Rotating pressure vessel oxidation test: ASTM D2272, in which oil, water and a copper catalyst coil are sealed in a vessel charged with oxygen, held at 150 C and rotated until the pressure falls a set amount from its peak. The result is in minutes, and used oil is reported as a percentage of the new-oil value. Turbine programs treat about 25 percent of new as end of useful life and start planning well before that.
RPVOT's down to 28 percent of new on unit 2, schedule a bleed and feed or a full change.
Never compare RPVOT minutes across brands; judge each oil against its own new-oil value.
Also heard as
- RBOT
- bomb test
- rotating bomb
Related terms
Antioxidant
Additive that slows the chemical aging of oil by intercepting the radicals and peroxides that drive oxidation.
Turbine oil
Highly refined, lightly additized circulating oil built to last for years in steam, gas and hydro turbines.
MPC
Membrane patch colorimetry, a test that measures varnish-forming material in turbine and hydraulic oils.
Varnish
Thin, sticky, amber-to-brown deposit from degraded oil that coats valves, bearings and coolers.