Extend Machine and Lubricant Life
   Through Contamination Control
December 8, 2005

How Clean Should New Oil Be?

"Should I specify a particle cleanliness requirement in my oil procurement contract? (We have visual inspection for contamination, but no ISO cleanliness code.) If I did specify cleanliness, would the oil distributors/suppliers bid?"

I like to see delivered cleanliness of 18/16/13 or better. If the oil is going into an application that demands superclean oil, it will still need to be prefiltered before entering the machine. The proposed cleanliness is a happy medium that gives you relatively clean oil and provides some tangible evidence that the oil has been well-handled in the logistical chain from the refinery, to the blending house, on to the distributor and finally to your facility for use.

In my experience, bulk oil deliveries must be filtered out of the tanker to achieve this goal. For drum oil deliveries, the oil should be filtered at the time of filling the drum.

The drums also play a role. In my experience, reconditioned steel drums will miss the cleanliness objective most of the time. New steel drums will miss the goal some of the time and new one-shot plastic containers will hit it most of the time, assuming proper management at the time they are filled.

Need I mention that you get what you pay for? It costs money to deliver clean oil. Filters, new steel drums and one-shot plastic drums and containers cost money - you should plan on paying a little extra. It is unfair to an oil supplier to slip this into your requirements after the contract has been negotiated. Get these issues out on the table. More on this topic.

Drew Troyer, Noria Corporation

Can Oxidation Be Filtered Out?

"Can you filter out oxidation, and if so, what is the best method? I have heard that oxidation is a permanent chemical change and cannot be filtered out."

Figuratively oxidation can be filtered, that is, it can be slowed or reduced through proactive maintenance practices (cleaner, dryer, cooler, etc.).

In reality, oxidation cannot be filtered because oxidation is a chemical aging process driven by catalysts such as high temperature, water, air, metals (in the form of wear debris and contamination) and other contaminants such as fuels and process chemicals. Therefore, minimizing the ingress of these will reduce or significantly slow the oxidation rate of the oil, resulting in longer lubricant life.

However, by-products of oxidation such as acids and fine polar insolubles can be removed by the use of advanced separation technologies such as electrostatic separators, ion-exchange resins and activated alumina. Additionally, dense absorbent depth-media (compressed cellulose, etc.) such as commonly used on by-pass and off-line filters, can be effective at removing sludge and oxide insolubles. Because oxidation is auto-catalytic, the removal of oxides can help slow further oxidation.

Once these by-products have been scavenged from the oil, the antioxidants will have likely been depleted. In many cases, the antioxidant can be reconstructed on the guidance of your lubricant supplier. A bleed and feed is sometimes recommended to refresh additives. Of course, once the oxidation process reaches a certain advanced stage, the oil's properties may be too severely impaired to continue in service. More on oxidation.

Jim Fitch, Noria Corporation


Cleaning Hydraulic Hoses

When you make a new hydraulic hose cut from a roll of bulk hose, install the new fittings and then flush the hose with a lightweight oil to wash all of the shavings out of the hose. Otherwise you will introduce rubber and metal braid shavings into the hydraulic system.

When flushing a hose with oil, make sure the flushing oil is compatible with the hydraulic fluid used and that the velocity of the flush is about twice that produced by the system's hydraulic pump. Another way to clean hydraulic hoses is to use pneumatic projectiles (sponges) that push through the hose to clean out debris.

Resources

 


Extend Machine Life
and transform your lubrication program to best practice with easy-to-use Oil Safe® containers from PdMA, authorized distributor.

 


Achieve Fluid Cleanliness as Low as 10/7/0
and prevent tar and varnish with ASL's patented Electrostatic Fluid Purification Systems.

 


See What's In Your Oil
Microscopic photos of your oil sample on every oil analysis report make interpretation quick and easy. Ask about our one-micron by-pass filters.

 


On-site high-speed purification and drying of contaminated lube systems.
Flow rates up to 5,000 gallons/hr. No downtime – we clean while you run!

Training Calendar

JANUARY 2006

Contamination Control Basics
31 Midrand, South Africa

Effective Contamination Control
24-26 Cleveland, OH

Effective Mobile Equipment Lubrication
25-27 Midrand, South Africa

Machinery Lubrication I
17-18 Hengelo, Netherlands

Machinery Lubrication II
26-27 Hengelo, Netherlands

Oil Analysis I
17-19 Point Lisas, Trinidad
24-26 Monterrey, N.L., México
24-26 Cleveland, OH

FEBRUARY 2006

Contamination Control Basics
28 Midrand, South Africa

Effective Contamination Control
22-24 Midrand, South Africa

Effective Mobile Equipment Lubrication
21-23 Quad Cities, IL

Machinery Lubrication
7-10 Point Lisas, Trinidad

Machinery Lubrication and Oil Analysis
7-8 Groningen, Netherlands

Machinery Lubrication Basics
7-8 Gdansk, Poland
20-24 Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Machinery Lubrication I
7-9 Nashville, TN
21-22 Maracaibo, Venezuela

Oil Analysis I
2-3 Midrand, South Africa
15-17 Daegu, Korea

Oil Analysis for Maintenance Professionals
22-24 Bangkok, Thailand (presented in English)

Effective Plant Reliability Management
7-8 Nashville, TN

Técnicas de Lubricación
20 Maracaibo, Venezuela

Filtration Tips is published twice a month by:
Noria Corporation, 1328 E. 43rd Court, Tulsa, OK 74105 USA. (918) 749-1400

Because results will vary widely based on a number of factors, Noria Corporation cannot warrant the results of any information within this e-mail.

© 2005 Noria Corporation

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