Powerplant Lubricant Selection for Improved Efficiency and Environmental Impact Reduction

Abstract

Computational models were used to optimize bearing performance by adjusting a number of lubricant properties. This computational optimization showed that the most beneficial characteristics to hydrodynamic bearing operation were high viscosity index (VI)

Friction and Lubrication of Large Tilting-Pad Thrust Bearings

“…The viscosity of the tested oils at 40 °C and 100 °C is presented in Table 2, and one can observe that, while both the oils have similar viscosity at 100 °C, the synthetic oil is much less viscous at 40 °C. According to the results presented in [19], in winter months, the oil bath temperature was equal to 24 °C, and the bearing temperature to 84 °C, while in the summer, it was respectively 35 °C and 88 °C. Oil with a different VI made it possible to decrease the maximum temperature of the bearings by 7 °C (with a thicker film) but, on the other hand, oil bath temperature was 5 °C higher.…”

“…Apart from laboratory measurements at the test rigs, the research was comprised of field tests. In a real 10 MW water turbine installed in Porjus power plant [19], ISO VG 68 mineral oil was replaced with a synthetic oil of VG 46 (i.e., kinematic viscosity of 46 mm 2 /s at 40 °C) but with a viscosity index equal to 150 (as compared to approximately 100 for mineral oil). The viscosity of the tested oils at 40 °C and 100 °C is presented in Table 2, and one can observe that, while both the oils have similar viscosity at 100 °C, the synthetic oil is much less viscous at 40 °C.…”