FAQ

  • Why is filtration important in hydraulic systems?

    Contamination can cause blockages in finely toleranced components, which may lead to component failure or the creation of more contamination. 80% of hydraulic system failures can be attributed to contamination.

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  • Where does contamination come from?

    Contamination can be inherent in the system when it is first built, in the first fill of oil, when the system is maintained, through reservoir breathers or cylinder rods. Once within the system and unfiltered, it can create other contamination and greatly increase the risk of plant failure.

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  • Why do I have to maintain my hydraulic system?

    As with every other type of mechnical and electrical system the parts undergoe degradation and wear. Some of the parts such as hoses have a life expectancy and failure could present safety problems. Unexpected system failures can lead to significant down time and degradation can lead to a loss of performance. Proactive

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  • Why is it important to maintain the hydraulic oil temperature?

    Above 70 degrees centigrade oil starts to degrade and the lubrication characteristics reduce. Wear on components becomes greater. Prolonged running of the oil above 80 degrees centigrade will cause it to breakdown and form lacquers which can lock up valves. There is also a safety point to this; hydraulic oil released at 60 degrees centigrade can cause serious burns.

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  • Why do systems have a temperature switch?

    As mentioned above, hot oil can cause system problems and pose a safety hazard. If you systems is heating up you will want it switched off before serious damage occurs. We beleive that all systems should have tempearture switches which are regulraly checked for operation.

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  • Does my system need a pressure relief valve?

    All hydraulic systems need a relief valve. If you have a system with a positive displacement pump and there was no relief valve, the pressure would rise at some point in the cycle until a seal leaked or a fitting gave way. A pressure compensated axial piston pump may have a pressure limiter in the pump but it can still fail with the pump supplying oil.

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  • Where does water come from in hydraulic systems?

    Water can come from faulty oil/water heat exchangers, condensation or through cylinder seals . In concentrations below 400 ppm the water is absorbed in the oil. At 400 ppm the water makes the oil milky in appearance.

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  • How can I remove water from the oil?

In small quantities, typically less than 0.5%, the water can be removed with filter elements. Above 0.5% you will need a vacuum dehydrator. To prevent condensation use a dryer type breather.

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  • How can I tell a good hydraulic filter?

    Hydraulic filters should have the characteristics of efficiently filtering the oil, holding the dirt and creating a low pressure drop. Good filters have been tested to the ISO16889 specification which grades the filter to it’s effeiciency. For example a 10 micron filter with a beta ratio of 75 will have an efficeincy of 98.67% and the same filter with a beta ratio of 1000 will have an efficiency of 99.99%. Good filters, provide fantastic filtration.

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  • How can oil analysis benefit my plant?

    You will know what contaminants are in your hydraulic system. If they are above expected levels then you can act accordingly. Trending the readings can help in failure prediction. Analysis of the fluid characteristics tells you whether the additive package is intact and protecting your system. Analysis can prevent routine changing of oil, saving costs in purchasing new and disposing of the old.

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  • Is oil analysis the only method for determining hydraulic system condition?

    Oil analysis is useful because it can indicate contaminant generation and contaminants can cause failure. To get a true indication of wear, particulate levels should be trended. There are other methods; such as pump efficiency tests and cycle timing, which can be used to determine the condition of components or whole systems.

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Posted by admin | May 18th, 2011 Filed in
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