Page 155 - Steam Turbines Design, Applications, and Rerating
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136 Chapter Seven
Figure 7.12 Elementary air stripping apparatus. (Ausdel Pty, Ltd,
Springvale South, Victoria, Australia)
machinery. Oil life can be extended indefinitely by continuous removal
of particles and free water, oil/water emulsions, plus dissolved water.
Centrifuges (Fig. 7.10) are capable of removing all except trace
amounts of free water from turbine lube oils. They must be operated
continuously if the accumulation of free water is to be positively
avoided. Vacuum dehydrators, Fig. 7.11, will effectively remove not
only free water but also dissolved water and gases. Used in conjunction
with a conscientiously followed lube oil analysis schedule, vacuum
dehydrators could be operated intermittently. Although they consume
more energy than either centrifuges or coalescers, the yearly energy
costs for the three methods can be considered a standoff.
Reclaimers based on gas stripping technology represent a fourth and
even more efficient water removal method. Figure 7.12 depicts one of
these lowest cost units.
