Phosphate Ester FRF Users
Current Guidance and Best Practices Webinar
Electrohydraulic control (EHC) systems regulate the flow of steam into and output from steam turbine generators. These critical systems employ phosphate ester-based fluids as a result of their favorable hydraulic and fire-resistant properties. Like other lubricants, phosphate esters degrade during service. To ensure the performance and reliability of critical control systems, effective fluid maintenance is, therefore, required.
To assist EHC users, OEMs and other stakeholders offer documents that summarize recommended practices. Of these, ASTM D8323 was published in 2020 and is the most recent. This Standard provides detailed guidance for phosphate ester users on many aspects of fluid maintenance including conditioning and condition monitoring.
This presentation will highlight key points from D8323 with a particular focus on more recent breakthroughs in phosphate ester analysis and maintenance that are not present in older standards and OEM documents. It is important for phosphate ester users and other stakeholders (OEMs, fluid manufacturers, oil analysis labs, filtration vendors etc.) to understand current best practices so that they can work together to ensure the performance and reliability of critical production assets.
Presenter Background: Matthew G. Hobbs is the Senior Chemist at EPT Clean Oil, where he manages research, development and the Fluid Technical Center services. As a technical expert, Matthew works with users to provide lubricant contamination solutions in critical industrial applications. Before joining EPT Clean Oil, Matthew obtained his PhD in synthetic chemistry from the University of Calgary and was the General Manager of a National oil analysis laboratory.
Matthew is also an active contributor to ASTM, recognized recently with the Award of Appreciation from ASTM International. This award recognizes the tremendous contributions Matthew has made to the Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants Committee. Of note, Matthew was a vital contributor to the updates of the following ASTM Standards:
- ASTM D4378-20: Standard Practice for In-Service Monitoring of Mineral Turbine Oils for Steam, Gas, and Combined Cycle Turbines
- ASTM D8323-21: Standard Guide for Management of In-Service Phosphate Ester-based Fluids for Steam Turbine Electro-Hydraulic Control (EHC) Systems.
