WorldWide Drilling Resource

28 FEBRUARY 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Hydraulic Training by J. Eric Freimuth Hydraulic Training Associates Revisiting System Cleanliness Part 4 We have been discussing the im- portance of the cleanliness of oil in sys- tems. One important role is to be sure you are using the proper ISO-rated oil. When sending in oil samples, you will receive a report which tells you what the ISO rating of your oil is. This code will inform you of the amount and size of micron particles suspended in your oil and reservoir. Each piece of equip- ment, hydraulic, or engines will specify what ISO-rated oil should be used. To specify the cleanliness level of a given volume of fluid, we refer to what is known as an ISO code, or ISO solid contamination code. This code, which applies to all types of fluid, provides a universal expression of relative cleanli- ness between suppliers and users of hydraulic fluid. To interpret the meaning of these results, a graph like the one here would be consulted. If a rating of 22/18/13 were measured, it would indicate the following: The first number 22 indicates the number of particles greater than or equal to 4 micron in size is more than 20,000 and less than or equal to 40,000 per milliliter. The second number 18 indicates the number of particles greater than or equal to 6 micron in size and more than 1300 and less than or equal to 2500 per mil- liliter. The third number 13 indicates the number of particles greater than or equal to 14 micron in size is more than 40 and less than or equal to 80 per milliliter. T h i s ISO code is meaningful only if it can be related to the required cleanliness level of the hydraulic system. It is usually based on a manufacturer’s requirement for clean- liness levels in which a component may operate. For example: Most servo valves require an ISO code of 15/13/12 or better, while gear pumps may operate adequate- ly in fluids with 18/16/15 ISO. Using the proper ISO-rated oil and being aware of its cleanliness will help to give longevity to your equipment’s per- formance. Oils with too many contami- nants or microns of elements in the oil will compromise the life of your hydraulic system and you will be replacing com- ponents prematurely. Filter placement is critical for main- taining acceptable fluid cleanliness lev- els also. Having filters placed properly will give adequate component protection, reducing machine downtime. In the next issue, we will discuss filter placement. Eric Eric Freimuth may be contacted via e-mail at michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com /( 6,2/ ! )#+" /0 $,/ 1&# )#+" /0 $,/ 1&# 1& ++2 ) & )),4 5-),/ 1',+ /'))#/0 )'+'! -/') ',25 ))0 ,+3#+1',+ #+1#/ ',25 ))0 ,/ *,/# '+$,/* 1',+ !,+1 !1 #3'+ /'#0# ,/ ,))6 '+#0 #3'+ /'#0# 01 1# 0" 20 ,))6 '+#0 01 1# 0" 20 &# 0&,4 $,/ "/ ' ) ) '+% -/,$#00 ',+ ) 0 /,2%&+#!(0 %#,),%'010 #+%'+##/0 +" %,3#/+*#+1 +" -/'3 1# %#+!'#0 '+1#/#01#" '+ 0& )),4 #5-),/ 1',+ 1#!&+'.2#0 +$,/* ) -/#0#+1 1',+0 4')) # %'3#+ !,3#/'+% #5-),/ 1',+ -/,!#"2/#0 +" /#) 1#" #.2'-*#+1 &'0 '0 + ,--,/12+'16 $,/ '+$,/* 1',+ #5!& +%# 6 1&,0# 4,/('+% '+ 1&# 1/#+!&#0 ,$ 1&# %#,1#!&+'! ) $'#)" /#0#+1 1',+0 0#" ,+ 7& +"0 ,+8 #5-#/'#+!#0 4'1& ,1& ,)" +" +#4 1#!&+,),%'#0 0 4#)) 0 #.2'-*#+1 4')) # 0& /#" 6 '+"201/6 /#-/#0#+1 1'3#0 +" !12 ) $'#)" 20#/0