Standard wind turbine gearbox warranties generally last two to three years, and when they expire, operations and maintenance professionals become responsible for keeping the turbines running for the remainder of their service lives. Considering that the average wind turbine is expected to operate for up to 20 years, maintenance professionals are challenged to maximize equipment performance and minimize maintenance. Maintenance staffs are typically lean and must be as efficient as possible to complete the recommended maintenance in the proper intervals. Streamlined gearbox flushing and oil analysis strategies can help maintenance professionals prolong the life of a wind-turbine gearbox, minimize unscheduled repairs, and simplify maintenance procedures.

Whether triggered by new equipment installation, sudden catastrophic failure, or gradual contamination buildup, high velocity oil flushing is critical to equipment reliability. This is especially true for large, complex equipment like steam or gas turbines, compressors and stationary engines. When such an event occurs, you may need to flush your entire lube system to meet specified cleanliness levels...

Recently, enXco, an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company, had 32 of its 1.5 megawatt GE turbines converted to Mobil SHC XMP 320 synthetic gear oil. The entire Four-week conversion was executed by ExxonMobil's exclusive service provider of Integrated Lubrication Services, COT-PURITECH. A proprietary gearbox Flushing procedure, part of COT-PURITECH's Wind Turbine Lubrication Services, was performed to remove existing contamination and virtually all of the Residual oil from the gearbox and lube system, which remained from the previous synthetic lubricant used during original fill….