Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1475671
36 | July - August 2022 | www . machinerylubrication.com symptoms and how do we fix it? Here are some of the symptoms of microbial contamination: You should be aware of certain characteristics that may produce a high probability of microbial growth: high water levels, stagnant areas, low flow and dark areas. Now, while these symptoms and characteris- tics may provide a warning, they aren't necessarily the end all be all; most of the diagnosis of microbial contamination is found through laboratory analysis. Generally, microbial contamination will produce acid. is happens because the microbe wants to grow and reproduce, and for any living organism to grow and reproduce, it must eat and build energy. What is in an oil that acts as an energy source or food for the microbe? Carbon atoms from the hydrocarbon molecules. Once these structures are broken down and have open bonds, they are more likely to attract oxygen, which produces oxidation, a byproduct of which is acid formation. Treatment: Reactive Maintenance I keep referring to the level one training that we provide; in that training, you will hear about keeping oil "clean, cool and dry" no less than a hundred times (with "clean" and "dry' being the two most important factors as far as microbial contamination is concerned). As previously stated, microbes need a dark and dank area to thrive. To remember how a microorganism works, it helps me to think of a microbe as a vampire: it needs a stale, moist, dark environment to live in and sucks the blood (oil) from our machines. Unfortunately, however, garlic and a crucifix won't do much good against microbes; you're going to need to utilize biocide additives to neutralize the growth of bacteria and eliminate it. Once eliminated, the oil needs to be dried out as much as possible. To clarify, when I say "dried out," I mean removing as much water as possible. If drying isn't possible, then we have to take drastic measures and drain the contaminated oil out of the reservoir. Once drained, a thorough flush of that reservoir with a compatible low viscosity oil that has a biocide additive must be performed. Prevention: Proactive Maintenance We need to proactively ensure that we are aggressively preventing water ingression. is can be done by utilizing the right breather or, in some cases, dry instrument air. Make sure that all of the seals and ports are water and air-tight. Install quick connects for draining, filling, topping off and filtering to help prevent contaminant ingression. Use the correct filters with precisely calculated beta ratios and efficiency. Set target cleanliness and dryness goals for your critical machinery (remember, microbe growth can potentially occur at water levels > 500ppm). Lastly, and most importantly, perform frequent oil sampling, inspections and condition monitoring. is will ensure that if microbial growth starts to happen, you can catch it before it is too late. Hopefully, this helps you approach microbial contamination in a calculated manner and helps your machines run better and longer. ML About the Author Paul Farless is an industrial service technician for Noria Corpora- tion. He holds a Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) Level II certification through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). His duties include collecting data and preparing reports for the engineering team. Prior to joining Noria, Paul worked as an automotive maintenance technician for an auto-repair service company. He also served four years in the U.S. Navy as a gunner's mate third-class petty officer, where he was responsible for the troubleshooting and maintenance of electromechanical and hydraulic systems. A detail-oriented team player, Paul works well in fast-paced environments and uses his military background to excel and maxi - mize efficiency. Contact Paul at pfarless@noria.com. CONDITION MONITORING, LUBRICANT ANALYSIS AND TROUBLESHOOTING