Turbine and Generator Lube Oil and Hydraulic Start Systems

United Power Group manufactures complete oil systems for the turbine, generator, and hydraulic start applications.  Our light weight, compact oil systems are perfect for both mobile and stationary applications.

United Power’s turbine lube oil is lubricated by an internal pump and lubrication system.  United Power provides an external lube oil system to filter, cool, and de-aerate the lube oil discharged from the internal system.  The external system is fed by a scavenge pump, which is driven by the turbine accessory gearbox whenever the turbine gas generator is rotating.

Lube oil pressures and temperatures at critical points are displayed on externally mounted instruments that permit both local and remote observations.  Gauges and pressure switches in the system have been installed with a needle valve in the instrument sensing line to permit replacement and calibration without disturbing the lube oil flow.  The system piping is provided with manually operated ball valves to isolate components for repairs and maintenance.

United Power’s generator lube oil system provides pressurized lubrication to the generator bearings.  The major components of the lubrication system are as follows:

• Lube oil storage reservoir
• Generator-driven lube oil pump
• DC motor-driven auxiliary lube oil pump
• Generator lube oil heat exchanger
• Lube oil filter assembly

The generator rotor shaft directly drives this pump, mounted to the exciter end of the generator housing, and supplies lube oil to the bearings at the normal operational shaft speed.  Because its efficiency decreases at lower shaft speeds, an auxiliary pump to ensure adequate lubricating oil flow during startups and shutdowns must supplement the pump.

The auxiliary pump supplies oil to the generator bearings for the first 5 minutes of startup, during shutdowns, and in case of generator-driven pump failure.  This pump is driven by a 125VDC motor and is controlled by the turbine sequencer in the TCP.  The sequencer monitors the lube oil system pressure and generator shaft speed, and activates the auxiliary pump during generator startups, shutdowns, and any other time that the lube oil pressure drops to a low level.  An alarm sounds should the auxiliary pump activate with the generator turning at normal operating speed.

Each gauge and pressure switch is installed with a needle valve in the sensing line to permit replacement and calibration without disrupting oil flow.  Manually operated ball valves are provided to isolate components for repairs and maintenance.

The hydraulic start system turns the engine and is capable of starting it for fuel purging, water washing, and conducting maintenance.  The United Power hydraulic start system consists of a reservoir, filters, heat exchanger, charge pump and motor, cooler pump and motor, and electrically operated valve providing pressurized hydraulic fluid to the variable-displacement pump.  The United Power hydraulic start system feeds the hydraulic starter motor that turns the engine.  Two operating speeds are provided: a low speed for water washing and maintenance, and a high speed for turbine starting and fuel purging.  Engine speed can be controlled from the TCP.  Local gauges allow for monitoring of the hydraulic charge pump and main system pressures, and fluid levels.

Hydraulic fluid is stored in a stainless steel tank equipped with sight level gauge and thermometer; low-temperature switch; fluid level switch; thermostatically controlled immersion heaters; and a 200-mesh, hydraulic pump suction strainer with an integrated bypass valve.  The hydraulic starter charge pump replenishes lost fluids in the hydraulic pump case and in the main pump, closed-loop hydraulic system.