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Is Turbine Flush Justified?
Robert Wegner, Reliability Specialist, Alcon
USA Refinery
I would flush the system and perform side stream filtration or
circulate the system with a existing aux. lube pump while the
plant is down. Smaller micron filters can be purchased to install
in the existing system which would allow for complete system clean
up and then the regular micron filters could be installed once
the system is cleaned up. If babbit shows up in the sample now
how would they know if it was actually from the bearing or from
the babbit laying in the main header.
If the particulates are big enough to see I believe they could
cause a problem if they move down the line. By not flushing the
system they are taking more of a risk than if they flush the system
now. I believe the system can be cleaned up within the current
down time. Furthermore if they are concerned about flushing the
system now what is going to change in two years. Come on do the
right thing, flush the system, run the lube oil system and filter
the oil and sample the oil to verify cleanliness. Most of these
systems can be flushed and the lube oil can be circulated and
cleaned with existing equipment.
See other responses
to this Readers Challenge.
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