Plant Services - May 2008 - (Page 44) RELIABILITY Lubrication Manufacturers differentiate themselves by engineering unique metallurgy into their equipment. For example, various levels of aluminum and lead are used in the production of bearings for compressors and gearboxes. Bearing metals are critical and should be monitored closely because they can give you an early indication if something is going wrong. Consult the OEM to determine if there are any unique metals used in their equipment that should be monitored with oil analysis. Oil analysis on gearboxes can show much higher levels of iron and still be considered normal because gear teeth are going to wear. So, levels exceeding 200 ppm should be monitored more closely. However, iron levels in compressors and hydraulic systems will be lower and are considered normal if they are 40 ppm or less. 50 ppm should be looked into more closely as it is most often due to intrusive contamination of abrasive silicon. While it’s an expensive fi x, foreign silicon can be prevented or mitigated with the appropriate application of fi lters and air breathers. e most effective way to extend equipment and lubricant life is to implement a comprehensive oil analysis program. It will help identify early warning signs of contamination and minimize unscheduled maintenance. George B. Mullins is the Global Signum Oil Analysis Program Technical Adviser at ExxonMobil Lubricants and Specialties in Fairfax, Va. Contact him at george.b.mullins@exxonmobil.com. Contamination kills Contamination is among the most common causes of equipment shutdowns and can come in different forms: dirt, dust (airborne particles) or water being the most common. Most airborne contaminants show up in an oil analysis as silicon. e typical silicon concentration for industrial equipment ranges from 5 ppm to around 20 ppm, as most lubricants are formulated to contain a silicon defoamant that reduces the chances of the oil foaming while in use. Anything above More resources at www.PlantServices.com Lube trends – “Black gold” Viscosity measurement – “Online oil monitoring” Analysis and ROI – “Making money in the lube lab” Autolube devices – “A slick success story” For more, search www.PlantServices.com using the keywords analysis, contamination and lubricant. We Rent Solutions Cooling Heating Dehumidification Rental Experts We keep manufacturing plants running at peak capacity. Don’t let temperature or humidity control problems degrade production rates or quality. Our engineers speak your technical language. Chillers Cooling Towers Pumps Heat Exchangers Air Conditioners Spot Coolers Air Handlers Dehumidifiers Heaters Boilers Generators 800-586-8336 CarrierRentals.com 44 We are the rental cooling, heating and dehumidification experts. .PLANTSERVICES. M http://www.PlantServices.com http://www.PlantServices.com http://CarrierRentals.com http://CarrierRentals.com http://www.plantservices.com
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