Oil Analysis Today

Oil Analysis now exists in three distinct solutions as shown below. Each has a place in Condition Monitoring or Predictive Maintenance chain.  

• ON-LINE: Constan monitoring of capital or process critical plant but with limited parameters. Sensors, the primary position for detecting potential products - instant gratification in terms of being aware of possible problems not readily detectable by means of vibration or other indications. If no on-site testing is available, an off-site sample apart from normal interval might be triggered 
• ON-SITE: Frequent monitoring of equipment within a plant, wider range of parameters with near laboratory accuracy. Testing kits and portable instruments, to quickly vet sensor readings or to trigger an offsite sample 'out of turn' in order to gain clarity for decision-making 
• OFF-SITE: the most comprehensive but least responsive option. Standard (most comprehensive) sample analysis as submitted to a laboratory - perhaps with different intervals than previously used, but not necessarily abandoned 

Various aspects of these three options can be employed collectively to glean the most complete assessment of machine condition possible, and with least elapsed time from start of trauma. This translates to a best practice for equipment health and production revenue. An element of safety is a bonus in the process.

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On-Line lubricant testing - is not by any means foolproof, but this level provides the "gift of time", the very earliest warning, when possible. This early warning allows one to set in motion a number of things, including: 

• Testing a sample from the component on-site to vet the sensor's alarm (testing off-site if on-site isn't available. 
• Conducting diagnostics/repairs immediately if on-site testing or visual observation suggests the most likely fault

On-Line testing is a recent development and very powerful when linked with other techniques such a Vibration Analysis or Acoustic Emissions Monitoring (see Holroyd range of instrumentation also available from Kittiwake).

Click here to read a 'back to basics' article on 'sensors for continuous condition monitoring'.

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On-Site lubricant testing - is another "gift of time". Having sufficient testing capabilities at the plant or machine site can make all the difference in avoiding a failure and all of its negative consequences. A good option for facilities such as large mines where equipment is widely dispersed but the lube can be samples and tested centrally.

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Off-Site lubricant testing - is the original laboratory lube oil analysis, however, there can be considerable time lag from sampling to report receipt; occasionally that proves fatal.

• The 'good news' is that lube oil analysis provides enough early warning such that the time lag doesn't usually result in a tragic event. But remote venues, such as wind turbines, or offshore drilling rigs, or unattended pipeline operations, put high pressure on Off-Site efficacy. On-Line or On-Site are solutions for those types of operations, where their presence will be nearly imperative in 21st century maintenance environments.