Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/490438
58 | March - April 2015 | www.machinerylubrication.com BACK PAGE BASICS and if there are specific cleanliness require- ments for these drums. New drums are made in a metalworking environment with grinding and welding. The slag and grinding dust will end up inside the drums. In some cases, lubri- cant blenders just fill the drums without inspecting them for cleanliness. Even if the lubricant is packaged in buckets or bottles, there can be manufacturing debris in these containers. There is no universal standard for container cleanliness. In the case of bulk deliveries, lubricants should be filtered prior to being transferred into the tank. Also, research the manner used to clean the tank. Was it steam-cleaned or flushed with diesel fuel? Both of these methods can cause cleanliness or purity issues with the finished lubricants. Are the tanks dedicated to specific products to eliminate the possibility of cross-con- tamination? These are questions that you should ask your lubricant supplier. The illustration on the left provides an example of the typical process lubricants undergo before reaching customers. With grease manufacturing, the saponification process (soap thickener production) is more complex than simply blending base stocks and additives. If the temperature and timing are not controlled properly, the process is hampered, and the grease thickener quality can be affected. In some instances, the effects may be negligible, but in others, the entire batch will be ruined. While grease is "cooked," the blending kettles should be kept closed to keep out contaminants. Also, be sure to inquire about the measures taken to prevent contaminants from entering the grease when it is being trans- ferred from the kettle to the storage tank or the final packaging. Keep in mind that the drums used for grease are no cleaner than those used for oils if there aren't specified cleanliness standards. Depending on the practices of the grease manufacturer, large batches of thickener are often made and kept in storage tanks for additives to be added at a later date. This raises some concerns, such as what protec- tions are in place to keep airborne contaminants from entering the tank as the grease is pumped out. Are the transfer lines dedicated to a specific product? What are the pigging procedures used to mitigate cross-contamination? It is difficult, if not impossible, to filter grease at the high temperatures used in the manufacturing process. Although it is possible to pump grease through a strainer and remove some of the larger debris, this offers no real protec- tion from the clearance-sized particles that damage your equipment. Of course, many lubricant manufacturers are diligent about the cleanliness of their final lubricants, including listing cleanliness levels on product data sheets. Some even have strict requirements for their distributors. If you have the opportunity, visit your blender's plant and check out their processes. See if they are putting the same emphasis on keeping lubricants clean as they are on blending and formulation specifications. You may be surprised at the conditions in which the oils and greases you purchase are manu- factured and transported. Once you are aware of how your lubricants are made and packaged, you should be even more diligent in ensuring that they are sampled and tested prior to being placed in your equipment. About the Author Loren Green is a technical consultant with Noria Corporation, focusing on machinery lubri- cation and maintenance in support of Noria's Lubrication Program Development (LPD). He is a mechanical engineer who holds a Machinery Lubrication Technician (MLT) Level I certification and a Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) Level III certification through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Loren at lgreen@noria.com. OC OC AI AI AI AI CW CW CW CW LP LP LP LP LP TC BASE OILS CUSTOMERS CUSTOMERS BLEND VESSEL DRUMS AND TOTES DRUMS AND TOTES BULk TRANSPORT BULk TRANSPORT DISTRIBUTION BULk STORAgE TANk STORAgE (BLEND PLANT) ADDITIVES AI AI AI AI AI CW CW CW CW CW Contamination Original to Fluid Airborne Contamination Container Walls Contamination Lines and Pump Contamination Tool Contamination OC AI CW LP TC