The Challenge
A peaking power plant in California has an install base of 8 Wartsila 18V 20SG natural gas engines. Their previous crankcase ventilation system was undersized. The result was visible emissions into the atmosphere, condensing oil on the side of their building and the ground, and excessive back pressure in the crankcase resulting in oil leaks through the engine seals. These engines ideally operate under slight positive pressure, and the operator asked Solberg to maintain this natural pressure while eliminating the visible emissions.
The Solution
A trained Solberg representative visited the site, evaluated the current set up and performed onsite flow testing. We determined the size and type of unit that would be needed to meet the operator’s requirements. Solberg accomplished this by including a re‐circulation piping configuration to continuously maintain the natural crankcase pressure while capturing the oily emissions. This type of system is self‐balancing, does not add any additional pressure or vacuum, and does not require any adjustments. Solberg provided a total of 8 units for this project.
Solberg Products Provided