The Horizontal Steam Turbine For Stationary Plants

When starting up a new turbine for the first time, there are always present in the circulating system impurities of many kinds, such as core sand, scale, cotton waste, etc. It is, therefore, good practice after running the turbine for two or three weeks, to remo ve the entire supply of oil from the system and recharge it with new oil. The oil taken out should be allowed to rest in a large tank, or in barreis, to separate it from the impurities. The separated good oil can then be used as “make up” for the turbine. Should the charge of oil first removed from the turbine be badly affected by ab- normal quantities of impurities, the oil should be heated and, after separation from the bulk of impurities, passed through a good filter before use. Adding New Oil Where little or no water enters the circula- tion system and where there is practically no waste or leakage of oil, so that the amount of new oil added to the system per week is very small, the oil will gradually become darker in color. Where incorrect oils are in use, a dark deposit will be thrown down throughout the system, upon the addition of a new charge of oil, due to the action of the old oil on the new; and more particularly is this the case with heavy oils than with light oils. A correct high grade oil, when used in the circulation system of a steam turbine under normal conditions of operation, will demand only small adclitional quantities of “make up” oil to insure economical and continuous service. The correct high grade oils separate quickly from impurities and will not break down under normal working conditions. They will reduce friction to a minimum, prevent high bearing temperatures and provide a greater margin of safety. The “make up” for lost oil, due to leakage and vaporization, will vary according to the size and operating conditions of the turbine; and when correct oils are used this replace- ment is usually sufficient to keep the oil in satisfactory working condition for a long time. When, however, the limit of the oil’s capability has been reached, entire replace- ment with fresh oil is recommended. In reviewing the various causes of the for- mation of deposit, it will be observed that decomposition of the oil is invariably fol- lowed by a darkening in color and an increase in the percentage of acidity. Therefore, both these features can be taken as standards by which to judge the service value of the oil. D T E. Oils FOR TURBINE LUBRICATION DOMESTIC BRANCHES DETROIT, MICH. Telegraph Bldg. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Merchants’ Bank Bldg. BOSTON, MASS. 49 Federal Street MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Rand Bldg. NEW YORK, N.Y. 61 Broadway PITTSBURGH, PA. Fulton Bldg. CHICAGO, ILL. Fisher Bldg. KANSAS CITY, KAN. Riverview Bank Bldg. PHILADELPHIA, PA. * Brown Bros. Bldg. DES MOINES, IA. Shops Bldg. FOREIGN OFFICES IN PRINCIPAL CITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD VACUUM OIL COMPANY New York, U. S. A. Specialists in the Manufacture of High Grade Lubricants for every Class of Machinery—Obtainable Everywhere in the World 16