Off-Board Fluid Filtration

1.0 Introduction The performance expectations for components and systems on modern mining machines have grown rapidly in the past two decades. This has driven the design of hydraulic systems to operate at much higher pressures, and dramatically increased the load factor on drivetrain components. The increased performance demands also increase the rate of abrasive wear and failure of components compared to older designs, which operated at lower load factors. 2.0 Best Practice Description 2.1 Debris In order to increase durability, it is necessary...

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Measuring Oil Cleanliness

1.0 Introduction Maximizing component life requires maintaining high levels of fluid cleanliness. The ability to effectively and consistently measure debris in fluids is a key element in catching failures before they occur. Laser particle counters are used to measure the amount of debris in oil. These units may be permanent installations in an oil analysis lab or portable units for field use. Lab units are more repeatable and have less variability, but transportation to a lab and processing could take up to two days. Portable units provide real-time...

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