil temperature to low.
QUESTIONS
 LUBRICATION
Ring Lube System
Oil ring lube system is the simplest available.

Automatically provides lubrication protection during

startup and coast down.

May be cooled by fin type coolers submerged in the

oil sump, or by water jackets around the sump.
OIL RINGS
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Ring Lube System
Ring lube system temperature should not exceed
180F.

One or two rings provided per bearing.

Oil rings sometimes will not turn if shaft is turning

too slow, if oil level is to high, wrong oil used.
 LUBRICATION
Ring Lube System
Oil level is observed through sight level indicators,
one for each bearing.

Oil ring system is limited to 5000 rpm and 750 HP.

Some older models were limited to 4500 rpm.
 LUBRICATION
Ring Lube System
Proper oil level in ring lubricated bearings is 1/4 inch
above the bottom dead center of the oil ring inside
diameter.

Ring lubed turbine are equipped with level gauges.

The level gauges have two marks which indicates the
min. & max. oil levels. These marks are 3/8 inch apart.
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Ring Lube System
The ring oiled system is a closed system, the oil level
will only change because of vaporization or leakage.

This system can be filled with the turbine running or

shut down. Use caution do not over fill.
 LUBRICATION
Ring Lube System
Caution:
When disassembling or cleaning sight glasses, the
brass column could be turned upside down. The oil
level marks will be incorrect.

Check oil correct level matches level marks on the

sight glasses.
 LUBRICATION
Ring Lube System
Constant level oilers (Trico Oilers) are often used to
maintain the correct oil level.

Do not confuse these with oil level indicators.

LUBRICATION
QUESTIONS
 LUBRICATION
SP (Saddle Pump) System
Used as a supplementary system to circulate oil for
small turbines where oil temperatures could exceed
180F using ring lube.

Oil ring are always used with saddle pump systems.

LUBRICATION
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SP (Saddle Pump) System
Oil pump is usually mounted on the coupling end
bearing cap and is shaft driven through spur gears.

External cooler may be installed where internal sump

cooling system is not adequate.

Output set not to exceed 4-5 psig

 LUBRICATION
SP (Saddle Pump) System
Will not provide service to driven equipment.

Flow of oil may be observed through sight glass in

pump discharge line.

The bearing boxes are part of the oil reservoir.

 LUBRICATION
SP (Saddle Pump) System
The equalizer pipe or tank keeps the oil levels even
in both bearing boxes.

No pressure gauges installed or required.

Pump is dual rotation.

 LUBRICATION
SP (Saddle Pump) System
There are several variations depending on the age of
the turbine.
Newest models have equalizer pipe at side of turbine
with the suction taken off the top of equalizer pipe at
center.
Orifice bypass at pump discharge to control output.
 LUBRICATION
SP (Saddle Pump) System

Some models use a equalizer tank instead of a

horizontal pipe.

Tank must be tall enough to maintain proper levels in

bearing housings.
LUBRICATION
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QUESTIONS
 LUBRICATION
Force Feed Systems

Forced feed system are always used on large frame

turbines but may also be used on smaller turbines when
operating speeds, horsepower or operating temperatures
exceed the practical limits of ring oiled or SP systems

.
LUBRICATION

LUBE OIL CONSOLES

 LUBRICATION
Force Feed Systems

Major components of a force feed system

Main oil pump (shaft driven or motor driven)
Auxiliary oil pump (steam or electric driven)
Coolers
Filters
Oil tank

.
LUBRICATION
Lube Oil Systems
VERTICAL OIL PUMPS
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OIL SKID
WITH
3 ELECTRIC
OIL PUMPS
 Lube Oil Systems

4. Lube Oil Coolers.

 Lube Oil Systems

11. Lube Oil Vapor Extractor - Used to Remove the

Mixtures of Air, Hydrogen, Water Vapor, and Oil Vapor
from the Lube Oil Reservoir. Also used to Create a
Negative Pressure on the Reservoir and Bearing
Housings.
 LUBRICATION
Force Feed Systems

Major components of a force feed system

Pressure gauges
Thermometers
Pressure & Temperature switches
Orifices
Relief valves

.
LUBRICATION

OIL CONTROL VALVES

LUBRICATION
 Lube Oil Systems

8. Accumulators
 Lube Oil Systems

8. Accumulators
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Force Feed Systems
Auxiliary Oil Pump is required under the following conditions:
When turbine maintains maximum continuous speed exceeding 5000
rpm.
Kingsbury thrust bearing is installed.
Inlet steam temperature exceeds 750F (some small single stage are the
exception)

.
 LUBRICATION
Force Feed Systems
Auxiliary Oil Pump is required under the following conditions:
Tilt pad radial bearings are installed.
Turbine having a governor turn-down of 30% or greater from
maximum rpm.
Lubrication prior to startup and until machine coast down.

.
 LUBRICATION
Force Feed Systems
Steam driven aux.. pump is a submerged centrifugal pump
mounted on a common shaft with a turbine wheel.
It is started and stopped and speed controlled by a pressure
regulated valve mounted in the steam supply and set to the
desired pump discharge pressure.

.
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Force Feed Systems
The electric driven aux.. pump is a gear type pump coupled to an
electric motor.

Mounted on or near the lube oil console.

A pressure switch automatically starts and stops the pump.

.
 LUBRICATION
Force Feed Systems
Main lube oil pumps are mounted on the turbine or driven equipment.

Large turbines have electric driven lube oil pumps for main, aux.. and
emergency lube.

The emergency pump is DC powered.

.
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Proper oil level in ring lubricated bearings is____
inch above the bottom dead center of the oil ring
inside diameter.
1/4

Max. ring oil level is?

3/8 inch above min. Total 5/8
 LUBRICATION
Forced feed systems, oil temperature out of the
cooler should be?
120F to 130F.

Normal bearing running temperature is?

220F
 LUBRICATION
Bearing temperature alarm is?
230F

Trip temperature is?

250F
QUESTIONS
BREAK TIME
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