Choosing the Right Turbine Oil Filtration Solution: Hire, Rotate, or Permanently Install?

In today’s power plant and oil and gas industries, effective turbine oil filtration is critical for maintaining reliability and extending asset life. With options to hire, buy and rotate, or permanently install filtration solutions, choosing the best approach can be challenging. Here, I’ll break down the benefits, limitations, and suitability of each option to help you make an informed decision for your unique needs.

1. Hiring a Filtration Unit: The Flexible, Short-Term Solution

Hiring a filtration unit allows facilities to address turbine oil issues quickly, with costs generally ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 monthly. This approach is often ideal for plants experiencing temporary oil quality issues or those that require immediate, short-term support.

Benefits:

- Immediate Availability: Units can typically be brought on-site and operational quickly.

- Lower Upfront Costs: Ideal for facilities without significant budget allocations for long-term filtration.

- No Maintenance: Rental units often include maintenance and technical support.

Drawbacks:

- Accumulating Costs: Monthly fees can add up, becoming cost-prohibitive over time.

- Reactive, Not Proactive: Frequent short-term fixes can mask underlying issues, delaying necessary long-term improvements.

Best For: Facilities experiencing unexpected contamination that need an immediate, temporary solution.

2. Buying a Filtration Unit and Rotating It: The Flexible Investment

For plants aiming to balance cost with operational flexibility, purchasing a filtration unit and rotating it among turbines as needed can offer a middle ground. This approach can allow facilities to prioritize which turbines need filtration, addressing concerns as they arise.

Benefits:

- Cost Savings Over Time: Avoiding monthly rental fees can result in cost savings, especially in high-utilization scenarios.

- Asset Ownership: Purchasing a unit means an owned, reliable asset, with fewer concerns about availability.

- Flexible Application: The unit can be moved between turbines, addressing contamination only where needed.

Drawbacks:

- Logistical Complexity: Moving and re-installing a unit between turbines can introduce downtime and logistical challenges.

- Wear and Maintenance: Ownership comes with responsibility for ongoing maintenance, parts, and repairs.

Best For: Facilities with multiple turbines where contamination is intermittent and doesn’t affect every turbine simultaneously.

3. Permanent Lubricant Chemistry Management Solution: The Comprehensive, Long-Term Strategy

For facilities with a proactive focus on reliability and asset life extension, installing a permanent Lubricant Chemistry Management solution represents a significant long-term investment. This solution is ideal for plants with high operational demands where consistent oil quality is crucial.

Benefits:

- Continuous Protection: Permanently installed systems ensure 24/7 monitoring and management of lubricant quality.

- Preventive and Predictive: With ongoing filtration, potential issues can be mitigated before they lead to costly repairs or downtime.

- Operational Efficiency: Automated and continuous operation reduces the need for manual intervention, enabling teams to focus on other critical tasks.

Best For: Facilities prioritizing long-term reliability, proactive asset management, and minimal downtime across their entire operation.

Recommendation

Choosing the right filtration approach depends on each facility’s unique operational goals, budget, and maintenance philosophy:

- Short-Term, Budget-Conscious: Hiring is effective for quick fixes and short-term needs.

- Balanced Approach: Buying and rotating is beneficial for balancing costs with intermittent needs.

- Long-Term Asset Management: Permanent installation is the best choice for facilities seeking comprehensive, consistent control over oil quality.

By selecting the best solution based on specific requirements, facilities can optimize their oil management, maintain reliability, and maximize the lifespan of their assets. If you’re weighing options for your plant, I’m here to provide insight and guidance to make this decision a strategic one for your operation.

Read Below for more information:

• In The Middle Episode 19: Is it ok to rotate an SVR? amongst several units?
• https://cleanoil.com/full-time-lubricant-chemistry-management-svr/