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ISO VG 46 OIL SPECIFICATION

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Electronically approved draw. GE NuovoPignone Internal DT-'N'

ISO VG 46 OIL SPECIFICATION
FOR CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS, AXIAL
COMPRESSORS AND STEAM TURBINES
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COMM. – JOB 0801001

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2 REV. SH. 3 AXIEM Tognini F. Magni G. 09.06.2010

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TITOLO – TITLE
ISO VG 46 OIL SPECIFICATION
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INDEX

INDEX 2

OIL SPECIFICATION 3

LUBRICATING OIL RECOMMENDATION FOR TURBOCOMPRESSORS 3

1. OIL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 3

2. CHECKS OF PHYSICAL OIL CHARACTERISTICS 4

3. CHANGE OF OIL 6

4. SAMPLING 7 <1>
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ISO VG 46 OIL SPECIFICATION
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OIL SPECIFICATION

LUBRICATING OIL RECOMMENDATION FOR TURBOCOMPRESSORS

The oil selected for covering the requirements for the turbomachine and its auxiliaries shall be a
high quality oil, backed by a reputable supplier.
The oil, manufactured from refined paraffinic base oils, shall be rust, oxidation and foam
inhibited and have good demulsibility for rapid separation of water.
The responsibility of supplying the proper oil for the lubricating system rests with the oil vendor
and the machine operator.
The responsibility includes specifications for flushing, purifying, inspection and treatment of the
oil to ensure satisfactory performance of the equipment in service.

1. Oil physical characteristics

We recommend an oil having a ISO viscosity class VG 46 whose characteristics when new
are summarized below:

- Kinematic viscosity at 40°C ASTM D445 : 41.4-50.6 cSt

- Specific gravity at 15°C ASTM D1298 : equal to or greater than 0.875 kg/dm³
- Flash point in open cup ASTM D92 : equal to or greater than 215°C <1>

- Pour point ASTM D97 : equal to or less than -12°C

- Viscosity index ASTM D2270
- Rust test
(NOM-M-63-ASTM D 665-IP 135)
- Oxidation test at A.N. 2.0 mg KOH/g
(NOM-M-62-ASTM D 943-IP 157)
- Acid number (A.N.) ASTM D974
- Water separability ASTM D1401
- Foaming characteristics ml, I-II-III
- Air release at 50°C DIN 51381
: equal to or greater than 100
: pass
: greater than 3000 hours
: equal to or less than 0.08 mg KOH/g
: 40 ml - 40 ml - 0 ml (10 min)
: 450/0 - 50/0 - 450/0
: 3 minutes

When gear box is present in the machine train, the oil shall also have the following
characteristic:
<2> - Load stage (FZG according to DIN 51354): 7 as a minimum for fresh oil; a value of 4÷5
could be accepted in case of used oil
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ISO VG 46 OIL SPECIFICATION
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2. Checks of physical oil characteristics

During operation oil is subject to contamination by quantities of foreign matters such as

water, air, iron oxide or other impurities which alter its original characteristics.

It is therefore necessary that the product is periodically checked to ascertain the variation
of its physical/chemical characteristics by taking a sample from the oil system when the
machine is operating.

It is a joint responsibility of the user and the producer of the oil to establish a routine
sampling schedule and criteria for determining the limiting property values for the oil in
service.

The following is a guide to be used in setting the time intervals at which oil samples are to
be taken for analysis.

1. After the first 100 running hours

2. Every three months thereafter (approx. 2000 hours)

The checks to be carried out on the oil samples are:

a) Viscosity (cSt at 40°C) ASTM D 445

b) Neutralization number (Mg KOH/g) ASTM D 974
c) Flash point ASTM D 92
d) Water content (% by weight)
e) Contaminants content

The results of tests shall be construed and recorded so that the course of oil conditions
can be observed and occurrence of abnormal operating conditions prevented.

a) Viscosity (cSt at 40°C)

Generally oil viscosity during operation does not change much when oil refillings are
made correctly and the contaminants do not fluidify or thicken the oil.
A 10 to 15 per cent viscosity variation compared with the initial value is usually allowed
without jeopardizing correct lubrication of the machine.
The oil shall be changed when this variation is exceeded.
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ISO VG 46 OIL SPECIFICATION
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Neutralization number

The neutralization number (NN) represents the total acidity, organic acidity, + inorganic
acidity, of an oil and is expressed by the milligrams of potassium hydroxide (KOH)
required to neutralize the acidic constituents in a gram of sample.
Lubricating oils never have inorganic acidity so that the neutralization number usually
represents the organic acidity.
Oxidation of oil causes formation of acid compounds whose presence can be noted
during the normal analytical checks (the neutralization number is established during
these checks).
This alternation and the consequent increase of organic acidity generally takes place
very slowly.
As long as the increase is gradual and the acidity value is not too high there is no
reason for alarm.
However, a rapid increase of organic acidity is a sign that a strong oxidation process is
occurring and this might lead to formation of undesirable deposits.
This phenomena is influenced by many factors among which are the presence of highly
acid contaminants.
Very high acidity values can cause sludge and oil can become potentially corrosive
towards other materials; emulsion might form if water contamination occurs.
Usually the oil must be changed when the neutralization number exceeds 0.5 mgKOHg.
Oil producer shall be consulted however when acidity exceeds 0.3 mg KOH/g.

b) Flash point

This characteristics does not change during normal operation of the machine.
It is possible to use oil with a flash point lower than 215 °C, but is the value falls
<1> significantly, it is necessary to investigate the causes and intensify checks.
The oil must be changed if it is contaminated when the flash point in open cup falls
below 165°C.
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c) Water

Presence of water in the oil can be caused by condensation of the atmospheric

humidity which can enter into the oil system.
Water can form emulsion with oil thus causing troubles to the parts to be lubricated
and/or be responsible for serious corrosion.
It must therefore be removed from oil:
1. through the case discharge
2. by means of a centrifugal separator
The quantity of water in the oil shall never exceed 0.05 % by weight, it is however
desirable to keep this value below 200 p.p.m.

d) Impurities

The foreign matters which enter into the oil system can contribute to oil alteration and
must therefore be removed.
Removal of solid impurities and of water from oil is usually performed by centrifugal
separators which can be operated, at alternate intervals, as clarifier for separation of
solids and as purifier for separation of water and for the simultaneous removal of
existing solids.

3. Change of oil

The amount of oil lost to vaporization is negligible when compared with the oil quantity in
the system.
Usually, the first oil change shall be carried out after two years of operation.
Subsequently, it can proceed according to the results of the above mentioned analysis.
The system is to be drained when oil is still warm in order to avoid separation of impurities
and deposits.
Any surface, contacting the lube oil after draining, must be thoroughly cleaned.
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ISO VG 46 OIL SPECIFICATION
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4. Sampling <1>
The proper sampling techniques are important when taking lubricating samples. A sample
to be representative must be obtained either from an agitated tank or a free flowing line.
The preferable sampling method is:

Dipping From The Tank - Lubricant fluid sample should be taken by dipping from
the tank. Lubricant should be thoroughly circulated (with one or more lube oil
pumps) before the sample is taken.

Secondary sampling methods are:

Sampling From a Line - The line should contain lubricating fluid which is free
flowing and not deadheaded. For instance the lines in the bearing header, the
active filter and active heat exchanger are free flowing; the lines to the gauge
cabinet are deadheaded. In a machine with dual filters or heat exchangers, the
inactive filters or heat exchangers do not have flowing fluid.

When using a sampling line, make sure that the line has been thoroughly flushed before
taking a sample. Adequate amount of flushing will depend on sampling line dimensions,
length and diameter.

Tapping From a Reservoir - As described above, the lubricant fluid must be

thoroughly agitated in the reservoir and the tap line flushed before a sample can
be taken.

A fluid sample is probably not representative if:

 the fluid in the system is hot while the sample is cold.
 the fluid in the system is one color or clarity in a sight glass while the
sample is a different color or clarity.
 the viscosity of the reservoir fluid is different than the sample when both are
at the same temperature.

It should be noted that on occasion a sample may be requested which will not be
representative. At that time, sampling instructions, as specified by the requestor, must be
followed. For example, a sample might be taken off the top or the bottom of a tank to
check for contamination. In such a case the sampling point should be marked on the
sample container.

Samples should be taken in a "suitable" container. To be "suitable", the container should

be:
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 clean. If in doubt about its cleanliness, use another container; if this is not
possible, flush it out with the fluid to be sampled.
 resistant to the material being sampled. For instance, the fire-resistant
phosphate ester fluids and resistant to the material being sampled.
 some fuels will dissolve certain plastics. This includes the liner in bottle
caps. To verify the container's resistance, if time permits, allow the sample
to sit in container and observe its effects. Aluminium foil makes a good,
resistant cap liner.
 appropriate for whatever handling is required. Containers with leaking tops
and glass containers improperly protected are not suitable for shipment.
Note that stringent packing requirements must be followed if shipment is
to be made by air.
 of sufficient size. An extensive chemical analysis, if that is why a sample is
required, cannot be done on the contents of a container which is too small.
Normally one pint is sufficient unless a larger quantity is requested.

Lubricant suppliers provide sample containers which meet the above mentioned
requirements. These should be used whenever possible. If frequent samples are taken, an
adequate supply of containers should be kept.

A sample should be properly marked. Markings should include at least the following
information:

 customer name
 site
 location
 turbine serial number
 turbine fired hours
 date sample taken
 type of fluid sampled
 sampling point

Samples from the initial fill should be forwarded to the lubricant supplier for extensive
tests. The amount of testing of the other samples depends upon the service and interests
of the parties involved. Sufficient tests and sample intervals are necessary to establish
trends and to prevent significant lubricant operational problems. Sharing the test results
among the user, oil supplier, and the Nuovo Pignone Company Gas Turbine Division can
be helpful.
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ISO VG 46 OIL SPECIFICATION
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Tests that are indicative of fluid condition include:

a- Viscosity - ASTM D-445, Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque

Liquids (and the Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)
b- Total Acid Number - ASTM D-974, Neutralization Number by Color-
indicator Titration.
c- Oxidation Life Remaining - ASTM 2272, Oxidation Stability of Steam
Turbine Oils by Rotating Bomb (RBOT).
NOTE :Some oil suppliers have alternate tests for this purpose.
d- Oxidation Inhibitor Level - Oil suppliers have
methods " determining oxidation inhibitor content
of in-service oils. This information can be important on its own or when
combined with the other data.
e- Water Content - The presence of water in the
lubricating fluid is not indicative of decomposition. Water can, however,
promote decomposition of the lubricating oil by reacting with additives in
the oil. This reaction may also cause filter plugging. Also, the presence of
water indicates a problem with the turbine system such as a leaking heat
exchanger. The source of water should be determined and corrected.
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