If you oversee heavy machinery for use in commercial, industrial, or military applications, you know that equipment maintenance is crucial to your organization's performance and reputation.
Your tools and machines need to operate at the highest possible level around the clock, especially when you rely on them to perform in high-stakes situations in the field.
Keeping machines in optimal condition is a job unto itself.
This job starts with maintaining the engines.
Engines rely on oil and other lubricants in order to function, and the way each engine handles these materials is extremely important.
As such, outfitting your worksite with fluid analysis equipment can be the key to detecting and preventing future damages or failures.
Let's look at a few techniques you can use to sidestep the headache of repair or replacement.
1.
Spectrometer Testing A spectrometer is a device that measures the dynamics of a system in motion.
A fluid analyst can use a spectrometer to observe and model the flow of lubricants in machine engines.
The device's measurements allow you to determine whether oil and other liquids are flowing through the hardware properly and whether metal is being worn or corroded by imperfect flow.
Spectrometer readings present highly detailed results that paint a complete portrait of fluid motion, component wear, and contamination.
These readings will help you determine how to service your equipment to prevent damage and ensure optimal performance.
2.
Degradation and Contamination Testing Excess oil, grease, and other fluids can cling to engine components and become contaminated.
Over time, this brings complications and even engine failures.
Contamination analyzers help you keep tabs on this by analyzing fluids for degradation.
The many chemicals that compose oil and grease degrade over time.
As these chemicals degrade inside an engine, they can start to corrode metal components and severely damage your equipment.
With the right instruments, you can peek in to see how far along this degradation process is.
In this way, you can detect any contamination that needs to be cleared away to improve performance.
3.
Particle Analysis Just as spectrometer testing models the flow of liquids, particle analysis uses high-powered instruments to map the motion and concentration of solid elements inside a piece of hardware.
This process reads the size and distribution of solid particles that move through the engine, allowing you to determine where materials are gathering or clogging.
4.
Turnkey Systems for Consolidated Analysis Depending on the scope of your fluid analysis needs, you may want to consider implementing a state-of-the-art turnkey system to monitor your equipment.
Turnkey setups come decked out with the software you'll need to perform the analyses listed above, and they allow you to check the status of all your hardware in one consolidated tracking system.
Whether you run an analysis laboratory or just manage a large amount of high-grade, sensitive hardware that needs close monitoring, turnkey systems can streamline your maintenance responsibilities.
All of these fluid analysis techniques will save your organization time, money, and stress.
They allow you to service equipment before a failure occurs, and they save you the expense of repairing your hardware unnecessarily.