Technique for detecting and categorizing particles in a used lube oil resulting from wear or contamination. In the test, an oil sample flows through a small orifice with a light source on one side and an optical sensor on the other. The pulse generated by interruption of the light source is proportional to the size of each particle. Large particles, greater than 10-15 microns, portend fatigue-related catastrophic equipment failure. Standard particle count is the NAS-1638 (National Aerospace Standard). Only from the NAS-1638 can the ISO-4406 Solid Contamination Code be derived. By the NAS test a laser passes through a specified opening, as the fluid pass through, perpendicular to the laser source, particles and debris block out the laser source and by measuring the time of blockage determine the size of particles. Information provides both size and distribution. Sizes and range vary with test method.
PARTICLE COUNT STANDARDS CLEANLINESS STANDARDS
NAS-1638 MIL-1246
Other non-direct particle count methods include: Flow Rate Decay, Electro Conductivity, Optical Density Equivalent, Magnetic Mass Equitant and others. In the test, algorithms are calculated to approximate the particle quantities in each given size range.
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