TABLE OF CONTENTS For reliable turbomachine performance, it is vital to have a properly designed, installed, operated, and maintained lubrication system. The lubrication system of a turbomachine is the lifeblood for this complex and finely tuned piece of machinery. The oil must be pumped in continuous circulation, conditioned, drained, and returned to be pumped again. In some units there are independent and dedicated turbine lube oil, compressor lube oil, and turbine control oil systems. There are combined systems with turbine lube oil and control oil from one system and compressor lube oil from another, or with turbine and compressor lube oil from one system and turbine control oil from another. In most cases, one system will supply all lube and control oil.
This chapter deals with the principles involved in the operation and maintenance of a lubrication system, and it describes the main components of such a system, including the lubricant itself. The following topics are discussed:
Basic oil system
Lubricant selection
Oil sampling and testing
Oil contamination
Filter selection
Cleaning and flushing
Coupling lubrication
API Standard 614 covers in detail the minimum requirements for lubrication systems, oil-type shaft-sealing systems, and control oil supply systems for special-purpose applications.
A typical lubrication oil system is shown in Figure 15-1. Oil is stored in a reservoir to feed the pumps and is then cooled, filtered, distributed to the end users, and returned to the reservoir. The reservoir can be heated for...
