Iranian researchers have developed nanotechnology-based filters for removing varnish from turbine oil in power plants and reducing maintenance costs, managing director of Behin Palaye Sharif Company in Khorasan Razavi's Science and Technology Park said.
“Deep cellulose filters are currently used for purifying turbine oil at Ferdowsi Power Plant in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province, Shahid Rajaee Combined-Cycle Power Plant in Qazvin Province and Shazand Power Station in the central city of Arak, Markazi Province,” Amin Farzadfar was also quoted as saying by ISNA.
Drawing a parallel between the new product and old filters, Farzadfar noted that the newly-manufactured nano filters can remove particles as small as 0.4 micron whereas the old filters could only absorb particles bigger than 3 microns.
“The new filters can help extend the lifespan of turbines in power plants and reduce maintenance costs substantially,” he added.
Turbine oil is a circulating lubricant that performs tasks, including lubrication of bearings, gears and couplings, heat transfer and cooling in bearings, improved hydraulic performance and protection against rust and wear.
Varnish is caused by insoluble and sometimes organic solution particles such as adherent oxides and carbonaceous materials in the oil. As the oil temperature drops below 50°C, hard and thin brown precipitates called varnish are formed.
Varnish in the oil causes clogging of the filter, contamination of the new oil, poor heat transfer in the oil cooler, rise in the temperature of turbine bearings and resistance to recirculating oil flow and oil leakage. Filtering or preventing contaminants helps control oil quality.
The filters are available in both deep and surface types.
Deep cellulose filters are among conventional filters in turbine oil refining, which remove varnish and improve efficiency.
As existing filters are made of paper, the cellulose filter also saves paper.
