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Month: March 2021

The Key Benefits Of Turbine Oil

Posted on by Rathish

Armor Lubricants

Turbines are used in a wide range of different situations and come in a number of different types. There are natural gas turbines, steam turbines, hydroelectric turbines, and more. While they are all designed for different needs and uses, they have one thing in common – the need for the right turbine oil. Of course, it’s important to understand the key benefits that turbine oil can provide for your application.

formation of sludge and varnish

Sludge And Varnish Reduction

One of the most important benefits you’ll find with a quality turbine oil formulation is that it can reduce the formation of sludge and varnish within the system. Varnish in particular can be very damaging. It forms under high operating temperatures and is found on vital surfaces.

It begins as a thin, soft film, but gradually hardens into a coating that cannot be removed without a great deal of time and effort. This coating affects heat transfer, traps particulates, and creates significant wear. It can also cause sticking valves and can damage bearings, as well.

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    moving parts cleaning

    Cleaning

    The right turbine oil will not only prevent the formation of sludge and varnish but will keep moving parts clean and in optimal condition. That has an effect on run time, efficiency, energy consumption, and productivity. The cleaner a turbine’s parts are, the smoother the entire system will operate.

    Filter Clogging/Plugging

    A turbine will have at least one filter that’s responsible for trapping particulates and keeping them away from delicate surfaces. The right turbine oil will help improve filter operation and prevent filter plugging, further improving system efficiency and extending its use life, as well.

    Right turbine oil experience less downtime

    Decreased Downtime

    How much time do you lose due to turbine maintenance and repairs? Even a small amount of downtime can have huge ramifications for the organization depending on the type of turbine and your industry. However, regardless of the type of system in question, downtime represents lost profits and missed opportunities. With the best turbine oil, you’ll experience less downtime for repairs, as well as for maintenance, such as oil changes. High-quality turbine oil formulations can last longer within the turbine, ensuring you can go longer between fluid changes.

    Reduced Disposal Costs

    As mentioned above, the best turbine oil can extend the time between maintenance services. This does more than just keep your turbines running for longer periods and cut out downtime. It also reduces the costs you’ll incur to dispose of used oil. Because you’re using the oil for longer periods, you have fewer disposal charges. Not only is that good for your bottom line, but it also greens up your image, as it reduces waste, as well as the demand for raw materials.

    In Conclusion

    Ultimately, turbine oil delivers a wide range of critical benefits for businesses. However, it’s essential that you choose the right industrial lubricant brands product. Considerations include the pour point, flash point, viscosity, application rating, and TOST life of the oil. A high-quality product from a forward-thinking industrial lubricants manufacturers and turbine oil supplier can help your organization decrease downtime, improve productivity, cut costs, and extend the use life of your machinery.

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      A Closer Look At Base Oil Groups And Their Applications

      Posted on by Rathish
      five base oil groups and API base oil

      It’s tempting to think that all oils are essentially the same. They might be more viscous depending on the application they’re intended for, but underneath it all, they’re really just plain old oil, right? Actually, that’s only partially right. In order to make informed decisions regarding machinery and vehicle maintenance, it’s important to understand the five base oil groups and API base oil definitions.

      The Base Oil Groups

      There are actually five base oil groups today. The first three are focused solely on refined petroleum products. That is, all the oils that fall within those three categories began their life as crude oil and were refined from that point. The fourth group consists of synthetic oils developed in a laboratory rather than from crude oil. The fifth and final group contains any oil that is not derived from petroleum and is not synthetic

      Group I – Oils

      in this group contain greater than 0.03% sulfur and fall between 80 and 120 on the viscosity index. They are also usually under 90% saturates. These oils can perform in temperatures from 32 degrees F to 150 degrees F and are solvent-refined, making them the most affordable options on the market.

      Group 1 Mineral Base Oil
      Group II Synthetic Base Oil

      Group II – Oils

      are almost identical to Group I oils with the exception of their manufacturing process. These products are manufactured through hydrocracking, which makes them more expensive than Group I products. They also feature improved antioxidation properties and are clearer in color. Note that there is also a sub-type here called Group II Plus, which is comprised of products that deliver a higher viscosity rating (around 115).

      Group III

      These oils differ from the previous two groups in several ways. One of those is that they fall above 120 on the viscosity index. They are also severely hydrocracked and are considered significantly purer than the lower-rated oils. In some cases, they are called synthesized hydrocarbons, despite the fact that they are refined from crude oil.

      Armor Lubricants
      Group 1V fully synthetic oil made from polyalphaolefins,

      Group IV

      This group of oils is fully synthetic and made from polyalphaolefins, or PAOs. While more costly than Group I, II, or III oils, these products delivers superior heat resistance, lifespan, protection, and other key benefits, which is one reason that they are becoming much more commonly used today in applications ranging from consumer vehicle engines to plant manufacturing equipment.

      Group V

      These oils include a wide range of products not found in other categories, including bio lubes and silicone to name just two. They are rarely used on their own in an application. Instead, they are combined with other oils to deliver important properties, such as improved heat resistance, antioxidation capabilities, and the like.

      Performance

      Today, Group II base oils are the most frequently used in plant and manufacturing settings, while Group IV is the most commonly used with new automobiles. Group I products are falling out of favor, while Group III remains limited in use due to the cost. The right base oil is essential for performance, emissions reductions, machinery lifespan, and other key qualities, and the right lubricants manufacturer can help ensure that you choose the best base oil for your needs.

      Essential base oil performance

      A Brief History Of The American Petroleum Institute (API)

      Posted on by Rathish

      Founded in 1919, the American Petroleum Institute, better known as API, is the largest trade association in the United States focused on the oil and natural gas industry. It represents close to 700 different corporations throughout the industry and was formed with the purpose of influencing public policy to support and grow this segment both in the US and around the world.

      The Early Years

      The American Petroleum Institute was founded in New York City in 1919, almost 80 years after oil was first discovered in the state of Pennsylvania. The stated goals of the organization at the time were to “afford a means of cooperation with the government”, “to foster foreign and domestic trade in American petroleum products”, “to promote in general the interests of the petroleum industry”, and “to promote the mutual improvement of its [API’s] members and the study of the arts and sciences connected with the oil and natural gas industry”. Those remain at the core of the organization today.

      Petroleum industry

      API Standardization

      Perhaps the single most important thing that American Petroleum Institute has done is to foster standardization for oil production, formulation, and packaging in the US. However, due to the scale of the US industry, this standardization has also spread around the world. According to the API’s website, “American Petroleum Institute has developed more than 700 standards to enhance operational safety, environmental protection, and sustainability across the industry, especially trough these standards being adopted globally”.

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      700 API standards for environmental protection

      One of the most critical standards set by the organization is the standard for energy conservation of motor oil. The current standard at the time of this writing is API SN, which supersedes the previous standard, API SM. This standard applies to engine oils used in any application where there is a spark-ignited engine (internal combustion engine, or ICE).

      Other important standards set by the American Petroleum Institute include oil drilling and production standards. These include everything from pipe size to threading type and size and more. This effort stemmed from drilling delays and production shortages during WWI due to a lack of uniformity in pipe sizes and couplings, which made it challenging to drill and pump continually without leaks, spills, and breakdowns.

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      Energy API Certification

      Because of the influence and importance of the API around the world, many people recognize adherence to the organization’s standards and specifications as hallmarks of quality and performance when it comes to petroleum-based products. Energy API certification is granted only to products that meet these stringent requirements. At Armor Lubricants, we’re proud to offer a wide range of API-certified products, including transmission fluid and engine oil that meet or even exceed API specifications and requirements.

      API Today

      Today, the American Petroleum Institute has moved its headquarters to Washington D.C., in order to better position itself to lobby government and exert influence over the oil and natural gas industry. It remains one of the largest trade associations in the US and the world and continues to set policy and standards that reach around the world.