The lifespan of contamination sensitive components can increase
by as much as 30 to 70 percent if the contamination level can be brought down
by just 1 ISO Cleanliness Code. Oil contamination because of water is also
known to be the second most important destructive factor that can affect a
lubrication system.
Oil contamination due to water causes cavity in hydraulic pumps,
fractures metal surface, it may also lead to common industrial problems like
foaming. personal protective
equipments
One may wonder how oil contamination due to water occurs despite
sophisticated system in place. Here are some ways in which water can end up in
your lubrication system:
·
From the environment, like rain or moisture
·
Leak or damage in the gasket of reservoir covers or filters,
broken seals, underperforming air breathers, or a damaged wiper of a hydraulic
cylinder
·
Leaks in water-based cooling systems
·
Condensation in the lube systems or the reservoirs caused due to
differing day and night temperatures
·
Poor sampling and handling methods during routine oil change
·
Equipment wash-down
Depending on the solubility of the lube oil, it can hold
different volumes of water, with each kind of oil having its own specific
saturation point. Accordingly, water can exist in three ways namely dissolved,
emulsified or free. multi purpose power
tool
As long as the volume of water remains under the saturation
level, the water and oil molecules coexist in such a way that the water isn’t
visible. This is the dissolved state and is the least dangerous to a lube
system.
However, when the volume of the water goes beyond the saturation
point, the oil can no longer absorb any more. The water then gives the oil a
hazy look. This is the emulsified state.
Any further rise in water content in the lube oil will enable
formation of two separate layers of water and oil. Due to water’s higher
density, oil gets suspended over a layer of water called as free water state.
But, this does not mean the entire volume separates. Certain amounts of water
remain in the emulsified and dissolved states in the lube system.
Now that we know how water ends up in lubrication system, the
most important question that arises is ‘Can we identify presence of water in
oil and lubricants?’ If yes, How?
Well, there exist multiple ways of detecting oil contamination
due to water. Here we will highlight the 3 major ones:
1.
Karl Fischer Titration
Karl Fischer (KF) is a quantitative test that acts as a
comparative technique for other analytical methods used for water analysis. It
provides repeatable and precise results and can detect water in all states. industrial products finder
2.
Infrared Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and
radiated energy. In this technique, infrared radiation passes through the oil.
The rays get absorbed by or transmitted through the oil at specific wavelengths
depending on the type of oil. The resultant spectral feature of the oil
determines the type of contaminant present – water, glycol, soot, oxidation,
fuels, sulfation, and nitration. However, this method has a drawback as it can
only detect water concentrations if they are above 1,000 ppm (0.1 %). This
technique is good for testing motor oils in which additives are used to
dissolve water.
3.
Calcium Hydride Test Kits
In this technique, about 20 -30 ml of oil (a diluent is used to
dilute the oil) is placed in an enclosed container, having calcium hydride.
When shaken vigorously, the water in the oil reacts with the calcium hydride,
creating hydrogen.
CaH2 + 2H2O → Ca(OH)2 +
2H2
The hydrogen gas released and its pressure is measured by a
manometer. Given that a single molecule of water only will release a single
molecule of hydrogen, measuring the pressure gives us a fair idea about the
content of water present.
Our View
Industries employ different techniques to determine the presence
of water in lubrication oils. However, the technique used really depends on
certain factors like budget, training, data precision required, etc.
Nonetheless, most industries need to prevent equipment failure
for efficient and smooth workflow and profitability. For that, regular
check-ups and contaminant detection processes need to be carried out.
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