Installation manual

© 2014 EcoInnovation Ltd (NZ) Page 122
11.4. Poor quality turbine install, maintenance and servicing
With a little more care and more careful attention to the detail in this manual your turbine will
last much longer between service intervals.
The pictures opposite show water stains
caused by not installing the O-ring seals on
the case/valve and then leaving the joints to
leak.
Such leaks can result in water spray/mist
that is then drawn into the casing via the
cooling system. This may result in moisture
ingress into the bearings and cause a
premature bearing failure.
This turbine had been returned to our
factory for service, but it was clear the
turbine had not been installed correctly from
new.
Examination of the bearings showed that
that bearing block had been greased but
not with sufficient quantity to reach the
bearings.
The best ways to make sure you have put
in sufficient initial grease charge is to
remove the magnetic rotor and ensure that
grease has excited through dust shields.
This turbine was sold in April 2011 and
returned for service in April 2013, so had run
for 2 years.
Failure was a due to a seized bearing that
could have easily been avoided if:
 Auto grease canisters had been fitted
after a manual charge
 Correct manual greasing had been
undertaken
 Prevention of water mist due to
missing O-ring seals
A picture of the bearings journals cut open
shows that dry bearings combined with
insufficient lubrication and a moisture rich condensation environment has resulted in the
early on-set of corrosion. This bearing would have been noisy in operation indicating there is
a problem that needs attention.