Water in oil measurement is generally considered key to an effective oil monitoring and conditioning program. Changes in the water content of oil used in machinery can signal a number of problems . It can reduce lubricating film-strength, which leaves critical surfaces vulnerable to wear and corrosion. Depletes some additives and reacts with others to form corrosive by-products that attack some metals. Reduces filterability and clogs filters. Increases air entrainment ability. Increases the likelihood of cavitation.

Any company manufacturing or using heavy equipment or machinery is concerned with lubrication. Water in oil measurement along with other measurements are generally considered key to an effective oil monitoring and conditioning program.

Lubrication is essential to proper machinery maintenance. An effective oil conditioning and monitoring program can help extend equipment life, reduce scheduled and unscheduled downtime, reduce maintenance costs and extend lubricant change intervals. Having real-time, online water in oil data can eliminate the need to make decisions based on intermittent "snapshot" data acquired from periodic sampling. However, making immediate accurate online water in oil measurements has been a challenge because a lot of the monitors available take quite some time to respond and are sensitive to damage which will mean the client has to replace the sensors on a yearly basis.

The critical need is the ability to detect changes from a baseline rather than simply measuring absolute values. Ideally, these changes would be identified online in real time. This suggests using a fast response capacitance cell with an analogue output that can integrate with other instrumentation can be an early warning system that alerts maintenance to problems as soon as they develop.

Online water in oil must be rugged and reliable enough to operate over extremes of temperature, pressure and vibration. In addition, many applications call for instrumentation that can operate reliably in harsh chemical environments and want to install the instrument and forget about it Something that is reliable and does not require periodic recalibration or frequent maintenance while providing continuous data .

A lot of people will opt for off-line laboratory analysis. The simplest, and perhaps most common, method of measuring total water is a crackle test. Samples can also be sent to the laboratory to be tested using the Karl Fisher method. The only problem with the analysis is that the client has to base his measurement on spot sampling and has to assume that the sample taken at the point and time of day represents all that has gone through the hydraulics. The Easz-1 is not designed to replace spot sampling methods but more to enhance them. An online resistive capacitance cell with a large volume of oil flowing through the sensing elements at all times is able to give the operator important data on trends in the water and oil content of the oil circuits.

As a robust and easy to install device , the EESIFLO EASZ-1 enables manufacturers of compressors, gearboxes and other hydraulic equipment to add water an oil monitoring and control to their products . This can be a plus in many ways since manufacturer's may be concerned about some of their clients suffering equipment problems or failure due to unknown factors. Water in oil monitoring eliminates one of these factors and eliminates or includes water problems in a warranty dispute.

An example in case might be the fact that the sensor can show the different, real-time behavior of new, used and contaminated synthetic oils in a gearbox. New, used and contaminated oils each have a different capacitance value. The value of the new oil is lowest. The value for the contaminated oil will again be different because water has seeped into the gearbox.

Other applications include continuous and accurate monitoring of water contamination in Lubrication Oils,Heavy Fuel Oils and Hydraulic Oils.

The EASZ-1 is a unique system which provides Operators of all types of Engines, Turbines, Thrusters, Azipods, Gears, Separators and Stabilizers with a means of continuous monitoring of the oil systems for possible water contamination. The EESIFLO EASZ-1 is economically priced, does not require continual sensor replacement and is designed to work in harsher environments.

For more information, please contact your local EESIFLO representative