Lubricants are the vital fluid of machinery. Moisture and particle contamination can easily result in machine damage and potential failure.
Condition monitoring enables issues to be identified and allows corrective action to be taken before a failure occurs, an activity that has become even more critical as oil supply falters and prices climb steadily.
To assist with condition monitoring, HYDAC has extensive range of sensors to collect and interpret data for in-depth and holistic analysis.
The sensors include pressure, flow, temperature, oil level, water, oil condition, and particle definition.
Methods for condition monitoring
Numerous methods exist for laboratory oil conditioning monitoring, a HYDAC spokesperson points out.
These methods include infrared spectroscopy (oxidation marker bands), titration for determination of the acid number, estimation of remaining antioxidant content (ruler), particle counting, and elemental analysis (ICP-AE).
Online methods for measurements of oil properties
Online methods for measurement of oil properties include viscosity, electrical properties (dielectric constant DC), relative humidity, infrared spectroscopy, and particle counting.
HYDACLab deductions
In addition, HYDACLab can determine online relative viscosity (around 20%), relative DC (around 20%), relative humidity (0-100%), and temperature (-25 to +100°C).
Measurement ranges
The spokesperson specifies that measurement ranges span temperature from -25 to +100°C; humidity from 0-100% (relative humidity); relative change in viscosity (1 to 1000) cSt; and relative change in dielectric constant (1,5,10).
Outputs include two free configurable outputs, standard outputs, switching outputs, and sequential analogue output (4-20mA) of measured oil property values and device status.
Condition assessment: electrical conductivity
In HYDAC’s HFCC laboratory almost 4000 lubricating, hydraulic and isolating fluids have been electrically characterised.
For further information, call HYDAC Australia on 1300 449 322.
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