Verification of the capacity of lubricating oil cooler system of turbine bearings

Abstract The capacity to cool the lubrication oil of hydraulic turbine bearings by submerged water heat exchangers has been verified. Calculations are done for existing heat exchangers and for retrofit ones. Input data from on-site measurements was used, as well as data for the physical constants. The goal of the study was to prove that the new heat exchangers’ efficiency is not less than that of the existing heat exchangers. The method of analysis elaborated on calculation of convective heat transfer coefficient. This was done for both a forced convection and an inhibited convection setup. It was debated that only the forced convection setup was a factor affecting the difference between both designs.