Relation between Color of Membrane Patches and Oxidation Processes of Non-Additive Mineral Oil for the Turbine

Abstract

Lubricating oils have been used to various mechanics, but the performance of the machine degrades when lubricating oils are deteriorated. In recent years, oxidation degradation of the turbine basis oil becomes a serious problem in the combined cycle power plant. This problem is caused by varnish that is produced oxidation products. Therefore, it is important to detect a sign of oxidation degradation from early stage of degradation. Authors have developed new deterioration diagnosis method for lubricating oils by the colorimetric analysis of membrane patches. In the previous study, we investigated the relation between oxidation process of the turbine oils with additives and change of color of membrane patches. But, it is important to understand the hydrocarbon oxidation process because lubricating oils is mainly composed of hydrocarbon. In this study, the influence of oxidation process of hydrocarbon on the color of membrane patches was investigated. And we investigated the influence of hydroperoxide on the color of membrane patches. As a result, the color of membrane patches became to brown color as oxidation of hydrocarbon. And color parameters of the membrane patch increased with increasing hydroperoxide number.