Your hydraulic fluid has a big job to do. It’s a power transmission device, a lubricant, a heat-transfer medium and even a sealant (in some hydraulic components, at least). This is why I often refer to hydraulic fluid as the most important component of the system, and certainly not something to be purchased on price alone.
“How can you justify an oil analysis program? What return on investment can it provide? Do you have any tips on how to get started?”
An oil analysis program with condition-based maintenance is one of the best strategies that can be deployed at a plant to help maintain lubricated equipment. This is because it has the potential not only to be proactive by monitoring for root causes like contamination and changing lubricant properties, but also predictive by checking for wear debris and other early signs of failure. In both cases, the justification for investing in an oil analysis program is predicated on the notion that without it, machines would fail more frequently and with little or no warning.
“Is the measurement of foam important in monitoring the condition of lube oil?”
Air may exist in a lubricating oil in four different forms. Understanding these forms and how to best mitigate air contamination will help you reduce its impact on the machine and the lubricant.
What do you normally cover in your plant’s safety meetings? Personal protective equipment, chain guards, safety harnesses and lockout-tagout procedures are common topics. When was the last time hydraulic accumulators were discussed? If your plant is like most, the answer is never. Why? In most plants, maintenance, production and safety managers are not aware of the dangers. Nevertheless, accumulators can present a safety hazard if the potential risks are not understood.
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a versatile tool used to detect common contaminants, lube degradation byproducts and additives within lubricating oils. It has become a widely used technique for quickly assessing multiple lubricant characteristics, and yet many people don’t fully understand how it works. When exposed to infrared radiation, molecules absorb radiation at very specific wavelengths. Knowing this, you can pass infrared radiation through a sample and use a detector on the other side of the sample to identify the molecules found in that sample.
