Total Acid Number (TAN) Oil Analysis | Maintain Equipment & Reduce Downtime
Oils continually react with atmospheric oxygen to produce organic oxidation products that are acidic in nature. At ambient temperature, this reaction is very slow and has little effect upon oil conditions.
At the elevated temperatures that exist within an operating engine, reaction rates are much higher. This is especially true when localised heating occurs on sliding surfaces, as the temperatures can be very much higher than that of the surrounding metal. Combustion and wear products in solution in the oil can additionally catalyse the reaction between the oil and oxygen. The degradation products are organic acids, they do not react easily with the alkaline TAN additives and tend to co-exist. They cause increased oil viscosity and can deposit as lacquers on hot surfaces.
Total Acid Number oil analysis or TAN is the measure of both the weak organic and strong inorganic acids present in oil. It is applicable to gearbox, gas engine, gas turbine and hydraulic lubricants. Total Acid Number oil analysis (TAN) is not generally associated with engine crankcase lubricants unless they are severely contaminated. The singular exception to this may be crankcase lubricants for gas engines. In this instance, TAN can deplete very rapidly and elevated operating temperatures can generate high levels of weak organic acids.
Click to view the Info Centre articles on Acid Number
Kittiwake Total Acid Number Products
At the elevated temperatures that exist within an operating engine, reaction rates are much higher. This is especially true when localised heating occurs on sliding surfaces, as the temperatures can be very much higher than that of the surrounding metal. Combustion and wear products in solution in the oil can additionally catalyse the reaction between the oil and oxygen. The degradation products are organic acids, they do not react easily with the alkaline TAN additives and tend to co-exist. They cause increased oil viscosity and can deposit as lacquers on hot surfaces.
Total Acid Number oil analysis or TAN is the measure of both the weak organic and strong inorganic acids present in oil. It is applicable to gearbox, gas engine, gas turbine and hydraulic lubricants. Total Acid Number oil analysis (TAN) is not generally associated with engine crankcase lubricants unless they are severely contaminated. The singular exception to this may be crankcase lubricants for gas engines. In this instance, TAN can deplete very rapidly and elevated operating temperatures can generate high levels of weak organic acids.
Click to view the Info Centre articles on Acid Number
Kittiwake Total Acid Number Products
- TAN Electronic Test - The Electronic TAN oil analysis test is available as a stand-alone kit, or as part of a comprehensive suite of electronic equipment. The TAN Oil Analysis Cell works in conjunction with a highly accurate electronic console and optional software allowing the data to be downloaded from the console to a PC.
- TAN Drop Test Kit - The TAN Oil Analysis Drop test & Free Fatty Acid Test kit comes in a sturdy case containing all necessary reagents and equipment for a fully portable Acid number test.
Click to view the TAN Drop Test Instructional Video
