ORGANIC Lube oil varnish – it’s the 800-pound gorilla in your living room you

LUBE OIL refuse to acknowledge. The question is not IF, but rather WHEN
FILTRATION
will varnish be a problem for you?
For the best
protection against Varnish forms because of lube oil degradation, largely from extreme temperatures and
contaminants PLUS the existence of oxygen in combustion turbines. Varnish buildup causes excessive
wear on parts, can lead to bearing failures, and can cause critical components – such
longer service life.
as servomechanisms – to seize. These failures are costly, not only due to the repair
expenses, but also because of the off-line lost revenue. Seaworthy Industrial Systems’
⇒ Field Proven lube oil filtration system can eliminate varnish from lube oil systems, prevent these var-
Results for over nish-induced problems, increase the life of lube oil, and do so very simply.
60 years
Varnish results in a thin film deposit often found on bearings, servo-valves, and other
⇒ 100% organic metal surfaces. The film is made up of soft insoluble material that fails to be removed
depth media of by full flow, conventional filtration.
dewaxed cotton
linters for 3 What is varnish and where does it come from?
micron control
Thanks to advancements in high temperature-resistant materials, modern combustion
⇒ Will double lube turbines are able to operate at very high firing temperatures. This, in turn, causes high
oil life when bearing compartment temperatures. As the lube oil flows into and around the bear-
used in side- ings, it becomes hot and mixes with the air in bearing compartments. Each time the
stream bypass lube oil passes through a hot bearing compartment, it oxides a little. This oxidation
filtration causes the early depletion of antioxidant additives in the oil, and eventually leads to the
formation of insolubles, which are the beginnings of varnish.
together with
OEM full flow If left in the lube oil, these insolubles will build up and eventually stick to metal sur-
faces. Since most large combustion turbines also use their lube oil system to operate
servomechanisms for fuel valves and variable vane actuators, filming can occur on
these components and cause them to stick, malfunction, and eventually result in the
engine tripping off line. Furthermore, varnish films will cause excessive wear to bear-
ings, resulting in early bearing failures and unexpected maintenance requirements.

As mentioned, oil degradation is the primary cause of varnish; however, oil degradation
itself is caused by several factors. Poor filtration will allow particulates, wear particles,
and water to build up and contaminate the oil. Oxidation, high temperatures, and mois-
ture will cause the depletion of antioxidant additives. All of these factors degrade the
oil and allow insolubles to form. Furthermore, it has been found that wear debris –
especially of the sub-micron size – act as catalyst sites for insolubles and varnish for-
mation.

How can you control varnish?

Since varnish is composed of insolubles that are soft and have no definite shape, they
literally squeeze through conventional filters – such as the full flow filters fitted to com-
bustion turbines – thus rendering these filters useless for varnish control. As a result,
other filtration methods must be used. Currently marketed varnish treatments range in
complexity, expense, and effectiveness. The three most prevalent methods are elec-
trostatic precipitation, edge filtration, and depth filtration.
 Heavy-Duty Rated Varnish Filtration

With electrostatic precipitation (ESP), the oil flow is subjected to a high voltage
electrical field, which imparts a charge on the particulates in the oil. The oil
flows past oppositely charged plates, which results in the particulates being
drawn towards and sticking to collectors. The process itself requires complex
and expensive components, and high voltage. Recent routine tests of lube oil
from systems utilizing ESP systems revealed premature reductions in oil life,
Our solution is which may be attributable to the use of ESP.

Edge filtration capitalizes on the absorptive and adsorptive properties of filtra-

tion media. It works by forcing oil through the edges of disk shaped filters.
very simple – Water and other materials are absorbed by the filtration media, while varnish
and other particulates become stuck to the filter through adsorption.

Depth filtration utilizes absorption and adsorption in the same manner as edge
use a unique, filters; however, since the entire filter is used, rather than just the small edges,
depth filtration has a significantly greater capacity, while also reduced chances
of clogging.

100% organic In addition to these forms of filtration, magnetic filtration should also be ad-
dressed. Magnetic filtration will not remove varnish from oil, but it will help pre-
vent its formation since metallic wear debris particles are an excellent site for
varnish and insoluble formation. Magnetic filters are typically self contained
filter to absorb units which only remove metallic particles. Often times the particles are so fine
(on the sub-micron level), that they appear as a paste-like substance, rather
than as particles.

the insolubles
What is the Seaworthy Industrial Systems’ solution?
Seaworthy Industrial Systems (SIS) provides a complete, turnkey, packaged
from the oil system to filter and extend the life of lube oil. The depth filtration elements will
capture varnish, insolubles, particulate matter, and water, while its added mag-
netic filtration will catch wear particles of all sizes. Since ferritic particles act as
catalytic sites for varnish formation, magnetic filtration can be considered the
before they bedrock of varnish prevention. At press time, Seaworthy’s varnish filtration
system is the only varnish control product on the market with the added benefit
of magnetic filtration.

can deposit The Seaworthy filtration system has no expensive components, no high voltage,
and no complexity. It has the highest flow rate and the highest varnish capacity
of any other system, and is not susceptible to clogging. The SIS configuration
uses organic, rammed depth element filters combined with magnetic filtration
and cause methods.

SIS has designed their filtration system to act in a side stream (kidney loop)
configuration. Once connected to the oil reservoir, it is turned on and left on.
problems. With only a circulation pump and a filter assembly, there is very little chance of
error, and no need for constant maintenance.

When first started, the SIS filtration system will begin to filter lube oil, ridding it
of varnish, particulates, and water. Depending upon the severity of the turbine’s
varnish condition, the now clean lube oil will begin to dilute the varnish film on
the turbine’s metal surfaces, drawing it back into the lube oil. Once again, the
SIS system will remove that varnish from the oil. This cycle will continue to “self-clean” the entire turbine lube oil
system.

For systems without varnish, or for systems that are now “clean” from the process described above, the SIS system will
ensure that varnish buildup does not occur. This is accomplished by filtering the insolubles from the oil before they
reach high enough concentrations at which varnish forms, while simultaneously using magnetic filtration to capture
wear debris which would otherwise act as a catalyst for varnish formation.

Field tests performed by a large U.S. utility company showed that in the first 20 days of operation, the Seaworthy filtra-
tion system reduced the lube oil varnish potential rating (VPR) by 24% - improving an “abnormal” varnish level to
“acceptable”. After 35 days, the VPR rating was down by 38%. The system also reduced the particulate count by
72% in 20 days of operation.

In addition to varnish control, the SIS system will help to increase lube oil life. Since the cost of an oil change is pro-
hibitively expensive for large combustion turbines (with several-thousand-gallon oil reservoirs), proper oil filtration to
prevent oil degradation is a must. Since the SIS system captures insolubles, particulates, water, and ferritic wear
debris of all sizes and shapes, oil degradation prevention is accomplished.

What’s the bottom line?

Varnish filtration and prevention is an absolute must for all combustion turbines. Seaworthy Industrial Systems’ lube oil
filter is the simplest, easiest, and most cost-effective way to rid your combustion turbine of varnish, while also protect-
ing it from future varnish problems. It will prevent costly trips off line due to varnish-related seizures, while prolonging
the life of your turbine’s lube oil.

For more information, please contact:

sales@seaworthysys.com
(860) 767-3095

Heavy-Duty Rated Absorption Filtration Features

♦ Prevention of varnish and sludge formation

♦ Removal of oxidation insolubles & biological contamination
♦ Removal of ferrous and non-ferrous contamination
♦ Efficient and highly effective water removal
♦ Highest flow rate in the industry
♦ Highest varnish-holding capacity

22 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT 06409 U.S.A.

(860) 767-3095 www.seaworthysys.com