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The most common types of turbines in existence are those used to produce electricity by converting rotational energy into electrical energy.

Gas and steam turbines, two of the most popular, provide industrial facilities and electrical grids with their energy on a regular basis, and therefore need to be protected and maintained properly in order to prevent failures and equipment repairs that are costly and time consuming.

One way to protect the turbines is by implementing lubricating oils that guard against the wear-and-tear on moving parts within a turbine, as well as assist in other ways, such as heat transfer and protection against corrosion.

During the course of typical turbine operations, moisture and other contaminants are introduced to the oil that is protecting the entire system. When these contaminants arise, a number of problems can result, ranging from oxidation, depletion, foaming and accumulation of sludge balls. Contamination sparks oil degradation, which negatively affects the reliability of the turbine. This oil needs to be filtered in order to remove these substances and extend the life of the system.

Many of the issues that typically result in industrial downtime are lubricant-related. Industrial downtime can be a dangerous situation for manufacturers, as the old adage “time is money” proves to be true over and over again.

That’s why companies are constantly searching for ways to maximize efficiency and eliminate any unnecessary downtime. This is where the Hilcosep comes in handy.

The Hilcosep Coalescer Separator was designed to remove moisture and contamination from the lube oils. The device has a reservoir capacity between 2,000 gallons and more than 12,000 gallons.

The Hilcosep is intended be used whenever moisture and particles need to be removed from the oil, and it has the potential to extend oil life and protect the system’s components.

How It Works

The Hilcosep works by pumping the oil from the turbine into the main oil reservoir through a purification system. As it passes through a strainer, it provides protection for the gear pump. A vacuum gauge monitors how clean the strainer is, and, if contaminated, will shut down the system via vacuum switch. The pump is also provided with a relief valve set at 150 PSI.

To clean the oil, a filter composed of two cartridges removes elements in an effort to exceed the level of cleanliness that is provided by the main lube oil filters. Then the oil passes through a blending and separating receptacle to remove the moisture contamination.

As water builds up in the vessel, it gets discharged through a valve while a clean batch of oil is fed into the outlet of the system to monitor overall effectiveness.

The device removes 5% of water per pass down to the natural saturation point of the oil, which makes it more productive. It also removes free and emulsified water to less than 25 ppm and reduces the total water content to lower than 150 ppm.

Reducing the moisture in the oil is what makes it possible to extend the overall life of the system it’s protecting.

The HIlcosep, with its compact includes an efficient pre-filter, as well as various sampling ports, pressure switches and gauges, as well as an automatic float and water discharge valve for continuous operation. The device was tested on four different major brands of oil to test its efficiency.

When Selecting a System

In order to determine which separator will work best with certain systems, Hilco analyzes a company’s samples for contaminants and moisture content in its lab and then develops a tailor-made purification system for optimum efficiency.

Some options include explosion-proof electrical controls, low-watt density oil heaters, and CRN or PED vessels.

When determining the appropriate size for a coalesce/separator system, it is important to keep in mind that the system should have a flow capacity of at least 50% of the total lube oil volume. So, for example, for a 6,000-gallon reservoir, a separator should have a flow rate of 30 GPM.

Additional Options

The Hilcosep is also available in a portable version, capable of servicing multiple units, that possesses flow capacity from 1 to 30 GPM. Additionally, single or multiple-element vessels with flow capacities up to 20 GPM are available to side-stream part of the existing lube oil pump’s flow.

Poor selection and maintenance of turbine oil can cost companies hundreds of thousands of dollars every day, so selecting the right oil is of the utmost importance. What’s even more important is making sure that oil is filtered correctly. Otherwise, it’s all for naught. By simply selecting the right tool for the job, a company can save itself from a costly mistake.

The Hilliard Corporation

www.hilliardcorp.com

100 West Fourth Street

Elmira, NY 14902

607-733-7121