Cogeneration Facility Boosts Turbine Performance with Enhanced Lubricant and Fluid Management Service
Ariege Biomasse Cogeneration, situated in Saint-Paul-de-Jarrat, Ariege, France, is a biomass cogeneration plant that derives electricity and heat from locally sourced wood. The facility was commissioned in 2015.
Christophe Combeleran, site director for Ariege Biomasse Cogeneration, explained, “We currently generate 4 megawatt-hours of electricity via the turbine, and we draw off our hot water, which is used to produce wood pellets, the Pepite brand. We belong to the Monnet-Seve group, which is a national sawmill. On this site, we operate a sawmill, which frees up related resources and allows us to run both cogeneration via our bark and granulation via sawdust and chips.”
In a significant development in 2023, Ariege Biomasse Cogeneration initiated a partnership with TotalEnergies Lubrifiants to optimize the maintenance of its turbine. TotalEnergies Lubrifiants supplied its advanced Preslia Evo lubricant and offered the Fluid Management service.
Preslia Evo, a high-performance lubricant, is specifically tailored for steam, gas, and combined cycle turbines, as well as turbo compressors. It has been formulated to preserve turbine cleanliness, prolong lubricant lifespan, and enhance turbine reliability and protection.
“Preslia Evo developed in response to a specific need of the world’s leading turbine manufacturers,” said Isabelle Pauly-Toscano, technical and commercial manager with TotalEnergies Lubrifiants. “They wanted a specific lubricant capable of coping with recurring problems of varnish deposition. Thanks to a specific formulation of Preslia Evo, we keep the turbine clean. Lubricant life is extended through improved resistance to oxidation, improving reliability and protection of the turbine, while reducing the carbon footprint.”
“Fluid Management is a service associated to the sales of our products. It is based on several stages,” said Max Jegic, head of Fluid Management Services with TotalEnergies Lubrifiants. Fluid Management service encompasses an on-site audit, the development and presentation of technical and commercial proposals, a risk analysis, service supervision by TotalEnergies Lubrifiants’ operational teams, and the creation of a comprehensive work report.
Since the introduction of Preslia Evo and the Fluid Management service (Figure 1), Ariege Biomasse Cogeneration has witnessed a notable improvement in turbine performance and reliability. However, it’s worth noting that this evaluation is based on just a few months of product implementation, and longer-term benefits may continue to emerge.
 |
|
1. Fluid Management service encompasses an on-site audit, the development and presentation of technical and commercial proposals, a risk analysis, service supervision by TotalEnergies Lubrifiants’ operational teams, and the creation of a comprehensive work report. Courtesy: TotalEnergies Lubrifiants |
Ariege Biomasse Cogeneration stands as one of the pioneering biomass cogeneration plants in France to adopt Preslia Evo and the Fluid Management solution from TotalEnergies Lubrifiants. This partnership serves as a testament to the potential of TotalEnergies Lubrifiants’ technologies in enhancing the performance and reliability of biomass combustion turbines.
“The good thing about your service is that you feel totally supported,” Combeleran said. This collaboration underscores the commitment of Ariege Biomasse Cogeneration and TotalEnergies Lubrifiants to advance the efficiency and sustainability of biomass cogeneration in France, emphasizing the pivotal role of cutting-edge lubricants and fluid management services in achieving these objectives.
—This article was sourced from TotalEnergies Lubrifiants. TotalEnergies international group is a global multi-energies company.