Dr. A. S. Goh- EESIFLO International

Using a water removal system? Need a way to test it on site over time? Now it is possible with the EASZ-1 online water in oil sensor.

In the lubrication world, the vacuum dehydrator has been designed to remove dissolved and free water from industrial lubricating oils. Many claim a latest technology in water dehydration from lubricating oil which can provide a method of removing water down to lower ppm levels in hydraulic oil, turbine oil, quenching oil, cutting oil, and other oils etc. Sometimes a high price is placed on so called “superior” vacuum dehydration technology. These are backed up by in house tests and calculations. However, very few have ventured to put these claims to test on actual site conditions. Such tests are of great benefit to vacuum dehydration manufacturers who have actually done their homework and do actually remove the amounts of water they claim . They are also beneficial to end users who want to evaluate several vendor’s claims in actual conditions over time.

Typically conventional vacuum distillation works on the principle that water boils at 170 °F under 29 inch Hg. vacuum, rather than 212 °F at atmospheric sea level. Dissolved water vaporizes from the vacuum chamber and is drawn into the condenser which turns vapor into water droplets. Vacuum distillation uses a vacuum pump to draw moisture vapor from wet oil.

A manufacturer of a water removal system may propose that their water removal systems are better than others. A case here being manufacturer A and B. “A” claims that it will remove much more water in first, second and third pass dehydration cycles

Water Removal Tests	Vacuum Dehydrator Manufacturer A	Vacuum Dehydrator Manufacturer B
Water content before dehydration	11,000 ppm	11,000 ppm
First pass of dehydration	4,600 ppm	8,500 ppm
Second pass of dehydration	1,600 ppm	6,000 ppm
Third pass of dehydration	120 ppm	2,000 ppm
Forth pass of dehydration	40 ppm	150 ppm
Fifth pass of dehydration	10 ppm	30 ppm

However, there is no way of actually proving these claims at site apart from spot sampling . Spot sampling would assume that a “snapshot” sample represents the entire water/oil mixture across the process. In real life, this is not true. What is actually required is an online “site installed” water in oil /moisture in oil measurement device that can measure in high ranges to ascertain the inlet moisture content. It would also require the same device to be able to measure low ppm values. The EASZ-1 is the perfect device for this application. A unit can be installed in both the inlet and outlet of such a water removal system.

Consultants and factory representatives using the EASZ-1 water in oil monitor will have the possibility of proving actual water removal efficiency at site. The EASZ-1 is a highly accurate water in oil measurement device. A large amount of the process media passes through two sensing plates. Using new digitial techniques it is possible to correlate changes in permittivity that relate to actual changes in water content. These were not previously possible but with the advent of newer and more stable electronics and processors as opposed to older analog techniques, it has become a reality.

The EASZ-1 is also a highly repeatable device that requires no maintenance. Its ability to measure under 35ppm and to higher values of 250,000 ppm make it the instrument of choice. The EASZ-1 has a response time of 1 second, it is loop powered and has adjustable ranges. The unit can be calibrated to almost any known oil whether mineral or synthetic. It is also being used as a water in fuel device for applications such as water in diesel contamination or for fuel oil where combustion efficiency is in question as well as protection of larger and more expensive systems.

For more information on the EASZ-1 , go to http://www.eesiflo.com/products/easz1_01.html or contact your nearest EESIFLO dealer.

EESIFLO International Pte Ltd is an ISO 9001 manufacturer of ultrasonic and dielectric based sensors. It also holds several patents in flow measurement and has a worldwide network of partners and distributors.