Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1275515
14 | July - August 2020 | www . machinerylubrication.com Lubrica nt f luids a re carefully formulated for specific areas of applica- tion and are comprised of a base stock and an addi- tive package. e additive package consists of chemical compounds designed to protect the base stock, as well as system components and to ensure proper performance of the system. Water is considered one of the biggest enemies of rotating equipment and their lubrication systems. e presence of water in a lubrication system can result in many problems such as corrosion of equipment, depletion of addi- tives and loss of oil lubricity. ese problems could lead to accelerated wear of internal components and irreparable damage to the equip- ment. In addition, lube oil life can be significantly reduced when mixed with water even at low concentrations due to accelerated oxidation. Therefore, removal of water in lubrication fluids is extremely important as soon as identified via laboratory testing. Water contamination can arise from several sources including leaks from inadequate sealing surfaces, condensation of humid air or from open reservoirs. In addition, a reduction in temperature of the fluid can lead to the generation of free water from dissolved water. Each fluid type has a typical water saturation profile based on the base stock, additive package and pres- ence of degradation by-products. is article discusses the effec- tiveness of a vacuum dehydrator to remove water contamination from lubricating oils and if there are any degradation effects of the oil. Forms of Water Contamination Water can exist in oil systems in three distinct forms: Free, emulsified and dissolved water. Table 1 high- lights the differences between these three forms. Vacuum Dehydrator Vacuum dehydrators work by heating up the oil while simulta- neously drawing a vacuum. When the oil-water mixture is exposed to a vacuum, the boiling point of water Measuring the Effectiveness of Vacuum Dehydrators WATER REMOVAL Abdullah B. Samman, Hasanur J. Molla | Saudi Aramco " Water is considered one of the biggest enemies of rotating equipment and their lubrication systems. " Form of Water Free Water Emulsified Water Dissolved Water Description Water content well above fluid saturation point. Water exists in the form of a completely separate layer with the oil. Water content above fluid saturation point. Water is emulsified with the oil, forming a cloudy mixture. Water content below fluid saturation point. Water is solubilized in the oil, resulting in a clean and normal looking lubricant. Impact Severe Rusting Lube oil degradation Rusting Clogged Filters Improper lubrication Lube oil degradation Additive depletion Lube oil degradation Method of Separation Draining via gravity Centrifuge Coalescers Cellulose Media Vacuum Dehydrator Offline Filtration (Centrifuge, Cellulose Media, Vacuum Dehydrator) Offline Filtration (Vacuum Dehydrator) Table 1. Types of water contamination in oil.