Cleaning oil and monitoring contamination to the highest of standards

Hydraulic systems & components

First Quarter 2007 Hydraulic systems & components

Any contamination in an hydraulic system can lead to high wear and premature component failure. Therefore it is critical that contamination is monitored and kept to the minimum, particularly in aerospace and defence applications.

Why?

Clean oil is vital for expected service life of the finished product. It also ensures that the product operates reliably.

Due to the importance of contamination control in hydraulic systems, aerospace standards have been updated and improved to ensure greater reliability. So now aerospace and other companies are starting to change over from NAS1638 to the new standard SAE AS 4059.

NAS1638 is now inactive for new applications.

SAE AS 4059 revision E now incorporates two tables for use with automatic particle counters calibrated as per the new ISO method, ISO11171.

SAE AS 4059 table one is the cleanliness classes for differential particle counts. (particles/100 ml). In the size range of 6-14 micron, 14-21 micron, 21-38 micron, 38-70 micron, >70 micron.

SAE AS 4059 table two - cleanliness classes for cumulative particle counts (particles/100 ml). In the size range of >4 micron, >6 micron, >14 micron, >21 micron, >38 micron, >70 micron.

All the company's range of APCs have the facility of ISO 4406, NAS1638 and SAE AS 4059.

Due to the existing market and customer demand, NAS1638 will remain as a standard on the company's range of APCs.

The MP Filtri LPA2 and the PML2 Automatic particle counters ensure contamination control by analysing the contaminant size and the quantity of contaminant in a sample of oil.

More and more manufacturers of equipment and end users are now using the MP Filtri range of particle counters to set specifications and cleanliness levels for their hydraulic systems and components. By doing this, the user is ensuring:

* Service: accurate monitoring of systems reduces costs attributed to manpower and material shortcomings.

* Quality control: certifies products to a recognised cleanliness standard.

* Condition monitoring: allows accurate monitoring of high cost processes and installations ensuring system reliability.

* Maintenance operations: used in predictive and preventative maintenance routines to monitor and investigate equipment performance.

* Product development: the ability to define a specified cleanliness code for manufactured products to customers of hydraulic systems.

Features of the MP Filtri range of particle counters include:

* Instant and accurate results.

* LPA2 is a portable service tool.

* PML2 is mounted inline on test rig applications.

* Both products are online to 400 bar (40MPa) working pressure.

* LPA2 product offers a bottle sampling option.

* Both products can include moisture (RH) and temperature sensors.

* MP Filtri can manufacture its range of particle counters to be compatible with phosphate esters and mineral oils - one unit for all media.

For more information contact Hydrasales, +27 (0)21 552 0462.

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Hydraulic systems & components

Cleaning oil and monitoring contamination to the highest of standards

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