Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1487844
Oil Cleanliness: On-line Condition Monitoring Technology innovations and success stories Leonardo Bustos and Luis Alejandro Mariño | RG Smart Solutions LLC LUBRICATION PROGRAM One of the main tools of operational reliability in the industry is the use of proactive and predictive maintenance, whose objec- tives are to detect and predict events in machinery and systems that may interfere with the production process and take actions to avoid them, for which they use different techniques and tools to develop their work. As plants and their assets are being digi- tized and moving towards Industry 4.0, new scenarios are emerging for technological advances in tribology and condition monitoring. Lubric a nt s a nd hyd rau lic s are critical fluids for any type of machinery. Many diverse studies have demonstrated that fluid cleanliness is one of the most powerful strategies to eliminate root cause failures of critical assets such as power gener- ation units, hydraulic systems, air compressors and gearboxes. On-line monitoring for critical fluids can be strategically deployed to provide early failure diagnosis, supporting accurate engineering decisions to improve reli- ability and cost savings. On-line Oil Cleanliness Technology Nowad ay s a nd worldw ide, lubricant condition monitoring philosophy is beginning to be integrated into Industry 4.0 using different types of monitoring tech- niques such as bottle sample routine with laboratory analysis, on-site laboratory routines with automatic instruments, visual field inspections and real-time monitoring through on-line sensors. Unless companies have their own laboratories, a subcon- tracted laboratory must be hired, and the samples moved to their location. All types of samples, either of used or new oil, should be taken carefully in challenging environments, using the proper techniques and devices to get accurate and representative results. Laboratory analysis can take a couple of days to get results after the sample arrives, which means it takes consid- erably more time to know the fluid condition and take timely actions. Emerging sensor technologies have evolved over traditional lubri- cant condition monitoring techniques in such a way that integrating labo- ratory analysis with data generated on-line will help lubrication engi- neers extend the life of machines. A sensor can be defined as a device that transforms a mechanical, chemical, movement, pressure, temperature or other signal into an electrical signal to be detected by a control system. ere are different types of sensors for each application; the important thing is their detection process by which they transform the signals. " During the past two decades, there have been different developments and improvements in the principles of oil cleanliness devices and sensors. " 14 | November - December 2022 | www . machinerylubrication.com