NATIONAL THERMAL POWER CORPORATION OPERATION DIVISION FORMAL DOCUMENTATION SYSTEM OPERATION GUIDANCE - OGN/OPS/MECH/017

Issue No. : 1 Date : September 1994

NON-COMPATABILITY OF TURBINE GENERATOR LUBRICATING/OILS SUPPLIED BY DIFFERENT OIL COMPANIES

Approved for Implementation by ........................................................ Director (Operation) Date :.................................... Enquiries to : Executive Director, Operation Services

NON-COMPATABILITY OF TURBINE GENERATOR LIBRICATING/CONTROL/SEALING OILS SUPPLIED BY DIFFERENT OIL COMPANIES

CONTENTS

Page No. 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 Introduction Superseded Documents Scope Requirements Review 1 1 1 1 2

Page-1 OD/OPS/MECH/017 Issue-1, Sept. 94

NON-COMPATIBILITY OF TURBINE GENERATOR LUBRICATING/CONTROL/SEALING OILS SUPPLIED BY DIFFERENT OIL COMPANIES

1.0 INTRODUCTION Individual oil companies use different base oils and additives to produce lubricants conforming with NTPC standards. Oils conforming to the same standard but from different manufacturers must not be mixed. Such mixing may result in unpredictable chemical reactions between additives and consequent degradation of the lubricant performance. An experience of the Castrol company was the formation of a gel within the oil as a result of such mixing. Should such a reaction occur within a turbine generator lubrication, control and sealing system the results could be catastrophic or atleast very difficult and expensive to rectify. Additionally, if oils from different suppliers are mixed it is unlikely that any single supplier will accept responsibility for the consequences of any degradation that may occur. Manufacturers are, however, careful to ensure that different batches of their own oils of any particular type can be mixed safely. 2.0 3.0 SUPERSEDED DOCUMENTS SCOPE All turbine generator lubricating oil systems and associated control/sealing systems using lubricant as the working fluid. 4.0 CONTROL PROCEDURES This information is intended for lubricating control and sealing systems containing large volumes of oil where for reasons of cost, stations may consider topping up systems with oil to the same specification but from a different manufacturer. Only oil of recommended grade by equipment manufacturer must be used. However, if for any reason the original grade of oil is not available for topping-up then the full charge of oil must be replaced Nil

Page - 2 OGN/OPS/MECH/017 Issue - 1 Sept. `94 with a direct alternative. Nevertheless a) b) manufacturer or, any Standard Research Laboratary such as 1) 2) 3) CSIR Lab National Test Houses. M/s IOC, Faridabad etc.,

should be approached for declaring Compatability of new oil with the existing oil, available as main bulk, filled inside the system. If it is found compatible, then only replacement can be planned. 4.1 The lubricating oil Control oil/Seal oil must only be topped-up with oil of the same type, grade and manufacturer as the original oil. If oil of the original type is not available for toping-up then the full charge must be replaced, taking care that all the original oil is removed. REVIEW The Executive Director, Operation Services, will be responsible for reviewing this document on 2-yearly basis or as necessary.

4.2

5.0