Water contamination of hydraulic, lube, and fuel systems causes significant problems, including corrosion, microbial growth, lower fatigue life of mechanical components, and accelerated aging of oil. Examination of these issues leads to two recommended target levels for water contamination control. A minimum level of control avoids free water problems, while a more stringent yet realistic level minimizes problems due to dissolved water. How well fluid systems do or do not measure up to these target levels is revealed by a recently completed survey of contamination in industrial systems. Based on successful cases identified by this survey, strategies for preventing the ingression of water into fluid systems are described. Especially helpful strategies for maintaining low relative humidity in reservoirs are discussed in detail, including quantitative test data demonstrating the effectiveness of a novel regenerable breather drier.
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