What is brown slimy residue on the walls of the buffer air seal housng 2

[MachEng]

When replacing the Buffer air seals on a solar gas compressor it was noted that there was some contamination on the seal housing walls of the compressor on the coupling side seal.It was light brown slimy residue in appearance and texture.

This compressor was contaminated with water soon after commissioning in January. The water was removed and the oil has never been contaminated since.

The contamination could be removed with a cleaning pad and appears not to have actually attacked the metal housings.

This problem does not exist on the sister compressor.

1. Has anyone seen this in their experience?
2. How did this contamination form and what could cause it?
3. Does this contamination indicate that there may be more serious condition that is being overlooked?
4. Should we be concerned about the gas turbine driver as it shares the same lube oil reservoir?


DANIEL C. SMAISTRLA
judasmai@optusnet.com.au

Equipment: Centrifugal Pumps and compressors; Steam and Gas Turbines; Reciprocation Engines and
Compressors

Specialties: Machinery diagnostics, design application of compressors, FEED,Detail Design,construction,commissioning and maintenance.

 

[BigInch]

Sounds very much like some bacteria came in with the water and you're now feeding the stuff. Check the lube oil tank for bacteria presense.

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"Pumping accounts for 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25-50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities."-DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[quark]

Google Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC) and you will get plenty of hits. I observed it in many places, particularly chilled water lines, and once the entire 1" pipe was plugged.