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WHY SYNTHETIC OIL?
FEATURE SPONSOR
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MAIN BEARING GREASE FLUSHER
A fresh day dawns on a farm building come family run hotel just outside Londonderry. It is still only six o’clock but we, along with our equipment, are in the van on a wet and windy day heading towards yet another windfarm in the area to flush a main bearing.
Our visit was prompted by reports of blackened grease and high vibration levels detected by the Romax Fleet Monitor CMS software. On arrival, the site manager informs us that wind is gusting at around 12m/s throwing the day’s work into some doubt. We sit and wait for an hour before the wind starts to die down.
THE TEAM AND EQUIPMENT
There are two of us from Romax and two supporting technicians from the home team, we discuss the work ahead, safety concerns and attend the site induction. Driving to the wind turbine the wind speed is checked again. More waiting for a break in the weather follows before lifting the equipment to the nacelle. There are 5 bags to stow, all are necessary for safe completion of the work: an endoscope, tooling, PPE, flushing rig and hoses, filters and sealed solvent containers. Lifting is the responsibility of
the home team and once completed I don my harness, climbing gloves and hardhat before commencing the 60m tower climb.
SAFETY CHECKS AND PROCEDURES
After a thorough safety check and sure that all is as it should be in the nacelle with no unforeseen hazards, we set about removing the main bearing covers to allow access to the bearing. Removal of the grease catch pan reveals further evidence of contaminated blackened grease purged from the bearing. Removing the collar bolts the immediate
area around the bearing is roughly cleaned and a grease sample taken. We attach the flushing covers and assemble the rig ready for flushing.
The supporting technician is shown how to operate the pump so the flow of solvent to the bearing is controlled. The area is prepared for operation, protective suits and respirators are donned and checked. The first plug on the cover is removed, the flushing wand inserted, I check with my colleague that he is ready on his side before giving the go ahead to the supporting technician to start the pump.
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www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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