New oils improve turbine reliability

The Shell Turbo Oil CC series combines the traditional strengths of the previous formulation, is fully compatible with the current formulation and improves long-term deposit resistance performance.

Shell lubricants companies have reformulated their Shell Turbo Oils CC range, offering improved deposit resistance for increased turbine reliability and availability.

Shell Turbo Oils CC meet the severe demands imposed by modern heavy-duty turbine applications, including combined-cycle, gas and steam turbines.

The Shell Turbo Oils CC range will help tackle the long-standing problem of lacquer or varnish formation in servo-valves, which causes the valves to stick or seize.

Formation of varnish on thrust or journal bearings can cause increased wear rates, while other problems caused by varnish in turbine oil systems include reduction of cooler performance, increased bulk oil temperatures, prematurely plugged filters and strainers and plugging of small oil orifices.

William Stein, Project Leader - Turbine Oils at Westhollow Technology Centre for Shell Lubricants, said: "Our Shell Turbo Oils CC range was introduced in 1997-98 specifically for the combined-cycle systems and has performed well".

"However, we felt that we could further improve our original formulation to help reduce lube oil varnishing in turbines and hence improve reliability in today's demanding conditions".

The Shell Turbo Oil CC series combines the traditional strengths of the previous formulation, is fully compatible with the current formulation and shows improvement in its long-term deposit resistance performance.

Also, the new formulation has excellent RPVOT (rotating pressure vessel oxidation test) retention and outstanding thermal and oxidative performance.

The new products also provide extra protection and improved component life in turbine applications through their rapid air release, high resistance to foaming and excellent water-shedding properties.

The Shell Turbo Oils CC range also boasts good load carrying capacity, making the products suitable for use in turbines with highly loaded gears.

Applications include gas, steam, heavy industry and water turbines.

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