“We suspect that we have an air contamination problem in one of our hydraulic systems. What types of problems can air contamination cause?”
Finding the Source of Water Contamination in Oil
“Can you explain how to find the source of water contamination in a steam turbine boiler feed pump? We have problems with high water contamination in the pump’s oil tank. Oil analysis tests showed water at approximately 15,000 parts per million (ppm) in less than a month after changing the potential water leak area (gland seal, cooler oil seal and seal to the pump).”
How Light Affects Oil Analysis Results for Varnish Potential
As oil or oil additives degrade, they develop varnish and begin to accumulate this material within the oil. The amount of varnish carried by or within the oil will progressively increase as the oil continues its service. The oil’s carrying capacity for varnish will also fluctuate based on temperature. As the oil becomes saturated, this material can settle from the oil and form harmful deposits. Fortunately, varnish can be extracted from oil and measured in a laboratory by its change in color.
How to Determine Moisture Limits in Oil
“What are the limits of water content in engine oil and engine oil additives? Is it possible to measure it with the Karl Fischer method (ASTM D6304) or could the chemical reagents of the Karl Fischer method and the engine oil additives cause an error to occur?”
Filtration Mechanics – How Filters Capture Particles
An ideal filter provides maximum resistance to the passage of entrained contaminants while offering minimum resistance to the flow of the system fluid. Filter media are porous materials that contain pores and capillaries.
