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Understanding the root cause of the symptoms that are observed on your machinery?

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It is observed across the spectrum that whenever we see issues/symptoms like : 1. Oxidized oil 2. Destructive pitting 3. Excessive vibration 4. Abrasive wear 5. Cavitation 6. Machinery abnormal noise 7. Wear debris generation 8. High running temperature We usually believe in either Repairing, Replacing, Rebuilding and Removing the affected component. However, it only subsides the symptoms temporarily. This approach is called the 4-R approach and it weeds out the issue from the surface and not at the root level and hence the problem reoccurs. Call +91 7030901266 for Mechanical Maintenance & Oil Check. However, we should aim at studying these symptoms and work on the root causes. Some of the very frequent root causes that cause the above-mentioned symptoms are: 1. Misalignment 2. Wrong oil usage 3. Moisture 4. Machinery part imbalance 5. Particle contamination 6. Air contamination Hence, we should aim at 5I approach i.e. It’s clean, It’s Cool, I

NAS 5 lube oil cleanliness achieved through High Velocity Lube Oil Flushing System

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Place:  A steel plant in Rourkela with production capacity - 4.5 MTPA Date of Execution:  20th July 2019 Equipment Criticality:  High Background:  A Steam turbine blower was to be commissioned in a steel plant by a leading EPC company, the pipelines were erected on the site and as per the Standard Operating Procedure listed by the Steel Plant Owner Company the flushing was completed with a single auxiliary pump at 1500 LPM. However, during the trial run of the turbine, the inline lube oil filters would clog very frequently and lead to halted operations.  Problem Statement: Frequent clogging of inline lube oil filters were hindering the operations and delaying the steam turbine commissioning project. Underlying Issues:  On inspection, a root cause analysis was done and the required rate for effective flushing was calculated as 3500 LPM. The Particle contamination level was also found to be NAS 10. Hence following things were concluded: 1. The rate at which flushing wa

Are you experiencing sub-optimal results even after changing filters?

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We have talked about how to procure filters and what specifications to look for, but selecting the filter according to the specifications doesn’t ensure the best results if a filter is not employed properly. In this article, we will discuss a few factors which can impair a filter's performance. I hope you have read these 2 articles: 1. http://bit.ly/35J0Vuy  2. http://bit.ly/2QInSKi Whenever you are experiencing sub-optimal results even after changing filters, below are some possibilities which should be checked for :  1. Collapsed center tube 2. Inconsistent media quality 3. Damaged or burst filter media – fatigue 4. Bypass at filter media seam 5. Bypass due to adhesive failure 6. Damaged gasket or O-ring seal 7. Bypass valve jammed in open/closed position 8. Installation error, installing a filter in the opposite flow direction 9. Bypass valve leakage 10. Misaligned filter and seal If none of the above factors contribute to the sub-optimal functioning of your filters we sug

Understanding of the BETA Factor.

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We concluded in our last article on  Beta Factor . In this article, we will talk more about BETA Factor for buying new filters. What is the Beta Ratio? The beta ratio refers to the efficiency in which a given filter element removes the particle of a given size. The Beta Ratio is calculated using the  ISO  multi-pass test standard 16889:1999 How is it measured? The test involves adding particles of a known size to the test fluid until the fluid reaches a saturation point and then bringing the filter online to remove particles in one pass through the element. It is important to consider that the beta ratio is valid for a particular size of the particle. For Example for a 5-micron filter, how many particles are above 5-micron mark in upstream of the filter and how many are downstream is measured. And then by using the below formula, the Beta Ratio is calculated. Source:  https://www.machinerylubrication.com/ Each Beta factor corresponds to an efficiency of the filter

Are you buying the right Oil Filter?

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Have you ever thought when you raise a requirement for a particular filter let’s say a 10-micron filter you get a range of prices some being ridiculously low and some being higher than most, and all claim to give the best 10-micron filter? We get tricked at this point and without looking at differences we think that the only differentiator is the profit margin and procure the filter with the least price.  For filter check contact -  +91 7030901266. Let’s try to understand the real reason for the price difference. There are two types of filter ratings:  1.  Absolute:  Filter Rating meaning 99.9% of the particles larger than a specified micron rating will be trapped on or within the filter. 2.  Nominal:  Filter Rating indicating the approximate size particle, the majority of which will not pass through the filter. It is generally interpreted as meaning that 85% of the particles of the size equal to the nominal filter rating will be retained by the filter. So, a vendor quoti

“Do you know 60% of Hydraulic Pumps sent in for Rebuilt had nothing wrong with them”

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Did you know that how we maintain our machines can be classified in various types and what is interesting to note is each technique has some benefits and some consequences. In this article, we will understand different types of   maintenance techniques   their pros and cons along with a brief guideline on how they impact a company’s cost structure with some interesting facts. Contact  Minimac  to schedule maintenance:  +91 7030901266 There are four types of maintenance strategies:  1.  Reactive Maintenance:  Maintenance is scheduled in response to operational failure. This type of maintenance is very useful for lowering initial cost, reducing manpower cost as you need fewer staff members and doesn’t require any planning. On the contrary, this strategy compels you to keep more inventory to brace for unexpected failure. This not only leads to a higher cost but also makes the project budgets unpredictable. 2.  Preventive Maintenance:  Maintenance is scheduled according to hi

Is your new Oil free from Contaminants?

Whenever we experience  contamination   in our oil our instant reaction or resort is to change the lubricant and replace it with a new one. But the question is, is our new oil free from contaminants?  Contact  Minimac  for oil check:  +91 7030901266 Lubricants are supplied in two forms i.e. in  bulk through tankers  and in the  packaged form  such as steel drums, plastic drums/cans. Both of these options are prone to the risk of lubricant degradation in storage. Let’s understand how to maintain fresh and clean inventory. 1.  Product Labelling : This is key to avoid any cross-contamination or old stocking of lubricants. A label should reflect the following: a. The date container has been opened. b.  Purchase & delivery date of the drum c.  Product name d.  Inventory code e.  Storage location f.  Min & Max inventory levels 2.  Inventory management : Minimum and Maximum level of the lubricants should be set in order to manage the ordering of the oils to avoi