“Water contamination in fluids causes numerous problems, including additive depletion, oil oxidation, corrosion, reduced lubricating film thickness, microbial growth and reduction of dielectric strength. These can be averted with continuous monitoring of oil water content so that timely corrective action can be implemented,” says Anton van Deventer, product manager, BMG Filtration. “The performance and reliability of hydraulic systems and lubrication are directly related to the level of pollution accepted by a machine’s mechanisms.
For the optimum efficiency of industrial processes and reduced downtime, it is critical to obtain accurate and reliable fluid cleanliness data quickly, to be able to detect abnormal contamination. Early detection of irregular fluid cleanliness means immediate action can be taken.
Hydraulic, lubricating and insulating fluids should be operated without the presence of free water and with dissolved water levels at 50% saturation, or considerably lower in the case of insulating oils. BMG’s extensive range of diagnostic equipment includes easy to operate Pall fluid cleanliness monitors for accurate and reliable assessment of system fluid cleanliness.
Pall fluid cleanliness monitors use efficient filter mesh blockage technology, where results are not affected by water, air or opaque fluids. These devices are designed for use for all fluids, including dark or cloudy fluids that are often not suitable for use with conventional automatic particle counters.
Pall fluid cleanliness monitors, which can be laboratory based or integrated into OEM equipment, are permanently installed on equipment like component test facilities, or are used as a portable device for routine condition monitoring of various fluid systems. Applications for fluid cleanliness monitors include component wash fluids, cutting fluids, aqueous solutions, coolants, water glycols, mineral and synthetic oils, hydraulic and lubricating fluids and fuels.
Other Pall diagnostic devices include water sensors used for the measurement of dissolved water content in hydraulic, lubricating and insulating fluids in all applications, including harsh and remote industrial environments. Readings are transmitted continuously to the user’s control systems as a key component in the predictive maintenance of plant and machinery.
New to BMG’s range is the Pall CB Cleanbox, which measures various characteristics of online fluid, including water content, temperature, solid contamination and the residual lifespan of the element. The Cleanbox controls and gives information in real-time to the check point. Values are measured continuously and sent to the control PC to analyse and supervise the system. High and low alarm values can be programmed for corrective action.
The aqueous pollution of fluids in an hydraulic system causes many problems, including fluid oxidation, loss of dielectric characteristics of the fluid, corrosion of the components and the diminution of the lubricating film thickness. These issues are solved by a continuous follow-up of the fluids.
An efficient contamination monitoring programme also involves control of the temperature of the fluid. The Cleanbox measures temperature levels to maintain parameters like viscosity, water saturation and physico-chemical properties.
Wear is another problem in hydraulic systems. Elementary processes are corrosion and the decomposition of the fluid – which are chemical mechanisms – and fatigue, adhesion and abrasion – which are due to mechanical wear.
To obtain a reliable oleohydraulic system, it is necessary to establish a cleanliness specification for each machine and to maintain it. The Cleanbox advises the user of the level of solid contamination in the fluid circuit in real-time and without outside intervention that could distort the measurement. Detection of a variation of the level of cleanliness alerts the user to the beginning of a failure before any other control. Appropriate corrective actions can be planned and implemented before a breakdown.
This system also monitors the lifespan of filter elements in real-time to provide a guarantee of an acceptable level of contamination. The automatic blockage indication system is programmable to different levels. The first level exposes the start of a blockage and indicates the residual life of the filter element. This enables advanced planning of machine services. The second level indicates the blockage of the filter element and the necessity of immediate intervention. All pressure differential data is saved for analysis.
For more information contact Anton van Deventer, BMG Filtration, +27 (0)11 620 1500, [email protected], www.bmgworld.net
| Tel: | +27 11 620 1500 |
| Fax: | 086 670 3337 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.bmgworld.net |
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