Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/520842
6 | May- June 2015 | www.machinerylubrication.com FROM THE FIELD JEREM Y WRIGH T | NORI A CORPOR AT ION hat do you do with your oil analysis data? Do you thumb through the results looking for outliers and act upon those? Do you look at histories and gauge expectations against current analysis? There are many ways to set up and run an oil analysis program. In this article, I'd like to suggest another way of utilizing the data to help achieve your reliability and lubrication goals. The evolution of an oil analysis program is easy to under- stand. The fi rst iteration consists of taking a sample, sending it off to the lab and receiving results. These results are looked at on a case-by-case basis and are acted upon. In this scenario, even if the "rights of oil analysis" are followed perfectly, there is still a lot of value being left on the table. The rights of oil analysis include the following: The Right Lab Some organizations use an in-house labora- tory for basic tests like viscosity, particle counts and moisture content but utilize an outside lab for exception testing. Knowing the quality of your outside lab is extremely important. Even though the reports from many labs look similar, the data and results contained within these reports can be very different. The Right Test Slate Frequently, companies enter into a relation- ship with a laboratory without really knowing what they want. They rely on the lab to steer them in the right direction regarding the tests to run. In some cases, the "standard" test slate may not capture the information needed to make the best main- tenance decisions. Therefore, it is imperative to work with your laboratory to determine your individual needs and develop the proper test slate. The Right Sampling Location It is critical that samples are taken from the proper location within a system that maximizes data density and minimizes data disturbance. The Right Frequency Several factors should be considered when determining the sampling frequency, such as the age of the equipment, the age of the lubricant, the machine's criticality, etc. The Right Procedure You must ensure that each sample is representative of the fl uid in the reser voir and not affected by outside contaminants. The right procedure must be documented so no matter who takes the sample, it comes from the same place in the same way ever y time. This is what makes the results repeatable and allows for data trending. The Right Equipment Sampling equipment should be kept in a clean environment and cleaned after each use and prior to storage. The Right Alarms and Limits The primary purpose for alarms or limits is to fi lter data so that the technologist spends his or her time managing and correcting exceptional situations instead of laboriously perusing the data trying to fi nd the exceptions. The Right Data Interpretation Strategy Having someone onsite who knows how to read an oil analysis report and the operating conditions of the equipment is extremely important. With this skill set and the right strategy, the real value of oil analysis can begin to be realized. Keep in mind that the rights of oil analysis are all equally important. No one specifi c right takes precedence over another. Each of these rights must be addressed and applied correctly. Otherwise, your time, effort and money will be wasted. O i l A n a l y s i s TRACKING the Life Cycle of YOUR LUBRICANTS W 28% of lubrication professionals do not set cleanliness targets for machine reliability, according to a recent survey at MachineryLubrication.com