Machinery Lubrication May June 2014 May June 2014 | Page 37

SELECTING OIL ANALYSIS TESTS BY APPLICATION Test or Procedure Paper Machine Oils Motor and Pump Bearings Diesel and Gas Engines Hydraulics Air and Gas Compressors Chillers and Refrigeration Transmissions, Final Drives, Differentials Industrial Gear Oils Steam Turbine Oils Gas Turbine Oils EHC Fluids*** 1. Particle Count 2. Viscosity a. 40º C b. 100º C 3. AN 4. BN R R R R R R R R R R R R R - R E(5a) - R R R R - R R - R R - R R - R R - R R - R R - R R - R - R R R - R R R R R - R - R R R R R - - - R - R R R - R R* - R - R - - E(2b,5d) - - - E(14b) - - - - - - - - E(1) E(8,14 a) E(1) E(8,14a) R E(8,14 a) R E(8,14 a) R E(8,14a) R E(8,14a) R E(8,14a) R E(8,14a) E(1) E(8,14a) E(1) E(8,14a) R E(8,14a) - - - - R - - - R R - 11. Crackle 12. Water by KF 13. Water Separability R E(11) R R E(11) - R E(11) - R E(11) - R** E(11)** R** R E(11) - R E(11) - R E(11) - R E(11) R - R E(11) - 14. Elemental Analysis a. Wear Metals b. K, Na, B, Si c. Additives R, E(1) R R R, E(1) R R R R R R, E(1) R R R, E(1) R R R, E(1) R R R R R R, E(1) R R R, E(1) R R R R R R,E(1) R R 5. FTIR a. Ox/Nit/Sul b. Hindered Phen c. ZDDP d. Fuel Dil./Soot 6. Flash Point 7. Glycol-ASTM Test 8. Ferrous Density 9. Analytical Ferrography 10. RPVOT *Gas compressors only ** Air compressors only ***For phosphate ester fluids, consult the fluid supplier and/or turbine manufacturer. R = Routine testing E = Exception test keyed to a positive result from the test in parentheses conditions. depending on the type of data collected, error in sampling or analysis. If Understanding the information given the type of lubricant and the machine’s exception tests are needed, the chart here is critical. Remember, there is known operating conditions. above shows which tests would be and operating always an explanation for each exceeded limit, and the root cause should be Standard alarm limits will be set by the investigated. oil analysis laboratory. However, if there is any reason to adjust these limits appropriate when a given routine test limit has been exceeded. In addition to the raw data shown higher or lower, they should be About the Author throughout the oil analysis report, identified properly. Examples of limits Bennett Fitch is a technical consultant with graphs can help illustrate notable that should be lowered would be those Noria Corporation. He is a mechanical trends in the data. Below is an example for highly critical assets or assets that engineer who holds a Machine Lubricant of trended data points from analyzed are consistently healthy. A small spike data, with the water test having the in data would be cause to run an most notable unfavorable spike. Along exception test or an immediate second with the trend data, graphs should sample for analysis. In such cases, a show warning second sample would ensure the data International (marginal) limits and alarm (critical) received is representative of the oil Lubrication (ICML). Contact Bennett at limits. These limits should be modified conditions and not simply a human [email protected]. typical averages, Analyst (MLA) Level II certification and a Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) Level II certification Council through for the Machinery www.machinerylubricationindia.com | May-June 2014 | 35