Filter Element Analysis Resolves Contamination Problem

  • Propane Screw Compressor suffered from frequent choking of Oil filter element. Oil filter element was sent to our Principals Lab for analysis.
  • The in-service lubricant was found to contain critical levels of insoluble contamination. This was best evidenced by the fluid’s extreme patch weight, which was nearly 18 times greater than the target level for this application. This value suggested that over a kilogram of insoluble material is suspended in the compressor’s 1458 liters reservoir.
  • The extreme level of particulate contamination observed in this fluid suggests that the mechanical filters on-site are not performing adequately or are overwhelmed by the high contaminant levels present.
  • After detailed evaluation, recommendations were proposed to the client to resolve this problem on permanent basis