GE Energy

LM2500+ G4 Operation and Maintenance Manual

GENERATOR LUBE OIL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................... 2

System Description ....................................................................................................................... 3

Rev 0 LM2500+ G4 O&M Manual Page 1 of 4

 GE Energy
LM2500+ G4 Operation and Maintenance Manual
 GE Energy

LM2500+ G4 Operation and Maintenance Manual

System Description
To follow this description on the related system F&ID, refer to GE drawing 740248 “Generator
Lube Oil System”. Generator lube oil system components are located on the main turbine skid,
except for a separate fin-fan cooler skid.

The generator lube oil tank has the following instrumentation, HE-0005, LT-0001, and TE-0020.
HE-0005 is a 4KW heater. The level transmitter LT-1001 is used to indicate low oil tank level
and also acts a low-level cutoff for the heater in the event that oil level gets too low. This is done
to prevent oil coking on the elements. TE-0020 is both a low alarm and high alarm temperature
monitor and start permissive. Generator oil temperature must be above 21 Deg C (70 °F) in
order for the GTG to start smoothly. Both LT-0001 and TE-0020 are loop monitored for circuit
integrity and will issue alarm conditions if wiring or device problems exist. An air/oil separator
on the lube oil reservoir vents any gases entrained in the returning lube oil.

Three pumps, two AC motor driven pumps and one mechanically driven pump generate flow and
pressure for the lube oil system. The AC pumps are driven by 460VAC, 3-phase, 6.2 hp, 60Hz
electric motors, (MOT-1033A and MOT-1033B) and put out 50 gpm @ 1200 rpm. The AC
pumps are 100% redundant to each other and are normally automatically controlled by the
control system. The AC pumps supply oil to the generator bearings during startup, shutdown, and
in case of generator-driven pump failure.

The mechanical pump is mounted to the generator shaft behind the PMG/Exciter.
It is driven by the generator rotor shaft and supplies lube oil to the bearings at the normal
operational shaft speed (3600 rpm). Because its efficiency decreases at lower shaft speeds, the
pump must be supplemented by an auxiliary (AC) pump to ensure adequate lubricating oil flow
during startups and shutdowns.

At the discharge of each AC pump is a pressure switch (PSL-0029A for MOT-0033A and PSL-
0029B for MOT-0033B each set to 2.1 bar (30 PSIG). At the discharge of the mechanical
pump, a pressure relief valve set to 6.2 bar (90 PSIG) and a discharge pressure switch, PSL-0040
set to 1.7 bar (25 PSIG) are in place for sequencing and protection.

After the pumps, the lube oil goes through a temperature controlled valve set to 54 Deg C (130º
F), then leaves the main base and goes on to a fin-fan heat exchanger located on a separate skid.
After being cooled, the oil is returned to the main base and filtered. This dual element filter has
a transfer valve, which will allow the operator to change filters while the oil system is active.
The filter is monitored by PDT-0015 that will issue an alarm if the differential pressure in the
filter goes above 1.4 bar (20 PSID).

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 GE Energy
LM2500+ G4 Operation and Maintenance Manual

After the oil is filtered, a series of instruments regulate and monitor the oil to the generator. A
pressure relief valve set to 2.4 bar (35 PSIG) dumps oil back to the tank if its limit is exceeded.
Switches PSLL-0026 set to .83 bar (12 PSIG), along with pressure transmitter PT-0026 monitor
oil supply pressure to the generator.

RTD TE-0025 monitors temperature. A “High Generator Lube Oil Supply Temp” alarm will be
issued if temperature exceeds 71 Deg C (160 °F) and a trip will be issued if temperature exceeds
88 Deg C (190 °F).

Once oil enters the generator, a series of RTDs are used to measure bearing metal temperature
and oil discharge temperature. Drive end monitoring is afforded by TE-0021 in the bearing
metal and TE-0036 in the drain line. Non-drive end bearing metal temperature is monitored by
TE-0023 and drain temperature by TE-0035. Alarm conditions for the generator are created
when bearing metal exceeds 92 Deg C (197 °F) or when drain temperatures exceed 87 Deg C
(189 °F). The control system will issue an FSLO if the temperature in the bearing metal goes
above 95 deg C (203 °F) and an SML if the drain temperature exceeds 90 Deg C (194 °F).

After draining out of each bearing, the oil passes through sight glasses and back to the tank.

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