It’s no secret that rotating equipment in power plants and refineries continues to get larger in order to generate more power or process more fluid. To keep those systems clean, larger and more powerful flushing equipment and processes are necessary. Oil flushing is a tried and true cleaning method for these systems.
What is Oil Flushing?
Small contaminants like dirt, sand and oil residue build up over time, threatening to clog, damage or shorten the lifespan of equipment. Contamination can be introduced into a lube oil system in several ways: during manufacturing, transport, and installation at the project site. In fact, 86% of lubrication professionals say particle ingression has caused problems for their plant’s rotating equipment. Oil flushing is one is one cleaning method used to sweep away those small particles and reduce the threat, hopefully increasing the lifespan of a machine or system.
Why is Oil Flushing Important?
Oil flushing should always be performed on newly installed equipment to ensure trouble-free start-up. Ignoring the need for a properly designed flush could have costly consequences down the line and require significant costs for repairs that could have been avoided. Ensuring these systems are effectively cleaned is imperative for long-term project success and product longevity.
B&W Energy Services uses specialized equipment to perform high-velocity turbulent flushing and filtration of lube oil and control oil systems, commonly found on critical rotating equipment.
First, we evaluate the entire system to be flushed clean. Our team then develops a detailed cleaning plan, incorporating all design input, as well as client, owner and vendor specifications and guidelines into our engineered procedure. Our detailed engineering package will cover all aspects of the flushing program. From there, we perform incompressible fluid modeling to confirm design flow rates and velocities will be achieved during fluid circulation, as well as ensure proper temporary equipment sizing and ratings.
Once the plan is in place, our team of experienced field supervisors and specialized equipment will mobilize to the site. B&W’s high-velocity flushing skids are designed in-house with integrated pumping, filtration and heating components into a minimum footprint setup. Our process stands out from the rest because we view the project at a high level, ensuring every detail is accounted for.
See Oil Flushing In Action
For an example of B&W’s oil flushing service in action, take a look at our work in Kuwait. Between three major refinery projects, we completed more than 100 lube oil flushes of all types of systems. Click below to learn more about those projects:
We’ve been doing this for years, and we don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. As your systems grow and change, so do our processes—but no matter what, you can count on an efficient, effective and quality clean every time you choose B&W Energy Services. To learn more about our oil flushing process or additional services, contact us today!