Sycamore Case Study
Oil life exceeded expectations in gas turbines running under high-temp conditions at Sycamore power plant
With temperatures reaching 115°F (46°C), Sycamore Cogen powers thousands of homes and businesses in the southern California desert on multiple Siemens Frame 7 gas turbines to keep the electricity flowing.
Power plant operators typically want to run a turbine oil that will last the full interval between planned maintenance shutdowns, usually between 3-5 years. The plant used an oil that broke down under high operating temperatures which caused varnish deposits in the equipment. A concept now tested that will work successfully in a similar environment in the Middle East.
As part of designing a comprehensive lubrication program, we worked closely with the plant’s maintenance team and ended draining the turbine reservoirs from the previous lubricant and filled it with Caltex GST Advantage RO 32 with VARTECH Technology Turbine Oil.
Oil service life went from barely 16,000 hours to a staggering 48,000 hours with minimum sludge and deposits throughout the turbine system, including the reservoirs, filters, solenoid valves, enclosed gears and bearings.
Many engineers and business owners see the buildup of varnish created by lubricant oxidation and degradation as an inevitable and major concern for power generation companies. It can cause gas regulation valves to stick and impair oil cooler performance which may result in serious operational issues or even shutdowns or failures.
- Varnish over time can cause a degrading of performance
- Inability to provide on time power
- Impact financial success and safe operations
That’s where VARTECH Technology comes in. GST Advantage RO turbine oil has exceptional thermal and oxidative stability. It is suitable for use in gas and steam turbines where extreme temperatures are experienced and require circulation systems with exceptional high temperature stability. The Low Varnish Potential ensures varnish formation are minimized to protect the equipment with minimal deposit formation. It also provides outstanding rust and corrosion protection.
GST Advantage RO meets requirements of the following specs:
- Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (erstwhile Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) MS04- MA-CL002 / MS04-MA-CL001
- General Electric GEK 121608, GEK 32568k, GEK 28143b, GEK 46506e, GEK27070, GEK 107395 including GE Frame 9HA.01 Gas turbines
- GEC Alstom NBA P5001A/ P50003A
- Solar Turbine ES9-224 Class II
- Suitable for use in Peter Brotherhood Steam Turbines
- ANSI/ AGMA 9005-E02-R&O
- ASTM D4304-Type I / Type III (for non-geared turbines)
- British Standard BS 489:1999
- DIN 51515-1 and 51515-2
- ISO 8068-L-TSA and L-TGA
- JIS K-2213 Type II
- Chinese Specification GB1120-2011 L-TGA and L-TSA (Type A and Type B)
Read more about our special EMEA product: GST Advantage RO with VARTECH™ Technology Turbine Oil for your business or contact your local Caltex Sales Center.
