Feature Article: Petro-Chemical Industry

Features

RULER will measure the lubricant oxidative health for the rotating equipment lubricants applying synergistic mixtures of antioxidants as amines, phenols, phenates, zincdithiophosphates.

By measuring the amount of remaining antioxidants (Remaining Useful Life), lubricant operators will be able to detect early oxidative degradation before acidic compounds and oxidative compounds like varnish, and sludge will start to appear. These oxidative compounds are to be avoided as the accumulation of these in lubrication orifices, piping and coolers impairs circulation of oil and causes higher bearing and oil temperatures. Higher oil temperatures greatly accelerate the rate of oil oxidation.

Operator Benefits

• Increase availability and uptime from rotating equipment through lubricant life assessment and extension
• Significant reduction of off-site analysis, with RULER as part of on-site screening lubricant program (saving sample preparation time, shipment costs and operator time)
• Significant reduction of bearing and lubrication component failure , by preventing formation of oxidation deposits on vital lubrication components.
• Significant contribution to On-site lubricant quality control program (saving mechanical failure to mixing of type of lubricants)

Value of RULER:

1. To be part of on-site lubricant screening programs, which are performed in complement with off-site (laboratory) programs, the RULER will show you exactly the oxidative condition of the oil, in function of its duty cycle.
2. Contribute to lubricant Screening programs by testing water contamination, cleanliness (particle count), viscosity and oxidation (RULER).
3. Will reduce (but not eliminate) costly off-site analysis by replacing analysis like FTIR, PDSC, FTIR, and HPLC by RULER measurement for antioxidants.
4. By measuring and trending the lubricants' oxidative health condition, operators will detect abnormal oxidative signals, as part of root cause failure Analysis (RCA).
5. RULER can be used on a wide range of lubricants listed below
   • Steam and/or gas turbine main bearing lubricants
   • Compressor lubricants as part of power generation trains
   • Hydraulic fluids, including phosphate esters
   • Pump bearing lubricants
   • Gearbox fluids
   • Diesel Generators

The graphs below show you the typical graphs for these lubricants.

Steam Turbine Oils

Gas Turbine Oils (mineral or ester based fluids)

Greases (roller bearing and gearbox bearings)

Compressor Oils

Diesel Generator Oils