Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/108300
When Are Mineral Oils Superior to Synthetics? Lubricant Deposit Characterization It is common knowledge that synthetic lubricants have advantages over mineral oil lubricants. However, this may not always be the case. Understanding the key differences between synthetics and mineral oils can provide clues as to when each should be used in order to get the most out of your lubricant. This session will discuss the important characteristics of synthetics and mineral oils as well as how to utilize this knowledge for optimal solutions within various applications. A growing performance problem with in-service lubricants is their generation of deposits. In most cases, lubricant deposits are referred to as varnish and are thought to all be the same. In reality, deposits have a wide range of different chemistries depending upon the formulation of the lubricant, the application, the mode of degradation and interaction with contaminants. This presentation will discuss the current state of varnish deposit characterization and how this can be the root cause determination pathway. Bennett Fitch, Noria Corporation LUBRICATION EXCELLENCE OIL ANALYSIS Alternatives to Traditional Oil Testing Methods Susan Benes, ASPEX Corporation Many people are not aware of the limitations of current oil testing methods like ferrography and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry. This session will highlight these limitations and provide comparison data for existing methods and for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) testing. Attendees will learn how SEM/EDX works and how it compares to more traditional oil debris testing. FTIR Spectroscopy – A Misunderstood Lubricant Analysis Tool Dave Wooton, Wooton-Consulting Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has been used for analyzing in-service fluids for more than 30 years. Today, there are a dozen ASTM standards designed around FTIR spectral data for characterizing in-service fluids. Most in-service test programs include FTIR spectral data as part of the monitoring program. However, very few of these programs actually use this data, which is often misunderstood, misinterpreted or misused. This is due to the complexity of the data generated and the lack of proper training on the technique. This presentation will discuss how FTIR spectroscopy should be utilized, including current practices, available techniques and advanced applications. How a Proactive Fluid Analysis Program Can Save Money and Extend Equipment Life William Willis Jr., On-Site Analysis, Inc. Through the years numerous studies have documented the benefits of a conditionbased preventative maintenance program. This session will detail how a proactive fluid analysis program can actually pay for itself, generate significant operation savings and increase service-bay throughput. Case studies will be presented for truck service providers, truck fleet operators, mining operators, municipalities and industrial users demonstrating the specific advantages of fluid analysis, such as a reduction in unscheduled repairs, elimination of engine-related breakdowns and extension of the useful life of the equipment. 9 Dave Wooton, Wooton-Consulting Monitoring Cleanliness Levels in Hydraulic Systems with the Mesh Blockage Method Eric Krause, Pall Corpration Monitoring hydraulic system cleanliness levels through particulate contaminant analysis is fundamental to achieving system reliability. However, automatic particle counting using light extinction technology is sensitive to optical interference caused by conditions such as non-homogenous fluids, free water in the system and air bubbles. These conditions can yield erroneous data and result in incorrect conclusions and excessive maintenance costs. Fortunately, a mesh blockage monitor can provide significant advantages over the light extinction method. This session will explain the differences between light extinction and mesh blockage for evaluating fluid cleanliness levels in hydraulic systems, as well as how to use the mesh blockage method in field applications. Oil Analysis Case Studies: When Routine Tests are not Enough Cary Forgeron, Analysts, Inc. Many people are lured into a false sense of security when their oil analysis report tells them everything is "normal." However, what they fail to understand is that some harmful condition may exist that was not included in the testing. This presentation highlights case studies where abnormal machinery /lubrication conditions existed but were not originally detected, as the proper analysis was not being performed. Learn the limitations of routine tests, how to identify advanced testing, and when and why to request advanced tests. Oil Analysis Report Interpretation Matthew McMahon, Insight Services An oil analysis report is a vital tool for a smooth-running operation. Without a solid grasp of the underlying principles of reading and understanding these reports, the inexperienced reader is likely to become frustrated with trying to make sense of the seemingly unintelligible test data. This presentation will explore report interpretation, explain how to read test reports, describe some of the most common tests run on industrial equipment, discuss marginal and critical reports, and detail how to decipher various alarms.