Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1480588
www.machinerylubrication.com | September - October 2022 | 29 ML ML much cheaper to exclude contaminants than to remove them once they get in. To exclude contaminants, we tend to focus on all the areas of the machine that could possibly ingest contaminants. e most common culprits are shaft seals, breather ports and fill ports. All of these can be upgraded to some degree to lessen the risk of contam- ination. Seals can be better selected for compatibility with fluid, temperature and even aggressiveness of contaminants, such as utilizing a labyrinth-style seal. Breathers have long been employed, and it is very common to find desiccant breathers on many pieces of equipment and even lubri- cants in storage. ese are a great solution for minimizing incoming particles and reducing moisture ingression. A good desiccant breather will dehumidify incoming air and dry the headspace inside the equipment. ese should be employed anywhere there are large tempera- ture swings and with equipment that may be at risk of water contamination. Quick-connects allow the lubricant to be added, drained, and even recirculated within the system without opening it up to the environment. e goal should be to get the machine in a hermetic state where all lubri- cation, inspections and standard operational checks can be done without exposing the inside of the equipment to the atmosphere. Each time the equipment is opened, it is an opportunity for contamination and the introduction of a failure mode. Removing contaminants has to comple- ment any exclusion activities that are underway. Lubricants and equipment can be contaminated easily and quickly. e biggest tool in the removal arsenal is filtration. Filters can be added to equipment permanently (portable methods exist for more periodic decontamination). ere is a vast array of options regarding filters, including filter types, locations, ratings, materials, etc. Each of these criteria must be scrutinized to match the optimum filter to our application. While a particle filter is the most common form of contaminant removal, it is far from the only one. Systems that focus on removing other problems such as water, heat and varnish are also readily available and, in many cases, relatively easy to connect to equipment for use. Vacuum dehydrators, ion-exchange resin skids and heat exchanger packages can be customized and purposefully built to match your equipment's exact conditions. is more targeted approach yields longer life not only for the equipment but for the lubricant itself. is means fewer failures and fewer oil changes. About the Author Paul Farless is an industrial service technician for Noria Corporation. He holds a Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) Level II certification through the Inter- national 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 back - ground to excel and maximize efficiency. Contact Paul at pfarless@noria.com