When oil analysis programs fail or are abandoned by a company, it is often because no apparent benefits from the program have been realized. Samples are taken and results are received from the lab but maintenance issues are not recognized or resolved. Often, the program seems to become more involved and labor-intensive than was originally anticipated.
Rolling-element bearings are some of the most frequently used mechanical components that require a lubricant. Their application is very broad, ranging from small, non-critical knob-adjuster support bearings to large, critical wind-turbine main bearings.
Last week I had a conversation with a longtime client who’s been having a long-running battle with the manufacturer of a hydraulic machine he purchased three years ago. The machine has never performed to either my client’s satisfaction or the manufacturer’s advertised specifications.
“What are some of the most common issues in lubricating wind turbines?”
In many cases, the same types of lubrication issues occur in wind turbines that arise in similar equipment across all types of industrial environments. However, there are exceptions. Wind turbines often operate in harsh environments with extreme temperatures, challenging weather conditions and intermittent maintenance. These extreme environments demand specific gear oils that can lubricate at high or low temperatures and handle the variety of operating speeds.
Fernando Balboa has worked for Alcoa’s alumina refinery in Point Comfort, Texas, for 40 years. He has held numerous positions within the company, starting out in production for nearly 5 years before eventually becoming a general maintenance mechanic. He currently serves as a PdM lubrication oil analysis technician, working daily with eight lubrication technicians. These lube techs ensure that all the equipment has breathers, sample ports and bottom sediment and water (BS&W) bowls so the oil can be monitored in the machinery.
