Maintenance Technology April 2015 - (Page 19)
HYDRAULIC-SYSTEM TIPS
Despite their workhorse reputation,
the hydraulic systems in your plant
may need more attention than
they've been getting.
IN MANY FACILITIES, hydraulic-system maintenance
involves little more than changing filters, sampling oil
and checking oil levels. Be advised, however: "If it ain't
broke, don't fix it," is not a best practice.
According to Certified Fluid Power Specialist Al
Smiley, every hydraulic system in a plant should
regularly undergo 15-20 reliability tests-while the
equipment is running. Several checks and procedures
can be performed during down days or shutdowns.
Smiley offers these preventive maintenance tips to help
improve the reliability of your system.
Reservoir
The best time to check a reservoir is when the plant or
hydraulic equipment is down. Note, too, that reservoirs
on these systems should be cleaned at least once a year.
Other than oil storage, the two main purposes of the
reservoir are to allow contaminants to settle
and to dissipate heat. If the reservoir is
not cleaned, not only will its ability
to dissipate heat be diminished,
it will act as a heat sink.
Temperatures can easily
soar well above
the maximum
recommended
temperature
APRIL 2015
of 140 F. At that point, oil
will begin to break down, creating
sludge and varnish in the system. If the
contaminants are not removed from the reservoir,
they will be drawn into the pump, causing premature
failure of system components.
To prevent large contaminant particles from entering
the pump, many reservoirs contain a suction strainer (#6
in diagram on page 20). The suction strainer usually has
a 74-micron rating, whereas the tolerances inside pumps
and valves are 3- to 8-micron. Be sure to use a lint-free
cloth when cleaning out the reservoir. If using a solvent
for this task, make sure it's recommended for hydraulic
systems. Even very small amounts of the wrong solvent
can impair certain additives.
System cleaning and flushing
When oil is removed from the reservoir it should be
filtered to 1 micron into a storage tank with a flushing
and filtering unit that will remove solid contaminants
and water. A number of commercially available units
can be used for this. Unless the oil is severely degraded,
it is not necessary (or desirable) to change it. Run the oil
through the 1-micron filters when refilling the unit, after
the reservoir has been cleaned. The entire system should
then be flushed to clean oil in the lines to the valves and
actuators.
MAINTENANCETECHNOLOGY.COM | 19
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Maintenance Technology April 2015
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maintenance Technology April 2015
Maintenance Technology April 2015 - Cover1
Maintenance Technology April 2015 - Cover2
Maintenance Technology April 2015 - 1
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Maintenance Technology April 2015 - Cover3
Maintenance Technology April 2015 - Cover4
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