Effective Strategies for Improving Oil Cleanliness Through the Use of Kidney Loop Filtration Systems

摘要

In hydraulic and lube oil circuits, particles and water are one of the main issues which cause malfunction and down-time. Hydraulic circuits already contain contamination due to the manufacturing process of the components, the basic contamination of the oil and the dirt ingressed by the mounting process. In addition, solids are continuously generated by wear of components, chemical reactions within the fluid, ingressed particles through worn seals, refilling of unfiltered hydraulic fluid, air exchange between tank and ambient, etc. In addition to the solid contamination, water can enter the system through condensation inside the tank due to high temperature changes, due to humid air exchange with the ambient, during wash-down of equipment, filling from barrels containing condensed or ingressed water, cooler leakage, etc. Maintaining a defined cleanliness of the fluid by effective removal of solids and water is crucial to ensure high machine availability, system reliability, increased service life of the fluid and all system components and to avoid reliably component failure and down-time. Kidney loop filtration is highly effective in improving oil quality and offers a great potential for cost reduction.