Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) in Turbine Oils: © 2015 Exxon Mobil Corporation. All Rights Reserve
Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) in Turbine Oils: © 2015 Exxon Mobil Corporation. All Rights Reserve
Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) in Turbine Oils: © 2015 Exxon Mobil Corporation. All Rights Reserve
Electro-Static Discharge
(ESD) in Turbine Oils
© 2015 Exxon Mobil Corporation. All rights reserve
Conclusions
ESD - Hydrocarbons Charging
• API RP 2003, Protection Against Ignitions Arising Out of Static, Lightning, and
Stray Currents
“Generally, liquids with conductivity greater than 50 picosiemens / meter
(pS/m) do not accumulate static charges…”
4
Base Oil and Additive Influence on Conductivity
5
ESD Test Rig
6
Low Conductive Turbine Oil Reaches 50K Service Hours
Low conductive oil (16 pS/m) in two GE Frame 7FA’s
• Both turbines with servo valve varnish issues starting at approx. 20,000
service hours using a well known API Group I turbine oil (4 pS/m)
8
High Conductive Turbine 0il - Deposits Found
High conductive oil (286 pS/m) in GE Frame 7FA
• No signs of ESD
9
Varnished Servo Valve
Proprietary Valve Varnish Rig Test to Create Varnish
Pump
Climate Servo Valve
Chamber Components
10
Valve Varnish Rig Test – No Signs of ESD
11
GE Gas Turbine Last Chance Filter - New
New Last Chance Filter
12
ESD – Our Experience
• Not seen as a leading contributor to varnish deposits
• May impact turbine oil service life with extended active ESD
• Below 70F (21C) and low micron, ungrounded filters
13
ESD – Mitigation, if needed
• System grounding (filtration system, piping, reservoir)
14
Concussions
Much is being said about ESD but full effects are not fully understood
High and low conductivity turbine oils have been rig tested to demonstrate ESD
Field and test stand experience show no correlation between ESD and varnish