Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1356397
34 | March - April 2021 | www . machinerylubrication.com 34 | March - April 2021 | www . machinerylubrication.com CONTAMINATION CONTROL & LUBRICANT RECONDITIONING Controlling the amount of contamination on and around machine components should be a top priority. " " containment mixed with water and overflow, creating an environmental concern. Try to exclude all water contact with machine parts except for necessary washdowns. Performing washdowns on machine parts is tricky. We want to keep our equipment clean without contaminating the lubricant in the process. I cannot tell you how much damage I have seen from people spraying down equipment. Training and machine guarding is the best line of defense. Anyone spraying down equipment can cause damage if they don't know what to spray or how to spray; this is why training is so important for anyone holding a hose. e last thing you want is a 100 HP motor being sprayed down with high pressure hose. Adding modifications like spray shields on or around equipment is another way to stop water from entering machine parts during washdowns. Installing wash down caps on breathers and making sure all gaskets are sealed tight is also important on oil reservoirs in heavy washdown or water prone areas. Water can enter the system from a plethora of outside sources, but water can also come from within. Condensation is another contam- ination problem that is often overlooked. Left unchecked, it can be a silent killer inside equip- ment that is in use as well as equipment not in use. Condensation is generated from humid air inside the oil reservoir or bearing housing during temperature swings. When hot, humid air cools down, the water molecules turn into water drops on interior surfaces. e water droplets form on the unsub- merged areas of the reservoir housing and, when heavy enough, drop or slide into the oil. is is where a BS&W bowl can be a life saver. e BS&W bowl will give you an indication that there is excessive water present, and you can drain it off right away. On equipment that might be stored for extended amounts of time, it is often recommended to fill the reservoir with the recommended oil to the top. is will prevent condensation forming and will inhibit rusting while in storage. You should also ensure that the equipment is sealed with plugs to prevent air from entering during storage. When reservoirs are filled, you should always label the equipment with "Full" or "Drain Before Using" so that the next person can identify that the reservoir is full before installation. Using desiccant breathers is another way to control the amount of mois- ture being pulled in and out of the machine during normal operation. Some machines are in high-humidity areas and should have desiccant breathers installed to minimize these airborne contaminants from entering. If condensation is uncontrollable, then using a filter with water capturing capabil- ities might be the route to take. Filters and dehydrators can be used for removing water from the oil in the system and may be effec- tive at preventing subsequent failure if done quickly enough. Otherwise, if water is inside the system for too long, it is likely to cause damage. As I said at the beginning, elim- inating the contamination problem before it enters the system is always cheaper than having to remove it, so focus on exclusion first and use removal techniques only if moisture cannot be prevented from entering the system. Solid Contamination Solid contamination is easily preventable with just a few easy modifications, training and corrections. Solid contaminants can enter machine parts and reservoirs through a variety of pathways or points on equipment. ey can even exist in machine parts from the factory. Here's a word of advice: always flush equipment before installation or during the commissioning process and shortly after first start-up. Metal pieces produced during the manufacturing process could be stuck inside the reservoir housing, gears, or bearings. Flushing the reservoir will hopefully remove any large metal fragments trapped inside. Using magnetic plugs is also a great way of visually inspecting the ferrous metal concen- tration built up inside the machine housing. You should also anticipate that wear particles could be generated during early service as machines are running-in and you should be filtering them out appropriately. Managing Particle Buildup Controlling the amount of contamination on and around machine components should be a top priority. e more contamination you have surrounding your equipment, the more contamination you will have inside it. Product or dust buildup on equipment will also serve to insulate the machine, which can cause exces- sive heat to be generated. I see it time and time again: customers ask why the particle counts Figure 5. "Stop the domino affect" Repair, modify, or replace equipment before con- taminants spread throughout the plant.