Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1356397
www . machinerylubrication.com | March - April 2021 | 33 www . machinerylubrication.com | March - April 2021 | 33 just protect the critical gearbox or expensive bearing from contaminants while leaving the oil reservoir that is feeding the system in a dark wet corner with dust and debris piled on it. I have seen this more times than not—where the components of the machine are modified, protected and clean from contamination, but the oil reservoir feeding the equipment is neglected. It's important to consider the state of the entire lubrication system. Next time you can, walk the length of a system at your facility and verify that every component down the line is being protected from contamination ingression. e last thing any company wants is machine failure that could lead to downtime and loss of production. Water Contamination roughout my years, I've worked with many different industries. e most common lubricant or machine contaminant I have found is water. is is likely because water is used throughout the process in almost every industry. Water is used for cooling machines, cooling the oil in machines, mixing with product and cleaning the equipment and facility. Of course, water can also come from rain, snow, or condensation from humidity. When equipment heats up then cools down, condensation will start to form in the headspace of equipment. Over time, that condensation adds up and we all know what happens when you mix water, heat, air and metal. e oil will oxidize quickly, eventually destroying the lubricant and the equipment if left untreated. How to Detect Water Buildup One way to monitor equipment for water buildup is to utilize a bottom sediment and water bowl (BS&W Bowl). is is a clear, often cylindrical sight glass that is installed on the bottom side of the oil reservoir or lowest drain, allowing water and other contaminants to naturally settle inside the cylinder for quick visual inspections. Not only does the BS&W bowl allow you to visually inspect what is happening inside the reservoir or sump, but it often has a valve that allows you to drain off or exclude any water or sludge that may have accumulated over time. I would recommend installing a BS&W bowl on all large reservoirs, especially reservoirs utilizing an oil cooling system. ese oil cooling systems are the most common source of water contamination on large systems. I always recommend that plants have all oil cooling systems on a routine changeout. Some might think this is exces- sive, but spending the little bit of time and money is pennies compared to what happens if water is introduced into the system. Cooling systems will start rusting from the inside and eventually water will start leaking into the oil reservoir or sump, contaminating the oil. With no way of being able to perform a visual inspection on oil coolers, using a BS&W bowl on the oil reservoir can allow you to catch a leak and exclude water before it becomes cata- strophic. Managing and Eliminating Water Contamination Water is used throughout the process in almost every industry, so figuring out ways to manage water is important. Some of the ways I have seen water enter machine parts almost seems impossible. I like to say, "water will find a way." Modifying, building barri- cades, training your staff and making sure equipment seals and gaskets are fresh and tight are all measures you can take that will help exclude water from the system all together. You should also begin a "No Leak" initiative and fix all the seal water leaks or any other water leaks throughout the plant. Make sure water drains are clear of any debris so water does not pool around and make contact with machine parts . Seal water and cooling water is important to the process and is what helps us protect our equipment. Performing routine leak inspections on all water lines and fixing any leaks will help exclude water from entering the equipment. Some machine parts have oil spill containment underneath to catch spilled oil. What I have noticed is that most of these machines also have cooling water running to the shaft. e cooling water is usually not contained and is either leaking onto machine parts or leaking into the containment under- neath and eventually filling the containment with water. Without draining the contain- ment, the water will just sit and eventually find a way into machine parts and will also begin rusting base mounts. Even worse, if there is an actual oil leak, the oil will drain into the Figure 2. Use protective covers and wipe down quick connect fittings before attach- ing any equipment. Figure 3. The bowl on the left show's sed- iment buildup and the bowl on the right shows water buildup. Bottom Sediment & Water bowls are a key tool for recog- nizing a problem exists and excluding the problem on the spot. Figure 4. "Water will find a way" Keep standing water away from machine parts. Do not let a small water leak or contain- ment drain problem destroy machine parts. Figure 4. Keep oil levels tight. Allowing oil levels to drop will create more conden- sation as you can see from this picture. ML ML