Hydrocarbon Processing - June 2022 - 34

Process Optimization
should rely on technical expertise from their lubricants provider
to implement the right products and maintenance procedures
to get ahead of the next critical situation, cutting operational
costs in the long term.
In 2021, a refinery requested the author's company's assistance
in troubleshooting progressive issues with rising bearing
and oil temperatures, as well as water contamination on a critical
air blower after an unexpected oil cooler failure. At the time
the problem was reported, temperatures had risen to 227°F
(108.33°C) and were rising approximately 2°F/d. If these bearing
temperatures were not stabilized, the refinery would face
a potential unplanned shutdown (30 d-60 d outage), which
would lead to a significant cost and loss of productivity.
Through a bearing inspection, the author's company's engineering
team was able to identify the problem causing these
temperatures-contaminated oil and varnish buildup. Through
fast action and the team's recommendations to implement the
proprietary oil-soluble cleaner-based technology for its varnish
dissolving properties, the refinery was able to identify the root
cause of bearing temperature escalation and oil contamination,
stabilize temperatures to avoid costly refinery shutdown and
maximize productivity. By avoiding this shutdown, the refinery
was able to enhance safety, while avoiding costly workforce and
equipment costs, saving the company nearly $8.3 MM.
The proprietary oil-soluble cleaner can not only be added
to systems suffering from reliability problems, but can also be
deployed proactively to minimize varnish deposits and increase
OPTIMIZE PROCESSING PERFORMANCE WITH
reliability. Its unique chemistry provides a long-term solution
to deposit formation, even in thermally stressful applications.
Marrying tailored solutions with technical expertise. As
the industry continues to evolve with new technologies to maximize
efficiency, operators must find tailored solutions that will
address issues specific to their operation rather than incorporating
a one-size-fits-all solution. No matter how effective, the
latest technology innovation is not the answer to all operational
problems. Partnering with technical experts that will advise on
the right solution for an operator's unique goals is equally important
as the most advanced product solution.
For example, the author's company's engineering team and
its integrated services partners make personalized recommendations
for companies on what actions should be taken to get
them the best results in the most efficient way.
Partnering with technical experts can also help operators
find a solution tailored to their needs, rather than adopt a quick
blanket fix. For example, while oil-soluble cleaners can be
somewhat effective for common issues, there are many scenarios
where an issue needs a more in-depth cleaning solution, with
the bonus of extended oil service life. Therefore, implementing
advanced cleaner technology must be coupled with the right
technical expertise so operators can be sure they are utilizing
the best solution for the problem at hand.
Operators should look for these custom solution plans from
their lubricants provider, weighing all options and reviewing
potential outcomes. For example, the proprietary oil-soluble
cleanera
-like any product or service-is not a one-size-fits-all
solution but rather a tailored solution for the problem a company
is facing. These experts should work diligently to properly
diagnose these issues, finding the best solution for the immediate
issue at hand, while also aiming for long-term operational
success. It is also important for a lubricants provider to leverage
partnerships with system cleaning industry leaders to allow for
a seamless integration when offering solutions.
A technical team should also use various tools to formuGAME-CHANGING
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late the proper diagnosis with solution options. For example,
the author's company created a turbine triage process to help
show customers various maintenance scenarios and where their
current issues fall. While some companies may take only one
or two oil analysis tests, the author's company's engineering
teams look at oil service hours, equipment application suffering
points, visual inspection and a comprehensive lube analysis test
slate to gain the full picture.
Ultimately, no technology or product can help reduce maintenance,
boost productivity or minimize risk. The key to finding
the right solution is to have the technical expertise behind
it, with a team that works side-by-side with operators to define
both short-term and long-term goals and find the best ways to
achieve them.
NOTES
a Mobil™ Solvancer®
b Fluitec® DECON™ technology
JIM HANNON is Mobil Industrial's turbine oil Technical Lead.
He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy
and has worked in the power and marine industries for more
than 30 yr, with more than two decades at ExxonMobil.
34 JUNE 2022 | HydrocarbonProcessing.com
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Hydrocarbon Processing - June 2022

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