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Onboard Oil Condition Monitoring
01 Jun 2006
Condition monitoring of fuels and lubricants used onboard has become one of the main weapons in the fight to reduce premature failure of marine propulsion units, gearboxes and hydraulic systems. In particular, determining the presence of water or the gradual degradation of TBN (Total Base Number) of the engine oil can be one of the first indicators of potentially expensive and possibly catastrophic failure of the plant.
Water can enter the oil from many sources including condensation, leakage and malfunction of the oil treatment system. Water in the oil can cause corrosion, cavitation and additive package instability as well as encouraging the growth of unwelcome microorganisms.
Regular sampling and analysis of fuel, lubrication and hydraulic oils enables the engineer to assess the condition and performance of the machine oil over time, allowing adjustments to be made to ensure maximum operational performance.
Kittiwake Developments Ltd, the UK based specialist producer of oil test kits, equipment and sampling products provides the tools necessary for marine engineers to conduct these crucial maintenance routines.
The DIGI Test cell is a piece of essential equipment designed to analyse multiple oil breakdown characteristics. The dual purpose DIGI Test cell can measure both 'Water in Oil' and 'Total Base Number' (TBN) in one unit. This easy to use device provides a fast and accurate digital measurement for each parameter, allowing the engineer to effectively monitor and manage the condition of the oil and the equipment in which it is used.
An indication of the cleanliness of hydraulic oil can be achieved using the new Kittiwake Hydraulic Particle Contaminants test kit. This low cost, portable solution provides hig-level qualitative test results that can be readily utilised onboard.
In addition, Kittiwake's recently upgraded ECON TAN Drop test kit provides a rapid, accurate and easy to use test to check for increasing levels of TAN, caused by oxidation of the lubricant.
Used regularly, these tests provide a wealth of useful information to aid onboard preventative maintenance.
For engineers wishing to test for a single parameter such as Water in Oil or TBN only, Kittiwake also provides an analogue test cell for each characteristic. The ECON Test cells are available either as individual units or as part of an onboard test laboratory kit.
MJInformation No: 21988
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