What’s in your oil? Contaminants unseen by the human
eye can significantly affect a plant’s overall output. Thus,
oil analysis is a crucial component to oil and machinery
health. Regular oil analysis can reduce downtime
and extend equipment life—helping save both money and resources.
Sampling products for in-house analysis, as well as outside laboratory
services and training, are among the offerings of the companies
showcased on the following pages.
Emerson Process Management
Emerson Process Management offers a number of CSI oil analysis options to help customers achieve an up to 500% return on their investment in this technology. Emerson offers an on site minilab for industrial oil analysis. Accurate measurement of wear, contamination and chemistry can be accomplished in less than seven minutes using the CSI 5200 Machinery Health® Analyzer. Oilview® software modules are fully integrated with each other and with other technologies through AMS® Suite: Machinery Health Manager software. These modules are also effective as standalone programs. The CSI Oil Lab delivers easy-to-interpret oil analysis reports in both PDF format and as an electronic file, which is easily imported into AMS Machinery Manager.
Emerson Process Management
Knoxville, TN
www.assetweb.com/mhm
Analysts, Inc.
Established in 1960, Analysts, Inc. has five full-service
laboratories, located in the continental United States,
all of which are certified under ISO 9002. All data
evaluators are Certified Lubrication Specialists (CLS) or
Oil Monitoring Analysts (OMA). Data on the condition
of equipment, contamination and physical properties of
lubricants are generated through analysis procedures.
Viscosity, acid number (AN) and water content are
customarily measured. Tests for fuel dilution, Base
Number (BN), LEM® soot measurement, oxidation and
nitration may also be recommended and performed on
a regular basis. Depending on the customer’s program
requirements and system applications, Analysts also
can perform testing for particle count analysis, Ferrography,
dissolved gas analysis, RPVOT testing and other
analytical procedures.
Analysts, Inc.
Torrance, California
www.analystsinc.com
Trico Corporation
Trico offers the latest sampling supplies and accessories—
including sample ports and collection
devices—which are designed to extract system and
component specific samples that are both representative
and repeatable from the best diagnostic locations in the
most effective ways possible. Access to systems is done
through the use of a mating sample port adapter. The
sample port adapter screws onto the sample port. Oil
samples can then be drawn from the system and placed
into a clean sampling bottle for analysis. To guard against
contaminating the sample and for superior leak protection,
Trico sampling ports all feature a check valve and
viton o-ring seal cap. Trico sample ports are available in
several types and sizes to match the varying requirements
of manufacturers.
Trico Corporation
Pewaukee, WI
www.tricocorp.com
Predict
For more than 20 years, Predict has been a provider
of wear particle analysis, training and hardware to
the maintenance industry. Predict offers a full line
of lubricant, grease, fuel, coolant and transformer fluid
analysis tests. Used oil analysis is a package of specific
lubricant tests, which provide analytical results regarding
the quality of a lubricant for an application. Combined
with wear particle analysis, an analysis program can
determine the usability and provide a wear assessment
of equipment. Predict’s laboratory is ISO 9001:2000
certified and employs Certified Lubricant Specialists,
Machine Lubricant Analysts and Chemists.
Predict
Cleveland, OH
www.predictusa.com
Bently Tribology
Services
Bently Tribology Services (BTS) is an independent laboratory that tests
lubricants, fuels (petroleum and bio-based), synthetic machine fluids
and coolants. The company’s laboratories are certified to ISO 9001 and
compliant with ISO/IEC Guide 25 and 10 CFR 50 App. B (Nuclear Power
Quality Assurance) standards. Testing packages are designed with several
factors in mind. Every sample receives a set of required tests that may vary
dependent on the equipment application. In addition to the required tests,
a set of advisable tests are available to perform on any sample deemed to be
abnormal. This second set of tests provides two functions: It serves as corroborators
to the initial screen tests and it serves as root cause analysis indicators.
BTS also can also test for machinery wear and/or contamination problems via
its DoublecheckSM technique.
Bently Tribology Services
Peabody, MA
www.bentlytribology.com
Predictive Service
Predictive Service offers a fully integrated approach to all predictive maintenance
technologies including oil analysis services. Condition monitoring
data—including oil sampling—is collected at regular intervals, providing
analysis and detailed recommended actions. PSC’s trained technicians can
retrieve the samples or train customer’s staff on collection techniques. The
samples are subjected to analysis procedures, which include viscosity, water,
elemental concentration, oxidation, nitrates, sulfites, fuel, glycol, additive
degradation, acid and base level trends and particle counting, among others.
All information is accessed through its Web-based software, ViewPoint®. The
Viewpoint software places vibration, infrared, ultrasound, motor circuit and
oil analysis information into one integrated system. Customer’s can manage
the entire process from problem identification, repair actions and the automated
calculation of cost benefit.
Predictive Service
Cleveland, OH
www.pspcorp.com
A2 Technologies
A2 Technologies was founded on a simple premise: to bring FTIR Spectroscopy
out of the lab and put it into the field, closer to the sample where it
belongs. For forty years FTIR has been recognized as a powerful analytical
tool. It has been, however, a tool of traditional laboratories due to its size, cost
and complexity of the instruments. A2 is broadening the scope and use of FTIR
and bringing it to applications and markets not previously served. A2’s PAL™
FTIR Spectrometer is capable of measuring water in oil at levels that are critical
to the reliable operation of turbine equipment.
A2 Technologies
Danbury, CT
www.a2technologies.com
Louis C. Eitzen Company, Inc.
Aiding in used-oil analysis programs, Louis C. Eitzen Company’s VISGAGE
is a pocketsize viscosity comparator, which quickly and conveniently
measures mineral oil viscosity on location. The VISGAGE will test any
lubricating oil from light spindle to heavy gear oils and is a benefit for companies
using large quantities of oils. This instrument determines oil change intervals,
checks for fuel or coolant dilution and may prevent serious and expensive
equipment problems if used periodically. No stopwatches or thermometers are
required. The VISGAGE can be used to develop a predictive and preventive
maintenance plan by periodic testing of oils.
Louis C. Eitzen Company, Inc.
Glenwood Springs, CO
www.visgage.com
PdMA Corporation
PdMA’s full service, independent lubricant analysis laboratory offers a wide range of tests on oil, grease, coolant, fuel and transformer oil. The company’s laboratory is ISO 9001 Certified, and operates under the 10 CFR50 Appendix B QA Program. They are also licensed to receive radioactive oil samples. All reports have accurate data interpretations and recommended actions coupled with a quick turnaround time. Reports can be generated in various electronic formats.
PdMA Corporation
Tampa, FL
www.pdma.com