High temperatures, extreme pressures and increased wear rates typify gearbox and compressor lube problems.The Directory of Bearing Failures illustrates what can happen if geabox lubricants & compressor lubricants are not properly monitored.
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Gearbox Lubricants & Compressor Lubricants
Gearboxes and Compressors are common items of plant and critical to production operations around the world. Gearboxes designed for power transmission and compressors for a host of industrial gas applications. Gearbox Lubricants & Compressor Lubricants must be carefully monitored as part of an ongoing preventative maintenance programme.
Gearbox Lubricants
Gear lubricants often operate under a low stress regime with long life if correctly maintained. The correct lubricant will provide slip-free power transmission at high mechanical efficiency, with good reliability, low maintenance, and long life.
We provide off line instrumentation for monitoring viscosity, water, TAN, particles and ferrous debris in these oils plus on-line instrumentation for oil quality and metallic wear debris.
Compressor Lubricants
Compressors are extremely versatile and come in a range of types; piston, rotary vane, screw etc. They compress both air and gasses with very little alterations.
Compressing gasses can result in condensation within the machine. Water is a very common contaminant and many oils are designed with good water shedding ability. Some gasses (such as landfill) can cause or increase acidification of the oils.
Oil is not generally monitored on smaller compressors as it is cheap to replace the sump charge. Larger compressors, such as those used on gas pipelines are typically driven by reciprocating or turbine prime movers. The viscosity, water, TAN/TBN tests used for these prime movers are also relevant for the compressor itself.
Oil Testing for Gearbox Lubricants & Compression Lubricants
The following test parameters are recommended:
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