Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1378657
www.machinerylubrication.com | May - June 2021 | 41 filters with water capturing capabilities. On large reservoirs, I would recommend using a vacuum dehydrator for removing and monitoring water. • You can utilize heat to flash off any water in the oil. I personally avoid recom- mending such methods because I do not like taking the risk of adding unnecessary heat to a system. e cheapest and most effective method of controlling water is simply stopping water from entering machines or making contact with machine surfaces. Invest in splash guards around equipment, making sure ports and hatches are sealed tight and training people on how to carefully spray down and clean equipment with high pressure. It is also helpful to inspect shaft seals for damage and replace damaged seals as needed. If equipment is outside, building rain covers or redirecting the drain water away from equipment can also help mitigate water contamination problems. It will be much cheaper and easier to protect equipment from water ingression than to remove water after it's inside the system. Gearboxes are expensive but built to last — if maintained correctly. Controlling contamination is a full-time job. Not only are we fighting against something we cannot see most of the time, but we are also dealing with a problem that could fluctuate by the hour. Water is something we cannot ever completely get rid of, but it is something we can control. Start a "No Water Contact" initiative at your plant. Work on training people on the proper ways of spraying down machine parts without causing damage. Modify and safeguard equip- ment against water contact in any way you can. By taking the right steps and thinking through the problem carefully, we can help control water and reduce how much of it is entering our equipment. ML About the Author David Dise is an to Asso- ciate Technical Consultant for Noria Corporation. He works closely with plant managers and reli- ability engineers to develop lubrication and reliability programs. His goal is to help plants become world class. David has been certified as a Level II Machine Lubricant Analyst and a Level I Machine Lubrication Technician by the International Council for Machinery Lubri- cation. Before joining Noria, he worked as a flowback operator at 1st Rate Energy Services, traveling to several different locations around the United States. ML ML