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Showing posts from September, 2021

Advantage of synthetic oil over mineral oil

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  Synthetics use higher quality base oils than conventional oils, which use less refined base oils, resulting in oils like chemically less stable, oxidize and acidify more easily, and break down and lose protective qualities more quickly. Mineral-based oil is simply a highly refined version of ground oil, semi-synthetic oil is a similar substance but with artificial additives, and purely synthetic oil is essentially man-made and designed oil. There are many different types of synthetic oils available for purchase. They are refined, distilled, and deconstructed to their basic molecules. This purification process removes impurities from the oil and allows it to be tailored to modern engines. Mineral oil, on the other hand, is a lubricant made directly from crude oil. It has excellent properties that allow it to lubricate at high temperatures while also remaining stable over long periods of time. In reality, synthetic oils start out as regular oil and are then modified to improve their pr

Evaluation of turbine oil performance using TOST

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  Turbines are rotating prime movers in which the energy of a fluid is converted into mechanical energy, which is then used to generate electricity. The most commonly used fluids are steam, hot gases produced directly from burning fuel, and water. Turbine oil must lubricate the shaft bearings, remove heat, operate the servomechanisms of regulating valves, and, if present, lubricate the gear reduction units. End-users of turbine oil expressed their greatest concern as unplanned downtime during turbine operation. If a power company is unable to provide power, the cost of downtime can be significant. Today's turbine systems operate under increasingly harsh conditions, including wider temperature variations. Temperature fluctuations in turbine oil can cause oxidation and thermal degradation, which is caused by the oil's elevated temperatures. The physical and chemical properties of lube oil, as well as common contaminants such as water and solid particles, must be carefully monitor