Cost reduction of CHF 15,000 thanks to LubeCoach & Shell Turbo S4
The lubrication oil systems at the Safien power plant were replaced with modern systems in 2019. After commissioning, problems occurred with oil deaeration, which subsequently led to cavitation noises in the hydraulic pumps.
Client
The 200 square kilometre catchment area provides the hydropower for Kraftwerke Zervreila AG. The Zervreila reservoir forms the core of the power plant system.
Challenge
Our technicians inspected the installation on site and quickly determined that the oil was unable to release the absorbed air quickly enough, which caused the previously mentioned problems.
Solution
To address the issue of insufficient air release capability, Maagtechnic recommended a turbine oil with a lower viscosity. The previously used mineral oil from a competitor was replaced with Shell Turbo S4 GX 46, which offers excellent air release performance.
Result
The oil change resulted in significantly faster deaeration of the oil. As a result, the cavitation noise was eliminated and the oil return temperature was reduced by 8 K. Without cavitation, the service life of the pumps can be significantly extended. The lower temperature also increases oil lifetime, leading to improved efficiency. Energy required for cooling was reduced by 317,000 kWh per year, resulting in a theoretical cost saving of approximately CHF 15,000 annually.
