Importance of Filtration Brian Burks, CLS, OMA I Senior Application - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Oil as a Component and the Importance of Filtration

Brian Burks, CLS, OMA I Senior Application Sales Engineer

Oil should be a COMPONENT not “just” a consumable!

Oil properly designed as an integral turbine component should be treated as a valuable asset

When to Consider Oil as a Component

Oil is then a key component to gearbox performance and longevity Oil is capable of long term protection Oil is capable of long life

Have a Long Term Plan

• Use an oil designed from the

start for long life in wind turbine gearboxes

• Robust monitoring program
• Centralize oil monitoring in

your organization

Use Consistent Labs

Additive Trending

Use Correct Condemning Limits

• Obtain limits from oil

supplier

• Provide condemning

limits to oil lab

• Ensure limits are

applied correctly internally

Key Factors to Track for Extended Oil Life Water

• TAN
• Additive Levels
• Particle Contamination

Negative Affects from Water

• Additive depletion
• Filter plugging
• Sludging
• Increased wear
• Increased foaming
• Corrosion

Effect of Water on Specific Additives

Dangers of Dissolved Water

Dangers of Emulsified and Free Water

• Over 500 ppm of water in gear oil

the water typically begins to become an emulsification

• Cloudy appearance
• Water can instantaneously flash

vaporize in the high heat and pressures of a roller element bearing load zone, causing erosive wear

Hydrogen Embrittlement

• Thought to contribute to WEC
• Water can be separated into its base form of hydrogen and oxygen in the

high pressures of a bearing load zone

• Due to its small size, hydrogen atoms can absorb into the bearing material

and can affect the metallurgy on the subsurface

• This leads to hydrogen embrittlement, subsurface cracking, and

propagating to the surface and becoming pitting or spalls

Total Acid Number (TAN) What it means for gearbox and oil health

• All oils have different TAN values which are based on

the additives chosen to build the product.

• Normal condemning limit is a value of 2 higher than

starting value.

• High TAN is generated from:

– Oil degradation or oxidation – Water egress into the additive package (sulfuric acid)

Additive Functions

Additives are used to enhance the oils ability to protect the gearbox

• Anti-wear – Extreme pressure – Micropitting

– Phosphorus (anti-wear, EP, micropitting) – Sulfur (used with some phosphorus species for EP) – Zinc (anti-wear) – Moly (anti-wear)

• Detergent

– Calcium – Magnesium – Boron

• Anti-foam

– Silicon – Polyacrylate (not seen on oil analysis)

Persistent Wear Protection

SRV wear testing validates the AMSOIL designed evolution of durability: The evolution of AMSOIL wear additives provide increasing active wear protection after 9 years of run time.

Filtration and Filterability

• Proper filtration practices are critical for long oil life and

gearbox health

• Normal wear particles are 1-15 microns in size
• Abnormal particles start around 15 microns in size and

go up

Filtration Recommendations

• Consider using a 5

µm β1000 inline filter

• Change filters at

recommended intervals

Offline Filtration is KEY for Optimal Component Longevity

• If all other aspects of oil performance are up to the task,

then offline filtration will ensure long-term oil performance

• Offline filters remove more of the normal wear particles

that naturally build up

• Consider utilizing 3 µm absolute filter

Ensure Your Oil Can Withstand Long-Term Fine Filtration

• Additive levels and foaming performance may be affected

by fine filtration in some oils

• Ask your oil provider for their multi-pass filtration test results
• AMSOIL PTN has proven long-term performance utilizing 5

µm inline filtration and 3 µm offline filtration

Thank you! Brian Burks CLS, OMA I

AMSOIL Senior Sales Application Engineer bburks@amsoil.com

Shift mindset from consumable to component Have a plan Ensure your oil is up to the challenge of long- term protection Filtration and filterability are key for long life