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Is Turbine Flush Justified?
Matthew Dinslage, Reliability Engineer, Flint
Hills Resources
First I would look back at the past oil sample results. If they
didn't show any problems, proceed with the following discussion.
If they showed an increasing problem with particles or bearing
material, then flush the system. But, for this case, I am assuming
there was nothing found.
Not to flush it. Based on risk adjusted economics. The cost to
delay start up with very real possibilities that once you start
flushing the system other problems can arise. I would start the
system back up with tight mesh screens before each bearing and
circulate for 3 - 6 hours. After that period, I would remove and
check the screens. If the screens had shown any amount of visible
particles I would reinstall new screens and circulate for another
6 - 8 hours.
After circulating the system and knowing the amount of particle
carry over, the maintenance personnel have a better idea of the
loose material in the system. If the screens were clean, I would
start the system up and run. If the screens continued to be dirty,
I would check the filters and replace them. Circulate with the
screens once more. If the screens were dirty again I would flush
the system. But odds are, the screens would not show anything
at the bearings and this is the key. And the best thing is, you
only spent 1 day to give yourself reassurance that a flush was
not needed.
Most reservoirs are sized such that particles will settle in
the bottom. After the machine was restarted, I would take baseline
samples at various locations around the machine. Locations would
be after each bearing, before the filters and after the filters.
These baselines would tell you if there was any new wear metals
or particle concentrations.
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