Engine Oil Discussion
Actually it could be.
I was actually referring to a steam powered turbine generator at a power plant. All turbine generator units on the commercial side and I'm sure military as well will use oil conditioners (several brands out there, Bowser is common) to filter and evacuate moisture using a vacuum pump, in addition to heat exchangers to cool the oil. Lube oil samples are taken on a regular basis, typically monthly and sent for analysis. We had a chemistry department that did this internally. The chemist will check the oil for potential to break down using what is known as a rotating bomb test, in which it is heated above normal operating temperatures and the amount of time it takes to degrade is then used to determine future life. Additive levels are also measured and they will from time to time recommend the addition of certain additives because filtration will remove certain additives believe it or not. In addition they will also do a spectrum analysis to determine wear materials in the oil. But every major unit like this will operate on the original oil for decades and decades unless something major happens to cause it to break down...which is usually high temperature.
When our company first purchased their spectrum analysis machine, the very first sample they put in it was late in the afternoon on a Friday. It was showing VERY high iron content and being the first time they used it, they were not sure if they were using it properly or not. The sample was on a hydro-electric turbine which was fairly low output so the risk of shutting it down financially was relatively low as opposed to shutting down say a nuclear or coal unit and being wrong. So, they called the hydro department and recommended they shut the unit down immediately. Turned out there was a bad bearing and the maintenance department estimated they would have come back on monday to a catastrophic failure.
