Product category:
Condition monitoring and vibration analysis
News Release from: Kittiwake Developments | Subject: PPM Ferrous Wear Debris Trending
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 May 2008
Advances in on-site ferrous wear debris
testing
Machinery condition results in seconds! Condition monitoring of machinery lubricants by wear debris testing is an established method of predicting and avoiding impending machinery breakdown
With Kittiwake Ferrous Debris Monitoring technology, laboratories and on-site maintenance engineers have been identifying and detecting worn machinery parts before any serious damage occurs The Analex range of Ferrous Debris Monitors from Kittiwake provide the most accurate means of detecting and measuring ferrous wear debris in lubricating oils, hydraulic oils, and greases irrespective of particle size
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 28 Apr 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
On-line sensors for oil condition monitoring
Kittiwake, an established leader in the fuel and lube oil testing market in the marine industry, launches the Analexrs range of remote on-line sensors for lubricant and machine condition monitoring
Kittiwake introduces the Analexrs moisture sensor
Kittiwake have merged the features of their current onsite and lab based equipment to develop the Analexrs on-line moisture sensors, used for measuring the water content of oils
The rugged, compact and stable monitors deliver retrievable data quickly and simply, ensuring fast, accurate and consistent management of oil condition samples.
The range is ideal for all industrial sectors from power plants, to mines and quarries, railways and heavy construction, and the technology is used worldwide to improve production efficiency, reduce equipment downtime and increase operational profitability.
The new AnalexfdMplus Ferrous Debris Monitor.
Further reading
Fuel and oil viscosity measurement and management
Better on-site maintenance through fuel and lubricating oil viscosity management can save time, reduce maintenance costs, decrease down time and increase profit all from a few simple tests
Portable biodiesel field test kit
Kittiwake have developed a biodiesel field test kit which accurately identifies the key factors required for biodiesel to meet the EN14214 standard, and the unit has been on test at Bionic Fuels
Oven temperature controllers
ABB Automation Technologies has supplied 12 ControlIT C351 single loop process controllers to Belgian chemical company Tessenderlo Chemie NV, to control six ovens in a continuous sulphate process
The AnalexfdMplus is the latest fdM ferrous debris monitor from Kittiwake and comes with increased software functionality, a more intuitive interface and a novel sample adaptor system allowing the user to test from a multitude of sample vessels including 4ml pots, 5ml tubes, 5 and 10ml syringes and 50ml bottles.
The AnalexfdMplus is an extremely accurate, repeatable, self-contained, rugged unit designed for use in laboratories, on-site or in remote field locations where laboratory analysis is often impractical or impossible.
It provides engineers with a means of 'on-the-spot' measurement of ferrous wear debris in the lubricant and or grease samples and gives trend-able information assisting the engineer or laboratory technicians with planning preventative maintenance programmes, and helps ensure informed decision-making when assessing machinery and equipment condition.
The beauty of the fdMplus is that it will measure ferrous wear debris in all types of oil - from gearbox lubricants through to hydraulics and as long as you can the sample into one of the many containers, it will take a measurement.
One of the other key benefits is that it will also measure ferrous wear debris found in grease.
The grease sample is placed into a small 5ml pot and this is placed into a special insert allowing a measurement to be taken.
In other words, a totally flexible instrument.
Utilising the latest in Inductive Coil Magnetometry the AnalexfdMplus detects and measures the mass of ferrous wear debris within the sample, irrespective of the size of the wear particles present.
The result is displayed in PPM (parts per million) and can then be trended with accepted linearity over a wide range of ferrous debris content and particle sizes.
The system uses a sensitive magnetometer and will, therefore, only measure metals which are magnetic.
It is necessary to understand the relevance of measuring ferrous wear debris as many people will ask "what about all the other metals?".
Many lubricated compartments are made up mainly of iron and should abnormal wear conditions be occurring it is typically an increase in iron wear debris that will be seen in the first instance.
It is, therefore, vital to have an instrument that will accurately monitor the trend of ferrous debris occurring in the lubricant and if this shows a significant increase this is indicative of abnormal wear conditions occurring thus prompting further investigative action to be taken.
The ability of the AnalexfdMplus to operate on 12v provides access to laboratory grade instrumentation to users in the field.
The remoteness of many industrial plants around the world that do not have ready access to either their own or a commercial laboratory makes this a vital tool.
Specific examples include remote cement plants in India, island power plants and floating power barges in Indonesia and mines in Australia.
With a display resolution of 1ppm and a range (dependant on sample size) of up to 30,000ppm, the unit is an extremely useful on-site tool which can provide readings as fast as you can load the media.
For labs that would like to automate the test process, a robot is available.
Getting Data from the AnalexfdMplus.
Data from each sample is stored in the internal memory which can then be displayed on board the fdMplus either in graphical format or tabular format with easy transfer of data to a host PC by the RS232 interface.
This data transfer provides for trending of the ferrous metals in the oil or grease samples.
With up to 30 groups and 40 pieces of equipment available per group the user can store data in almost any way they like.
Data entry is via a simple and intuitive touch pad screen which can record; Automatic date and time linked to each group, equipment or sample number, along with equipment number or identification and sample number or identification and lubricant Hours (0 - 999999 hrs).
The AnalexfdMplus instrument is the latest development in the on and off-line range of wear debris analysis equipment from Kittiwake and is supplied ready for use in a protective, portable carrying case.
Kittiwake are experts and world leaders in fluid condition monitoring equipment for fuel, oils and water.
Operating worldwide through a network of agents and distributors, Kittiwake provides a complete range of test kits and onsite analysis solutions for marine, industrial and offshore applications.
• Kittiwake Developments: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
