is the 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.
Information provides both size and distribution. Sizes and range vary
with test method.
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.
Also see chromatography,
ferrography,
infrared analysis,
spectrographic analysis.
Application
Notes:
