GEK 32568f

Revised February 2002

GE Power Systems
Gas Turbine

Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing

Ambients Above 500 F (260 C)

These instructions do not purport to cover all details or variations in equipment nor to provide for
every possible contingency to be met in connection with installation, operation or maintenance. Should
further information be desired or should particular problems arise which are not covered sufficiently for
the purchaser’s purposes the matter should be referred to the GE Company.
© 2002 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
 Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
GEK 32568f Ambients Above 500 F (260 C)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. GENERAL...................................................................................................................................... 3

II. RECOMMENDED PHYSICAL PROPERTIES......................................................................... 3

III. LUBRICATION SYSTEM............................................................................................................ 5

IV. OPERATING TEMPERATURES................................................................................................ 5

V. CORROSION — PREVENTATIVE MATERIALS ................................................................... 6

VI. CLEANING REQUIRED AT INSTALLATION ........................................................................ 7

VII. RESPONSIBILITY OF OPERATOR.......................................................................................... 7

VIII. RESPONSIBILITY OF OIL VENDOR...................................................................................... 7

IX. MONITORING .............................................................................................................................. 7

A. Sampling .................................................................................................................................. 7

X. USE LIMITS .................................................................................................................................. 10

XI. COMMENTS.................................................................................................................................. 10
A. Oil Purifying System................................................................................................................ 10
B. Use of Additives....................................................................................................................... 11
C. Diagnostics Programs............................................................................................................... 11

XII. APPENDIX A — TEST METHOD.............................................................................................. 11

A. Discussion of Test Methods ..................................................................................................... 11

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Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
Ambients Above 500 F (260 C) GEK 32568f

I. GENERAL

These instructions contain information intended to help the purchaser of a General Electric gas turbine and
the lubricant supplier to select the proper grade and quality of lubricating oil for the turbine application.
For phosphate ester fire resistant lubricants refer to GEK 28136, "Phosphate Ester Based, Fire-Resistant
Recommendations for Gas Turbines."

These recommendations apply to General Electric’s Heavy Duty Gas Turbines only. For lubrication rec-
ommendations for equipment other than General Electric, refer to the instructions provided by the manu-
facturer of that equipment.

The successful operation of the gas turbine and its driven equipment is vitally dependent upon the lubrica-
tion system. Therefore, it is necessary that all factors contributing to correct lubrication be present and that
the entire system be maintained in good order.

The life of the apparatus depends upon a continuous supply of lubricant of proper quality, quantity, tem-
perature, and pressure.

This being the case, the life and quality of the lubricant is of prime importance to the user. Experience has
shown that certain fluid monitoring and condition maintenance is required. Hence, the following recom-
mendations are made.

II. RECOMMENDED PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

The lubricating oil intended for this service is a rust and oxidation inhibiting petroleum lubricating oil or
synthetic hydrocarbon with greater high temperature oxidation stability than conventional lubricating oils.
Operating experience has shown the antioxident of the di-tertiary butyl-para-cresol (DBPC) type is not
adequate for this service. The inhibitors must be of the non-volatile type.

A listing of recommended properties of new oil is shown in Table 1. Included with this listing is the ASTM
test method and the recommended value. The reader should refer to these methods for details of the tests.
The oil is an International Standards Organization Viscosity Grade 32 (ISO VG 32) oil. The properties
listed are rather typical of turbine lubricating oils except for the oxidation test requirements. Note that the
values in Table 1 are only recommended values. An oil that has been shown to perform successfully in the
field may still be used even if all values in Table 1 have not been satisfied.

For several years there have been investigations to decide on appropriate laboratory tests which could dis-
tinguish between fluids which gave satisfactory service in a turbine and those which did not. To date, there
has not been complete correlation between laboratory testing and field experience.

There are three methods recognized by the ASTM for determining carbon residue. They are D-524,
“Ramsbottom Carbon Residue of Petroleum Products”, D-4530, “Determination of Carbon Residue
(Micro Method)” and D-189, “Conradson Carbon Residue of Petroleum Products”. Although these
methods are similar in concept, they do not provide identical results. Each method contains a graph that
can be used to convert the results for comparison to the other methods. Although Table 1 only contains
acceptance criteria for D-524, either of the other two methods can be used instead provided the results
obtained are equivalent to the value contained in Table 1 for D-524.

Two oxidation tests are listed in Table 1. The ASTM D-943 (Oxidation Characteristics of Inhibited Steam-
Turbine Oils) minimum value must be satisfied for this service. In addition, both of the Oxidation Stability
by Rotating Bomb tests described below must be satisfied.

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 Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
GEK 32568f Ambients Above 500 F (260 C)

ASTM D-2272, Standard Test Method for Oxidation Stability of Steam Turbine Oils by Rotating Bomb,
presently shows the best correlation with service experience but it is not absolute. It has been found that
the volatility of the inhibitor can have a significant effect on the results of this test. As stated above, these
inhibitors need to be non-volatile.

The ASTM D-2272 test should be run in the normal way and a second test run on oil which has been
treated to remove volatiles. This pretreatment is done by putting the oil to be tested in a test tube 38 mm
ID× 300 mm L. (This is the same tube used for the International Harvester BT-10 oxidation test.) This tube
is immersed in a bath maintained at 250F (l21C). Clean, dry nitrogen is then bubbled through the heated
oil for 48 hours at the rate of 3 liters per hour. The treated oil is then tested per ASTM D-2272.

The value obtained in the test of the treated oil should be no less than 85% of that obtained for the untreated.

When applying a new lubricating oil it is recommended that laboratory test comparisons be made with a
known successful oil.

Table 1. Recommended Properties High Temperature Lubricating Oil for Gas Turbines (for
New Oil)

ASTM Test Method No. Test Recommended Value

D-287 Gravity (API) 29-33.5
D-1500 Color 2.0 (max.)
 
D-97 Pour Point ( F/ C) +10/-12 (max.)
D-445 Viscosity 28.8-35.2
40C (centistokes)
D-974 Neutralization No. (mg KOH/g) 0.20 (max.)
D-665 Rust prevention — B Pass
D-92 Flash point (COC) (F/C) 420/215 (min.)
D-130 Copper corrosion 1B (max.)
D-524 (or equivalent) Carbon residue ramsbottom 0.10% (max.) (or equivalent)
D-892 Foam 50/0 (max.)
50/0 (max.)
50/0 (max.)
D-943 Turbine oil oxidation test (hrs) 3,000 (min.)
D-2272 Oxidation Stability by Rotating Bomb 500 (min.)
(minutes)
D-2272 Oxidation Stability by Rotating Bomb 85% (min.) of time in
(modified) unmodified test
D-3427 Air Release 5 (max.)
D-2270 Viscosity Index (VI) 95 (min.)

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Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
Ambients Above 500 F (260 C) GEK 32568f

III. LUBRICATION SYSTEM

The lubrication system is designed to provide an ample supply of filtered lubricating oil at the proper tem-
perature and pressure for operation of the turbine and its associated equipment.

Protective devices are incorporated into those systems where it is necessary to protect the equipment against
low lube oil supply, low lube oil pressure, and high lube oil temperature. The protective devices sound a
warning or shut down the unit if any of these conditions occur.

The particular arrangement of the system, the protective devices, and the system settings are shown on
the schematic piping diagram for the specific gas turbine. Other information on the Lubrication System
is found in the service manual and includes the system’s operation, maintenance, and instructions for the
various pieces of equipment used in the system.

IV. OPERATING TEMPERATURES

Lubricating oil is exposed to a range of temperatures as it is circulated through the gas turbine. For reli-
able circulation of oil before starting, the oil temperature should be 70F (21C) to obtain the appropriate
viscosity.

The normal bearing inlet oil temperature is 130F (54C). However, because of customer requirements or
because of ambient conditions and/or coolant temperatures, the actual operating conditions may be differ-
ent.

The lubricating system cooling equipment is designed to maintain the nominal 130F (54C) bearing inlet
oil temperature when raw water is available for cooling. However, when radiator systems are involved,
the sizing is such that for the maximum recorded ambient temperature at the site, the bearing header tem-
perature may be 160F (71C). The minimum recommended oil inlet temperature is 90F (32C). The gas
turbine bearings are designed to operate satisfactorily at these inlet oil temperatures. With radiator systems,
the nominal 130F (54C) bearing header will be maintained for a high percentage of the operating time.
In special cases, other design header temperatures are used as dictated by the load devices.

Operating bearing temperature rises are discussed in appropriate sections of the service manual. Typically,
the lubricant temperature rise from inlet to drain is in the 25F to 60F (14C to 33C) range. If a reduction
gear is involved, this temperature rise may be 60F (33C).

Some gas turbines have bearings that are in an ambient of high temperature. This ambient and the sealing
air may be over 500F (260C). The bearing housing is sealed with labyrinths and airflow such that the
bearing drain spaces are at approximately atmospheric pressure. A portion of the lubricating fluid will be
mixed with a small quantity of hot air and will wash metal surfaces between the bearing housing ambient
and the oil drain temperature.

The lubricant temperature in the tank will be 25F to 40F (14C to 22C) above the bearing header. Thus,
the bulk temperature will be 155F to 200F (68C to 93C) during operation.

V. CORROSION — PREVENTATIVE MATERIALS

Manufacturing procedures provide for corrosion protection by cleaning and treating all metal surfaces
which will be in contact with the lubricating oil in the lubrication system.

The inside walls of the lubricating oil tank are processed at the factory using an oil-resistant paint.

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 Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
GEK 32568f Ambients Above 500 F (260 C)

The inner surfaces of all lubricating oil piping, bearings, hydraulic control devices, and other apparatus
whose surfaces will be in contact with the turbine lubricating oil are coated with a vapor space rust-inhibited
(VSI) lubricating oil which is used as a combination test and shipping oil.

In addition, 50 gallons of this oil is put in the reservoir at shipment and the system openings are closed.
The oil and its vapors provide corrosion protection during shipment and installation.

At installation this oil should be removed and the reservoir manually cleaned. The remaining VSI oil should
be removed with a displacement flush.

VI. CLEANING REQUIRED AT INSTALLATION

The reliable operation of controls and machine bearings is dependent upon the cleanliness of the lubricating
oil system. During manufacture, considerable care has been taken in processing, cleaning, and flushing this
system to maintain the cleanliness. Further, full flow filters are included in the system thereby filtering all
of the fluid before its use.

For assistance in flushing and cleaning, refer to ASTM Standard D 6439 “Standard Guide for Cleaning,
Flushing, and Purification of Steam, Gas, and Hydroelectric Turbine Lubrication Systems.” Most of the
General Electric Company gas turbines are package power plants that require a minimum of flushing and
cleaning at installation. This ASTM standard should be followed.

If the installation is of a non-package type requiring field pipe fabrication of intricate shapes, then complete
cleaning and flushing is required.

From this ASTM standard for a package power plant the minimum practices include the following:

1. Upon arrival of the equipment at the site, a general visual inspection should be made to become fa-
miliar with the equipment, to observe any shipment damage, and to determine that the lubrication
and control systems are sealed from contamination. Take corrective action as necessary from these
observations. It is important that the systems subject to contamination or corrosion remain sealed as
much as possible during the installation period.

2. The field interconnections of the piping must be clean at installation. This piping is of simple config-
uration to permit visual inspection and manual cleaning.

3. During the installation, any soft or hard film temporary corrosion protective material must be manu-
ally removed.

4. A displacement flush should be performed. Install and circulate the operating lubricant for a 24- to
36-hour period at a temperature of 130F to 150F (54C to 66C). The auxiliary lubricant oil pump
may be used. Remove and dispose of this displacement fluid.

5. After satisfying the above items, the reservoir should be manually cleaned. The parties involved
should be satisfied that the operating lubricant is clean and free of water and that it meets the manu-
facturer’s recommendations. The actual fill should be made through a suitable strainer, as a precaution
against the accidental ingress of solid foreign objects.

6. After filling, circulate the lubricant through the system to confirm that satisfactory flow has been
established. Also, check for system leaks.

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Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
Ambients Above 500 F (260 C) GEK 32568f

VII. RESPONSIBILITY OF OPERATOR

After the unit is installed, and prior to its initial starting, the operator should take all precautions to ensure
that:

1. The lubricating system has been thoroughly flushed and/or is clean.

2. The supply of turbine oil is ample for operation of the unit.

3. The type of oil is in accordance with this instruction.

During operation of the unit, the operator should establish a routine inspection procedure to ensure that:

1. The temperature and pressure levels of the lubrication system are within the limits specified by the
service manual and the piping schematic diagrams.

2. The oil purity is maintained by checking for water leaks, by draining tank bottoms, and by adhering
closely to the recommendations set forth by the oil vendor for sampling, purifying, and replenishing
the lube oil supply or inhibitors.

VIII. RESPONSIBILITY OF OIL VENDOR

It is generally recognized that turbine lubricating fluid should be a petroleum derivative or synthetic hydro-
carbon free from water, sediment, inorganic acids, or any material which, in the service specified, would
be injurious to the oil or the equipment. There should be no tendency toward permanent emulsification or
rapid oxidation with the formation of sludge.

The responsibility of supplying the proper oil for the lubricating system to meet this instruction rests with
the oil vendor and the turbine operator. The oil vendor is expected to make recommendations to the turbine
operator concerning compatibility with the VSI oil and operational sampling and testing. Further, he is
expected to cooperate with the manufacturer and the operator by providing the support necessary to ensure
satisfactory performance of the lubricant, such as examination of oil samples and recommendations for
corrective action, if required.

IX. MONITORING

Lubricant condition must be monitored for reliable operation of the gas turbine. ASTM Standard D-4378,
“In-Service Monitoring of Mineral Turbine Oils for Steam and Gas Turbines" provides guidance for select-
ing sampling and testing schedules. This document recommends sampling the oil after 24 hours of service
and then suggests nominal intervals depending on hours of operation.

The sampling and testing schedule should be adjusted to account for severity of service and oil condition.
ASTM Standard D-4378 provides information that can be useful in making this determination.

A. Sampling

The proper sampling techniques are important when taking lubricant samples. A sample to be repre-
sentative must be obtained either from an agitated tank or a free flowing line. The preferable sampling
method is:

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 Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
GEK 32568f Ambients Above 500 F (260 C)

Dipping from the Tank:

Lubricant fluid sample should be taken by dipping from the tank. Lubricant should be thoroughly
circulated (with one or more lube oil pumps) before the sample is taken.

Secondary sampling methods are:

Sampling from a Line:

The line should contain lubricating fluid which is free flowing and not dead-headed. For instance,
the lines in the bearing header, the active filter and active heat exchanger are free flowing; the lines
to the gauge cabinet are deadheaded. In a machine with dual filters or heat exchangers, the inactive
filters or heat exchangers do not have flowing fluid and, therefore, are not suitable sampling points.

When using a sampling line, make sure that the line has been thoroughly flushed before taking a sample.
Adequate amount of flushing will depend on sampling line dimensions, length and diameter.

Tapping from a Reservoir:

As described above, the lubricant fluid must be thoroughly agitated in the reservoir and the tap line
flushed before a sample can be taken.

A fluid sample is probably not representative if:

1. The fluid in the system is hot while the sample is cold.

2. The fluid in the system is one color or clarity in a sight glass while the sample is a different color
or clarity.

3. The viscosity of the reservoir fluid is different than the sample when both are at the same tem-
perature.

It should be noted that on occasion a sample may be requested which will not be representative. At that
time, sampling instructions, as specified by the requestor, must be followed. For example, a sample
might be taken off the top or the bottom of a tank to check for contamination. In such a case the
sampling point should be marked on the sample container.

Samples should be taken in a “suitable” container. To be “suitable” the container should be:

1. Clean. If in doubt about its cleanliness, use another container. If this is not possible, flush it out
with the fluid to be sampled.

2. Resistant to the material being sampled. For instance, the fire resistant phosphate ester fluids
and some fuels will dissolve certain plastics. This includes the liner in bottle caps. To verify the
container’s resistance, if time permits, allow the sample to sit in container and observe its effects.
Aluminum foil makes a good, resistant cap liner.

3. Appropriate for whatever handling is required. Containers with leaking tops and glass containers
improperly protected are not suitable for shipment. Note that stringent packaging requirements
must be followed if shipment is to be made by air.

4. Of sufficient size. An extensive chemical analysis, if that is why a sample is required, cannot
be done on the contents of a container that is too small. Normally one pint is sufficient unless a
larger quantity is requested.

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Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
Ambients Above 500 F (260 C) GEK 32568f

Lubricant suppliers provide sample containers which meet the above mentioned requirements. These
should be used whenever possible. If frequent samples are taken, an adequate supply of containers
should be kept.

A sample should be properly marked. Markings should include at least the following information:

Customer name

Site

Location

Turbine serial number

Turbine fired hours

Date sample taken

Type of fluid sampled

Sampling point

Samples from the initial fill should be forwarded to the lubricant supplier for extensive tests. The
amount of testing of the other samples depends upon the service and interests of the parties involved.
Sufficient tests and sample intervals are necessary to establish trends and to prevent significant lubricant
operational problems. Sharing the test results among the user, oil supplier, and the General Electric
Company Gas Turbine Division can be helpful.

Tests that are indicative of fluid condition include:

1. Viscosity — ASTM D-445, Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and the
Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity).

2. Total Acid Number — ASTM D-974, Neutralization Number by Color Indicator Titration.

3. Oxidation Life Remaining — ASTM 2272, Oxidation Stability of Steam Turbine Oils by Rotating
Bomb (RBOT).

NOTE

Some oil suppliers have alternate tests for this purpose.

4. Oxidation Inhibitor Level — Oil suppliers have methods of determining oxidation inhibitor con-
tent of in-service oils.

This information can be important on its own or when combined with the other data.

5. Water Content — The presence of water in the lubricating fluid is not indicative of decomposition.
Water can, however, promote decomposition of the lubricating oil by reacting with additives in
the oil. This reaction may also cause filter plugging. Also, the presence of water indicates a

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 Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
GEK 32568f Ambients Above 500 F (260 C)

problem with the turbine system such as a leaking heat exchanger. The source of water should be
determined and corrected.

X. USE LIMITS

The lubricant supplier will have recommended use limits. However, the General Electric Company also
has recommendations that are stated in this section. The object of the use limits is to prompt action before
turbine operational problems develop because of the condition of the oil. Oil oxidation can produce sludges,
varnishes, and light flammables that have caused fires and explosions.

Recommended use limits are given in Table 2 and discussed below.

Table 2. Recommended Use Limits

Viscosity at 40C (104F) 41 centistokes (max.)

25 centistokes (min.)
Total Acid Number 0.4 mg KOH/gm (max.)
Rotating Bomb Oxidation Test (RBOT) 25% (min.) of value for new oil

The viscosity limits provided above are consistent with the guidelines presented in ASTM D-4378. High
viscosity is most likely the result of oil oxidation. Low viscosity is probably the result of contamination
with fuel or water.

Total Acid Number is an indication of the lubricant condition. With oxidation the total acid number in-
creases. The oil should be changed before a total acid number of 0.4 mg KOH/g is reached.

The remaining oxidation life of the oil can be measured by ASTM D-2272, Oxidation Stability of Rotating
Bomb (RBOT). The RBOT values and limits vary with the various oil formulations; however, with a RBOT
of 25 percent of the oil’s initial value, its life is gone.

As stated above, the oil supplier may have other tests to determine oil conditions. These tests and any
associated limits should be included in the oil monitoring program.

With any one of these measurements out of limits, the lubricating oil needs to be changed. The steps for
such a change include draining the old oil, manually mopping out the tanks, filling and displacement flush
(see section 6), draining flush oil, manually mopping out the tank, and filling with the new charge of oil.

XI. COMMENTS

As the turbine manufacturer, the following comments are offered.

A. Oil Purifying System

External oil purification systems are not recommended. Since full-flow filtration is included in the
lubrication system, a bypass filter for dirt removal is superfluous.

Water removal systems have not normally been installed with gas turbines. Water contamination is
limited to condensation and cooler leaks. It is recommended that the cooling water pressure be below
lube fluid pressure to minimize the chance of water leakage into the lubrication system. An operating

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Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
Ambients Above 500 F (260 C) GEK 32568f

gas turbine is an excellent dehydrator. Centrifuges are not recommended because of their potential for
removing oil additives.

Clay filters are not recommended for cleaning of the inhibited turbine oils meeting these instructions.

B. Use of Additives

The customer should not incorporate any additives into the fluid except at the request of or with the
approval of the fluid supplier. This prohibition particularly refers to the use of “oiliness additives,”
“oil dopes,” preservative oils, and engine oils which have been used in the past during installation and
maintenance. If oiling the bearing is required to facilitate rolling of the shaft, the oil from the lubricant
oil tank should be used.

C. Diagnostics Programs

Diagnostic programs such as wear metal analysis, Spectrographic Oil Analysis Program (SOAP) or
others may be used as part of oil sampling and analysis. General Electric makes no recommendation
with regard to use of these programs. There are, however, several reservations. These programs are
useful only for establishing trends; a single point in time value is not meaningful. Unlike aircraft jet
engines and piston engines, there have not been and are not any studies correlating the results of these
programs with performance of a gas turbine. With the type of bearings used in a gas turbine, impending
bearing failure is most likely to be predicted by analysis of mechanical vibration.

XII. APPENDIX A — TEST METHOD

A. Discussion of Test Methods

For detailed information concerning the various test methods, please refer to the parent published doc-
uments. The discussions below will help explain these various tests and properties.

1. Viscosity

The viscosity of a fluid is its resistance to flow. Viscosity is commonly reported in stokes which
has the units of cm/sec. Centistokes (one hundredth of one stoke) are most commonly used for
convenience. The viscosity in centistokes is also called the kinematic viscosity. The absolute or
dynamic viscosity is expressed in poise (more commonly centipoise). It is the kinematic viscosity
in stokes (or centistokes) at a given temperature multiplied by the density of the fluid at this
temperature expressed in grams/cm3.

The viscosity in centistokes is determined per ASTM D-445, “Viscosity of Transparent and
Opaque Liquids (Kinematic and Dynamic Viscosities).” The viscosity is calculated from the
time required for a fixed volume of fluid at a given temperature to flow through a calibrated
glass capillary instrument using gravity flow. Centistoke viscosities can be converted to Saybolt
and vice-versa using the tables and formulas given in ASTM 2161 “Conversion of Kinematic
Viscosity to Saybolt Universal Seconds.”

2. Pour Point

The pour point is the lowest temperature at which a fluid is observed to flow. It is reported in
increments of 5F and is determined as the temperature at which fluid, contained in a tube with

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 Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
GEK 32568f Ambients Above 500 F (260 C)

an inside diameter of 30 to 33.5 mm, will not flow within five seconds of rotating the tube 90
degrees from the vertical to the horizontal position.

The pour point is reported more as a matter of information. Of practical concern in the design
of lubrication systems is the viscosity at which the lubricant fluid becomes too viscous to be
pumped. For General Electric gas turbines the viscosity should be less than 173 centistokes for
proper circulation of the fluid before starting.

3. Total Acid Number

The total acid number is the milligrams of potassium hydroxide (KOH) required to neutralize
the acidic constituents in a gram of sample. It is determined per ASTM D-974, “Neutralization
Number by Color lndicator Titration.” The total acid number (TAN) is sometimes called the neu-
tralization number (NN) or neut number and also the acid number (AN).

4. Flash and Fire Point

Flash and Fire Points are determined per ASTM D-92, “Flash and Fire Point by Cleveland Open
Cup.” Flash point is the temperature at which the fluid contained in a test cup and heated at a
constant rate will flash but not burn when a flame is passed over the cup.

Fire point is the temperature at which the fluid contained in a test cup and heated at a constant
rate will burn for at least 5 seconds when a flame is passed over the cup.

Flash and Fire Points are an indirect measure of both the volatility of the fluid and the flamma-
bility of these volatiles. Since there are more accurate ways of determining these, as an example:
distillation to determine volatiles, this test is mainly of value as a quality control test.

5. Autogenous Ignition Temperature

The autogenous ignition temperature of a fluid is the temperature of a fluid at which it will ignite
due to heat alone, that is, without a flame or other ignition source being used. It is determined
per ASTM D-2155, “Autoignition Temperature of Liquid Petroleum Products.” It consists of in-
jecting a small amount of fluid into a 200 milliliter flask at elevated temperature. The lowest
temperature at which a fire occurs within five minutes of injecting the fluid is reported.

The autogenous ignition temperature (AIT) is sometimes called spontaneous ignition temperature
(SIT). This test does not necessarily indicate ignition temperature in a “hardware” situation.

6. Oxidation Tests

The ASTM D-943, “Oxidation Characteristics of Inhibited Steam-Turbine Oils" is the traditional
oxidation test for turbine oils. In this test, a sample of oil is placed in a container of water along
with pieces of steel and copper wire that have been coiled together. The container is maintained
at a temperature of 95C (203F) and oxygen is passed through it. The test measures the time in
hours for the acidity to reach 2.0 milligrams of potassium hydroxide per gram of sample.

This test is used primarily to determine the life of the oxidation inhibitor and does not necessarily
indicate the stability of the base oil.

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Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
Ambients Above 500 F (260 C) GEK 32568f

The ASTM D-2272, “Oxidation Stability of Steam-Turbine Oils by Rotating Bomb" is an oxygen
absorption test. The test oil, water, and copper catalyst coil, contained in a covered glass container,
are placed in a bomb equipped with a pressure gauge. The bomb is charged with oxygen to a
pressure of 90 psi (620 kPa), placed in a constant temperature oil bath set at 150C, and rotated
axially at 100 rpm at an angle of 30 degrees from the horizontal. The time for the test oil to
react with a given volume of oxygen is measured, with completion of the time being indicated
by a specific drop in pressure. This test is normally used for quality control of particular new oil
formulation.

Recent work shows it to be an excellent in-service monitoring test. Some studies show it to be a
good indicator of performance.

7. Foaming Tendency

The ASTM method specifies three sequences of bubbling air through oil. First, it is done at 75F;
second, it is done with a new sample of oil at 200F; and third, the oil from the second sequence
is used but operated at 75F.

8. Rust Prevention

The rust prevention characteristics of the lubricant are determined per ASTM D-665. A mixture of
300 ml of lubricant and 30 ml of distilled water (Procedure A) is stirred while held at a temperature
of 140F. A carbon steel rod conforming to ASTM specification A108, Grade 1018, is immersed
in the oil for a period of 24 hours then examined for rust.

9. Air Release

ASTM Test Method D-3427 describes the method for determining air release properties of petro-
leum oils. Compressed air is blown through oil heated to a specified temperature. The length of
time required for the air entrained in the oil to reduce to 0.2% is recorded as the air release time.
Air release provides a measure of the oil’s performance in hydraulic systems because entrained
air can lead to sponginess.

10. Viscosity Index (VI)

Viscosity Index (VI) is an arbitrary number used to characterize the variation of kinematic vis-
cosity with temperature. A higher VI indicates a smaller decrease in kinematic viscosity with
increasing temperature.

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 Lubricating Oil Recommendations for Gas Turbines with Bearing
GEK 32568f Ambients Above 500 F (260 C)

GE Power Systems
General Electric Company
One River Road, Schenectady, NY 12345
518 • 385 • 2211 TX: 145354

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