Measuring Moisture in Oil - VAISALA - #2

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Ref. B210963EN-A ©Vaisala 2010 This material is subject to copyright protection, with all copyrights retained by Vaisala and its individual partners. All rights reserved. Any logos and/or product names are trademarks of Vaisala or its individual partners. The reproduction, transfer, distribution or storage of information contained in this brochure in any form without the prior written consent of Vaisala is strictly prohibited. All specifications — technical included — are subject to change without notice. For more information, visit www.vaisala.com or contact us at sales@vaisala.com ust like air, every fluid (e.g. lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids, jet fuels) has the ability to hold water in the dissolved state below the saturation point. Once the saturation point of that fluid has been reached, any additional water that enters the fluid will separate out into “free water” which can be seen as a distinct layer - usually below the oil. 6. What is the benefit of measuring aw versus ppm? The saturation point of most fluids is affected not only by the base oil type, additives, emulsifiers and anti-oxidants, but also by the fluid’s age, temperature and the chemical reactions that take place over the life of the fluid. awis a parameter that will always indicate how close a fluid is to reaching its saturation point. PPM can also give you the same indication, provided that : 1. the saturation point of the fluid is known, and 2. the saturation point remains constant. This is best illustrated by the following example: Brand new oil, temp: 90¢ªC Absolute water content: 500 ppm Saturation point: 1000 ppm This oil can hold another 500 ppm before it becomes saturated. Same oil after 6 months of use, temp: 35¢ªC Absolute water content: 500 ppm Saturation point: 550 ppm This oil can only hold another 50 ppm before it becomes saturated. In the above example, the oil has undergone a drop in temperature and aged 6 months. Although the absolute water content did not change (500 ppm – no new water entered the oil), the margin to the saturation point changed dramatically from 500 ppm to only 50 ppm! In other words, if ppm was the only parameter you were monitoring, there would be no indication to warn you that your oil has come dangerously close to the saturation point. However, if you were monitoring water activity, you would have seen the reading change from 0.50 aw (500ppm/1000ppm) to 0.91 aw (500ppm/550 ppm). 7. Does the sensor need to be programmed or calibrated to each specific fluid you are using? No. Each sensor comes calibrated from our lab with a NIST traceable certificate included. Since the sensor measures moisture content based on an absorption principle, it does not need to know the saturation point of the fluid. The sensor simply absorbs or desorbs water to establish equilibrium with the surrounding oil/water solution. 8. In which fluids can the sensor be used? In the ten plus years since Vaisala launched its first moisture in oil transmitter, we have been successful in nearly all transformer oil, lubricating oil, and hydraulic fluid applications we have encountered. We have also experienced good performance in jet fuel and phosphate ester fluids. If you are working with a fluid outside of these types of liquids, please contact Vaisala to check for compatibility with our sensor. On-line measurement of moisture in oil is an essential part of a comprehensive, predictive maintenance program for transformers. Continuous measurement of moisture in the lubrication system of a paper machine can dramatically improve bearing life and eliminate machine downtime. Power turbine maintenance costs can be significantly reduced by real-time monitoring of moisture levels in turbine lubricating oil and hydraulic fluids. Typical Applications: