Best practice contamination control techniques using hygroscopic breathers
Now implementing best practice contamination control techniques, maintaining clean, dry lubricants and gaining the profitability that goes with it , is easier than ever.
Innovative hygroscopic breathers available from jbj Techniques use a unique filtration process to remove moisture and particles before they enter the system, so treating the cause of problems rather than the symptoms. From an environmental point of view, they can reduce energy consumption by up to 20%.
Moisture and particle accumulation are major factors of oil and hydraulic fluid contamination in industrial equipment. Neglected, these detriments restrict equipment efficiency, cause machine downtime and significant expense in replacement fluids, parts and labour repair. But jbj Techniques has a solution, in the form of the hygroscopic breathers.
These hygroscopic breathers incorporate a proven, field-tested design. They prevent water and contaminants from entering fluid reservoirs as differential pressures occur through thermal expansion and contraction of the fluid, or during the filling or emptying process.
Manufactured with a hygroscopic agent, they have the capability to extract water vapour from the air as it is drawn through the unit. Accompanying solid particles are then removed by a patented polyester fabric filter, allowing only clean, dry air to enter the system.
By stopping solid particles from 0.5 micron and by drying air, these filter breathers can significantly increase the lifetimes of lubricants, fluids and associated mechanical and hydraulic equipment.
Also, directly and indirectly, hygroscopic filters decrease replacement frequency for in-line filters and lubricants and decrease the risk of failures, given that statistically 90% of failures are generated by a bad or polluted fluid.
In addition, because of the visual change indicator of the desiccant filter, users have immediate feedback about a potential failure before having a shut-down of the machine.
Environmental benefits
Hygroscopic breathers can also play an important role in helping manufacturers to reach targets in pollution prevention and sustainable developments.
Because the desiccant filters maintain and optimise the quality of the fluid, efficiency of systems is optimised, resulting in reduced energy consumption. Case studies indicate that energy consumption can be decreased by as much as 30%.
In addition, as a result of the effectiveness of the design, users will have to replace lubricants, fluids, in-line filters, and mechanical and hydraulic components less frequently, they will spend less money in waste treatment.
jbj Techniques can point to numerous case studies where these hygroscopic filters are saving money and offering environmental benefits. One hundred of these breathers are used in the Thames Barrier hydraulic system.
Another example is a hydraulically-driven glass footbridge at the Paris International Airport, France, with a hygroscopic breather on board. The manufacturer, ThyssenKrupp, specifies the breathers to eliminate the downtime caused by fluid contamination.
And the airport uses hygroscopic breathers on most ground support and baggage handling equipment. Elsewhere, Nordco, a major supplier of ground support equipment used by major airlines, uses hygroscopic breathers to prevent cold weather hydraulic complications.
In the plastics industry, Clopay Plastics of Kentucky, USA, has ’accessorised’ gearboxes on its machines with hygroscopic breathers for easy oil analysis and lubrication best practice.
And in the electricity industry, NES (Nashville Electric Service) uses these breathers to protect a $1.2 million mobile substation that is used in emergency situations to provide power to surrounding counties.
Now implementing best practice contamination control techniques, maintaining clean, dry lubricants and gaining the profitability that goes with it , is easier than ever.
Details: www.jbj.co.uk/hygroscopicbreathers.html
jbj Techniques
-
Electromagnetic clutches for mobile applications
-
#DriveLineHarmony
-
Planetary Gearboxes from jbj Techniques Ltd.
