Turbine Oil Coalescing Filter: Maximizing Reliability in Power Generation
The Turbine Oil Coalescing Filter by Lefilter is a precision-engineered solution designed to remove damaging water and fine particulates from the lubricating oil of gas and steam turbines. Water ingress is a leading cause of oil degradation, bearing corrosion, and potential turbine trip. Our coalescing filters actively purify the oil, safeguarding critical assets, extending oil life, and ensuring uninterrupted power generation.
Protecting Your Most Valuable Assets
Turbine lube oil must remain clean and dry to ensure proper bearing lubrication, heat transfer, and control system function. Water contamination, whether from condensation or seal leakage, leads to:
Hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion of bearings and gears.
Accelerated oil oxidation and varnish formation.
Reduced lubricity, increasing wear.
Lefilter's coalescing filter provides continuous, online purification to maintain oil within optimal specifications.
Operation: Continuous Side-Stream Purification
Our system typically operates in a bypass loop, continuously cleaning a portion of the oil from the main reservoir:
Oil Ingress & Coalescence: Oil is drawn from the reservoir and pumped through a hydrophilic coalescer element. This media attracts and captures emulsified and free water droplets, forcing them to merge into large drops.
Separation & Water Removal: The enlarged water droplets settle by gravity in a quiet separation chamber. The separated water is automatically drained.
Particle Filtration & Oil Return: The dewatered oil simultaneously passes through a particulate filtration stage before returning, clean and dry, to the reservoir. This continuous cycle progressively cleans the entire oil volume.
Why Specify Lefilter?
High Water Removal Efficiency: Rapidly reduces water content to <100 ppm (0.01%), protecting against corrosion and preserving oil additives.
Dual Functionality: Integrates coalescence with fine particulate filtration (often to 3 or 6 microns) in one unit.
Built for Critical Duty: Designed for the high temperatures and reliability demands of turbine systems. Compatible with mineral and synthetic turbine oils, including phosphate esters (fire-resistant fluids).
Protects Turbine Warranty: Helps maintain oil condition as required by OEM specifications, supporting warranty compliance.
Reduces Total Cost of Ownership: Extends oil and filter change intervals, prevents catastrophic bearing failures, and maximizes turbine availability.
Technical Specifications
Parameter | Lefilter Specification |
|---|
Primary Function | Removal of Free/Emulsified Water & Particles from Turbine Oil |
Water Reduction | Achieves effluent typically < 100 ppm free water |
Particulate Rating | Down to 3 or 6 microns (absolute) |
Bypass Flow Rate | Typical range: 1 to 20 GPM (customizable) |
Design Pressure | Up to 150 PSIG |
Construction | Carbon steel or stainless steel. Compatible seals (Nitrile, Viton, EPDM). |
Controls | Integrated pump, motor, and automatic water drain. |
Applications
Gas Turbine (Heavy-duty & Aeroderivative) Lube Oil Systems
Steam Turbine Governor & Bearing Oil Systems
Combined Cycle Power Plant Lubrication
Large Compressor Lube Oil Systems
FAQ
Q: Can it remove dissolved water?
A: No. Coalescers remove free and emulsified water. For dissolved water removal, a vacuum dehydration system is required, which can be paired with our coalescer.
Q: Is it suitable for phosphate ester (FRF) fluids?
A: Yes. We offer special configurations with Viton seals and compatible media specifically for fire-resistant fluids like Fyrquel® or Skydrol®.
Q: How is it integrated into an existing system?
A: It is easily plumbed into a side-stream (kidney loop) connection on the main oil reservoir, operating independently of the main filtration system.
