Functions of hydraulic oil and the reasons of its contamination
There are four basic functions of hydraulic oil: 1. To act as an energy transmission medium 2. To Lubricate internal moving parts of components 3. To act as a heat transfer medium 4. To seal clearances between moving parts If any of these functions is impaired, the hydraulic system in the equipment/rigs will not perform as designed. The resulting downtime can cost a lot in Dollar and increase the operating cost for any rig/operations on field. Proper hydraulic fluid maintenance helps to prevent or reduce breakdown maintenance. This is accomplished through continuous improvement program that minimizes and removes contaminants. Hydraulic fluid is expected to create a lubricating film to keep precision parts separated. Ideally, the film is thick enough to completely fill the clearance between moving parts. This condition results in low wear rates. When the wear rate is kept low enough, a component is likely to reach its intended life expectancy. The actual thickness of a lubricating fi