Entries by Mike.Lake

What is a Confined Space?

A confined space does not necessarily mean a small, enclosed space. It could be rather large, such as a ship’s hold, a fuel tank, or a pit. One of the first defining features of a confined space is it’s large enough to allow an employee to enter and perform work. The second defining feature is […]

Don’t Kill Your Turbine on Startup

Your lube oil temperature needs to be lower at startup and shutdown than at full speed. Your turbine’s rotor does not actually ride on the surfaces of its bearings. It rides on a thin film of oil between the rotor and the bearing. At high turbine speeds the rotor hydroplanes across the oil, eliminating contact […]

Prevent Crushed Fingers

Each year, workers suffer approximately 125,000 injuries that occur when body parts get caught between two objects or entangled with machinery. These hazards are referred to as “pinch points”. If you have ever slammed your finger in a door, you can appreciate the pain associated with this common type of caught/crush injury. The physical forces […]

When a Backup Isn’t a Backup

The International Association of Engineering Insurers found that the highest frequency of steam turbine failures worldwide is due to loss of oil pressure. Most of these failures are caused by an unreliable backup system to maintain oil pressure to the bearings should the primary AC-driven lube oil pumps fail. These AC motors are powered by […]

Surviving Winter Weather

Winter is definitely here across the U.S. Here are some points on surviving the cold that you can tailor to the particular circumstances of your workplace: Winter Driving * Keep in mind that while black ice can form anywhere the temperature drops below zero, the condition is more prevalent in some parts of the country […]

High Bearing Loading

Past Turbine Tips have covered the main reasons for bearings to wipe: 1) Insufficient lube oil supply, 2) Low lube oil pressure, and 3) Water in the lube oil. Every once in a while a fourth cause appears: High bearing loading. Proper bearing loading is calculated by the elevations of the bearings, component weights and […]

An Attitude of Safety

Have you ever noticed that people who are successful in life, or are just happy, tend to have a positive attitude? And so it is with safety. Look at it this way–safety rules and procedures are written to protect you from harm. They are not written to make your work life more uncomfortable or inconvenient. […]

Prevent Bearing Failures

TGM believes that forced outages can be avoided with proper maintenance and periodic assessments performed during a short outage. Unfortunately, we see all too many examples of too few inspections and too little maintenance. Here’s an example from one of our recent projects. The picture below is a gearbox bearing on a line shaft gearbox […]

Big Problem = Hot! Hot! Hot!

The current heat wave engulfing the U.S presents big problems for all our employees. Particularly at risk are those who work in high air temperatures and/or high humidity, near radiant heat sources, and/or engage in strenuous physical activities. In other words, conditions typically found on the turbine deck. When a person works in a hot […]

Beware Exploding Sockets

Beware Exploding Sockets Hytorc® bolting heads have long been regarded as a safer alternative to hammering on a striking wrench to remove stubborn case bolts.  But even impact sockets can shatter under extreme Hytorc® pressures, sending shrapnel rocketing across the turbine deck.  These explosive failures can cause serious injury or even death. These failures can […]