By Jim Fitch
Practicing Oil Analysis Magazine
The analysis of power train lubricants for the purpose of detecting faults and abnormal wear patterns is a well developed practice in mobile equipment applications. However, these same techniques don’t always transfer successfully into stationary equipment applications for many users.
In recent years new approaches and techniques have been advanced to substantially improve the detection of incipient and developing faults in bearings and gear units using wear debris analysis. The approach is more systemic as opposed to the application of any singular new or emerging technology.
It begins with improvements in the sampling process to enrich the data and proceeds through the use of specific strategies and tactics. After detection is confirmed, the final analytical phase involves wear particle identification using both classic and advanced techniques.