Offshore Platform Bearing Oil Cooler

Immersed circular coil oil cooler (LYJH type). Complete circular finned‑tube coil assembly, placed inside the bearing oil tank of hydro‑turbine generator. Cooling water flows internally through finned copper / cupronickel coils; hot bearing oil fills the tank and flows over external fin surface, heat transfers from oil to cooling water. No separate pressure shell. VRCOOLER supplies 1:1 replacement coil bundles per drawing or old sample for hydropower station overhaul.

Working Principle

1. The full circular finned coil bundle is fully submerged in thrust / guide bearing oil inside the oil tank.

2. Cooling circulating water passes through inside of finned tubes.

3. Hot lube oil contacts fin outer surface, heat transfers into cooling water. Cooled oil circulates within the bearing tank for thrust pad & guide shoe lubrication & cooling.

4. Heated water flows out to plant cooling water circuit.

Critical Design & Application Points

1. Immersed circular layout

Must fit inside limited circular bearing oil‑tank inner space; multiple‑loop stacked ring coil construction.

2. Anti‑vibration performance

Hydro‑generator low‑frequency vibration. Coils secured with metal straps and mounting brackets to avoid tube fatigue crack.

3. Leakage risk management

If tube leaks, cooling‑water will leak directly into bearing lube‑oil → oil emulsification, risk of burning thrust pads. Factory hydrostatic pressure test is critical. Many hydropower units install water‑leak monitoring sensor inside oil tank.

4. Fouling consideration

River cooling water: require inlet filter. Coil fins cannot be pulled out; chemical circulation cleaning is adopted for maintenance.

5. Material selection

For hydropower stations with silt‑laden river water: Cu‑Ni finned tube improves anti‑erosion & anti‑corrosion performance.