Fire-Resistant Fluids for General Hydraulic and Steam Turbine Systems
Major items of C.E.G.B. power plant are now being designed to operate at high steam temperatures and hydraulic pressures. In consequence, the risk of fires due to leaking petroleum lubricants is increasing. Suitable fire-resistant (f.r.) fluids are therefore desirable. Some of these have, however, given rise to difficulties in service due to changes in their physical and chemical properties. The physical properties of non-aqueous synthetic f.r. fluids (i.e. phosphate esters and chlorinated diphenyls) have been surveyed, and their chemical stability and anti-corrosion properties determined. Whilst the physical properties of the phosphate esters are better than those of the chlorinated diphenyls the chemical stability and corrosion properties are much worse.