Microbe Contamination in Turbine Oil Systems

ASTM International’s committee on petroleum products, liquid fuels, and lubricants (D02) is developing a proposed standard that will provide an overview of microbial contamination in turbine oil systems.

Power generation facility managers, engineers, and operators will be the primary users of the proposed standard (WK42670).

According to ASTM International member Fred Passman, the proposed standard will give users a basic, understandable background of microbiology fundamentals and information that will help with condition monitoring and root cause analysis efforts.

“Microbes can contaminate turbine oil systems and cause various problems including accelerated turbine oil failure, premature filter plugging, and system corrosion,” says Passman, president, Biodeterioration Control Associates. “The proposed standard will explain the problems to which microbes contribute, reviews test methods that can be used to detect microbes in turbine oil systems, and provides general guidance on how to reduce microbial contamination and damage risks”