Hydraulic Fluid Cleanliness Tester

Maintaining System Reliability with the Hydraulic Fluid Cleanliness Tester

Introduction
Contaminant particles in hydraulic fluids can damage pumps, valves, and actuators, leading to costly failures. The Hydraulic Fluid Cleanliness Tester from Changsha Friend Experimental Analysis Instrument Co., Ltd. automates particle counting and air-bubble detection to ensure fluid cleanliness meets ISO 4406 or NAS 1638 standards, safeguarding hydraulic system performance.

Testing Principle
Utilizing an optical particle counter and bubble detection module, the instrument draws a defined volume of fluid (e.g., 50 mL) through a precision flow cell. A light source illuminates the fluid, and a photodetector counts and sizes particles in predefined size ranges (e.g., >4 µm, >6 µm, >14 µm, >21 µm). In parallel, an acoustic or optical sensor measures entrained air volume. Cleanliness codes (e.g., ISO 19/17/14) are computed automatically.

Design Highlights

• High-Resolution Optics: Detects particles down to 2 µm with size-bin accuracy of ±0.2 µm.

• Automated Sample Filtration: Bypass filters large debris to prevent flow-cell clogging, enabling uninterrupted operation.

• Integrated Air Bubble Sensor: Uses ultrasonic transducers to quantify dissolved and entrained air content.

• Rapid Throughput: Completes a full cleanliness and air test in under 2 minutes per sample.

• Data Management: Stores historical cleanliness trends, issues alerts when thresholds are exceeded, and exports to LIMS.

Industry Applications

• Mobile Hydraulics: Construction and agricultural equipment manufacturers verify fluid cleanliness before assembly.

• Industrial Hydraulics: Presses, injection molding machines, and power units benefit from routine fluid monitoring to prevent costly downtime.

• Aerospace Ground Equipment: Gas turbine and flight-control hydraulic systems require strict fluid cleanliness to ensure reliability.

• Maintenance Facilities: On-site fluid analysis enables immediate corrective actions—filtration, breathe-new-life additive dosing, or fluid replacement.

Best Practices

1. Sample Collection: Draw fluid from system off-line ports with minimal aeration; avoid suction-side sampling that may entrain air.

2. Calibration: Use certified microsphere standards to verify particle-count accuracy monthly.

3. Filter Maintenance: Replace bypass filters according to pressure differential alarms to maintain flow consistency.

4. Trend Analysis: Establish baseline cleanliness levels and track deviations that may signal system seal failures or contamination ingress.

By implementing routine cleanliness testing, organizations can detect contamination trends early, extend component life, and minimize unscheduled maintenance on hydraulic systems.