Frequently Asked Questions

Answers

RULER offers significant information on the condition of a lubricant by monitoring the antioxidant concentration. In comparison to other methods for antioxidant measurement, the RULER method is an on-site lubricant analysis method, which performs fast, is easy to use, and is consistent and accurate.

1. Being an On-site lubricant analysis method, the RULER will contribute to new or existing condition monitoring programs, by determining antioxidant depletion levels.
2. As part of Condition Based Maintenance strategies the RULER will be of high added value by establishing trends of antioxidant depletion for individual equipment which may have different operating characteristics.
3. At the same time it will alert the user to changes in operating conditions by observing variations in the depletion rate of antioxidants. Once the normal depletion trend of the individual antioxidants have been established, accelerated antioxidant depletion rates can be used to detect abnormally operating equipment.
4. Remaining Useful Life of a lubricant can be calculated based on RULER Time-series Test results, and avoiding the excessive degradation of lubricant base oils.
5. RULER saves money by optimizing use of lubricants, extending the use of lubricant in many cases, saving wear and repair of equipment when timely lubricant drains are used.
6. RULER can be used for Quality Control and Assurance of incoming lubricant batches.

RULER integrates well with state of the art Condition Monitoring programs, and adds different dimensions that laboratories do not do.

1. The RULER method will look forward to oxidation (proactive test method), rather than Acid number of viscosity, which are only reactive test methods, once the dramatic changes have occurred to your oil.
2. The RULER method is a fast method (less than minute to perform), which requires small (50-400µl) lubricant volumes.
3. It complements spectroscopy, HPDSC and FTIR with accurate trending of additive depletion.
4. RULER has the feature of detecting antioxidants individually, and their corresponding depletion rate For synergistic mixtures of antioxidants on modern lubricants
5. RULER is an excellent screening tool for on-site evaluation when immediate results are desirable.
6. RULER provides an economic screening tool for minimizing the use of expensive and time consuming test such as RPVOT such as for turbine and R&O lubricants.
7. RULER's "early warning system" will avoid excessive wear, breakdowns, repair and replacement of equipment, saving time and money.

As antioxidants play a major role in the Useful Life of a lubricant, the RULER analysis will give you valuable information regarding correct lubricant change intervals. The RULER will allow on-site lubricant professionals and management to be more autonomous by making on-site decisions as well making significant savings.

1. There is money to be saved in establishing a reliable method of determining lubricant change intervals. Arbitrary time/distance criteria are not always the best parameter, and extending lubricant drain intervals necessitates on-site lubricant analysis.
2. Antioxidant depletion is a "safe" criteria to use because it informs the user of the condition of the lubricant before serious problems occur. Changes in the rate of antioxidant depletion may indicate a problem that needs further investigation (like additional lubricant analysis).
3. RULER method is an ASTM approved test which will help you to save costs for analysis, oil change
4. Once implemented, the RULER will forever change the manner in which lubricant oxidation is managed, and routine used oil analysis is performed. Monitoring the oil's ability to resist oxidation with RUL trending occurs in the proactive monitoring domain, as described above, just with the objective to avoid base oil degradation.

In this modern world of global economical activities, the value of Efficient Maintenance Programs is becoming increasingly more important. Oil Condition Monitoring Programs have been recognized as a factor to achieve Proactive Maintenance Programs by addressing the following 3 major parameters :

1. RULER helps lubricant professional to work proactively on the condition of the oil, by listening to your oil
2. Make quick and reliable decisions to increase equipment availability, and reduce maintenance costs
3. Intergrate method as part of standardized used oil methods, and international used oil laboratory network.

Any on-site oil analysis program requires the following information on the lubricant condition, in order to be classified as proactive:

• RULER optimizes usage of Lubricants and fluids. It offers savings in purchase of lubricants and in disposal costs.
• Quick, easy to use, cost of test low vs. sending samples outside for analysis.
• Better information for determining the Remaining Useful Life of Lubricants.
• Careful use can help avoid conditions that cause bearing wear and corrosive wear. Cost savings.
• Reduce the downtime costs or any costs associated with a machine's failure, including the duration of the loss of production time.
• RULER will help the user towards proactive maintenance. Even the quality of incoming batches of lubricants can be verified by the RULER.
• Use of RULER should reduce cost of repair and replace of components and equipment by providing early warning of conditions which generate excessive temperatures, and leakage of air or water into the lubrication system.
• Use of RULER technology should increase productivity by avoiding unnecessary preventive procedures and determining timely lubricant changes which help avoid equipment wear and failure.
• Proactive information on RUL% is preferred over measurements of oxidation (reactive) such as TAN increase, color change, or viscosity increase.
• Antioxidant depletion rates (trending) will help to identify the root causes of oxidation. RUL information on 1 oil sample is too limited to contribute, but an oil analysis frequency adapted to the equipment, will result in a useful trending graph.
• Turn the alarm signals generated by the RUL information into actions, in order to prevent severe lubricant oxidation. Earlier papers have indicated that large batches of lubricant can be saved from severe oxidation, by topping off the reservoir, as long as remaining concentration of antioxidants is not below warning levels, between 20 and 30%.

With the RULER CE320 technology we meet the requirements from Modern Maintenance Technologies, by bringing the Oil Analysis at your fingertips. From the many benefits, you will find a short selection below:

1. RULER is a portable instrument, with a rugged industrial design for use in industrial, on-site locations.
2. RULER applies easy to use software powered by Windows CE software.
3. RULER CE320 instrument has a super flex touch screen for easy operation, and can store over 100 tests and standards
4. RULER has an in-built easy link for data export to desktop or laptop PC
5. RULER is battery operated with a long-life lithium-ion rechargeable battery
6. Test results are easily understood, providing numbers, which can be used to track degradation trends by maintenance people, and simple methods for calculating the RUL of lubricants.
7. Experience demonstrates that critical levels of additive depletion can be identified and used as criteria for decisions about lubricant drains and equipment condition.
8. RULER can be used to test auxiliary equipment that sometimes is left out of the lubricant analysis program. This can be done on an as needed basis or for spot checking, or preferably on a regular schedule.
9. RULER will pay for itself through lubricant savings and improved combined lubricant and equipment monitoring, resulting in improved uptime and production.
10. Fluitec International Team has, through its worldwide exposure, build up a wide expertise in lubricant condition monitoring, which we are ready to deal with end-users. Training sessions, seminars, and user manuals are only a few of the tools we apply to achieve a high level of customer satisfaction.

All methods of lubricant analysis provide specific information in a very complex technology involving both physical, and chemical properties, as well as outside contaminants which need to be monitored.

1. RULER can only be used on lubricants, which contain at least 1 type of antioxidant. As the RULER is focused on the chemical condition of the lubricant it measures specifically antioxidant additives and multi-functional (p.e. ZDDP) with both antiwear as antioxidant capabilities.
2. RULER can not be used on lubricants for detection of sulphurised antiwear EP (extreme pressure) additives.
3. RULER is not designed to be a condition-monitoring tool for wear analysis.
4. RULER can if necessary measure weak acids formed by oxidation (RULER Acid Number - RAN). The combination of RAN with Antioxidant analysis will result in the highest added value for preventive condition monitoring.

There are several benefits for companies interested in contributing to a cleaner environment, and realizing savings related to problems that environmental regulations impose on industry.

1. The RULER instrument and the philosophy of Remaining Useful Life for Condition Monitoring will impact the environment through a reduction of lubricants disposal.
2. Adopting the policy of using lubricants to their optimal use will result in best possible use of lubricants. This will influence the amount of lubricants used in relation to supply. Good stewardship of valuable natural resources is essential to maintaining a good quality of life on our planet.
3. The possibility of extending life of some lubricants in certain applications through timely additive replenishment offers an additional benefit for users who so desire.
4. RULER uses environment friendly solvents, which are easily disposed of and offer minimal precautions in their handling.
5. RULER solutions are not toxic to the user in external contact, and the method does not involve contact with the skin.
6. The amount of solvent consumed per test is minimal (5ml) in comparison with other methods for testing lubricants for TAN or TBN.

FLUITEC International experiences have shown that the RULER can be used on a wide variety of industrial lubricants, which should contain at least 1 type of antioxidant. For multiple antioxidants chemistry, the RULER has the ability to detect individual antioxidants. The RULER technology and its RUL measurement is applied for a wide range of lubricants, as well variety of plant equipment within external laboratory-based or on-site instrument-based oil analysis programs. Below we list a selection of the RULER applications:

1. Steam and gas turbine lubricants
2. Industrial lubricating and circulating oils
3. Hydraulic oils
4. Compressor oils
5. Greases
6. Aircraft jet engine oils
7. Gas and biogas engines
8. Heavy Duty, railway, and marine diesel engines

A Proactive Condition-Monitoring program is based on 3 major aspects: Obtaining representative samples and testing at appropriate intervals, Trending and interpretation of analysis data, which are leading to the right actions Proactive & preventive aspect by implementing actions/ follow-up

1. Sampling frequency or schedules are depending from the type, criticality and severity of usage of the equipment.
2. Frequency vary between 2-3 months for critical hydraulic, compressor or gas turbine equipment to 3-6 months for steam turbine, gear oils.
3. For Diesel and Automotive Engine oils, OEM mostly specifies the sampling frequency or drainage interval in their regulatory instructions or guidelines.
4. Aircraft and helicopter engine oils sampling frequency varies between 25 to maximum 50 operating hours.

During the use of lubricants they can both suffer from thermal and/or oxidative stresses, which will degrade the chemical composition of the lubricant's basestock and deplete the lubricant's additive package.

1. Oxidation Is the chemical reaction of a lubricant at elevated temperatures between the dissolved atmospheric oxygen and the base-oil.
2. During the oxidation, as hydrocarbon molecules will break down, reaction products will be formed, better known as radicals (very reactive chemical compounds). Subsequent reactions of these radicals lead to the formation of peroxides, and must therefore be quenched (see figure 1b) by the antioxidants to preserve the lubricant integrity, or its Remaining Useful Life, RUL.

The Remaining Useful Life of a lubricant is the length of engine operating time from when a lubricant is sampled, until the antioxidants are depleted. This results in large changes in the basestock's physical properties, and formation of insoluble gums or sludge.

In the industry 2 main categories of antioxidants are applied, better known as:

• Primary antioxidants - by removing the radicals or better known as radical scavengers, during the propagation step. Amines (DPA, PANA) and hindered phenols are characteristic types of primary antioxidants, widely used in industrial lubricants. Therefore these type of ashless antioxidants go straight to the root of the problem and prevent deposits from forming in the first place.
• Secondary antioxidants - act by eliminating peroxides (hydroperoxide decomposers) and to form non-reactive products that do no participate in further oxidation of the lubricant. Zinc dithiophosphates, or better known under the name of ZnDtP or ZDDP, phosphites and phosphonites belongs to this class of antioxidants (1,5).
• Mixed antioxidant systems - When two or more antioxidants are added to oil, an antioxidant effect is frequently observed in excess of either additive introduced individually. Antioxidants are often used in synergistic mixtures in modern lubricant formulations, to achieve an extended lubricant life, where one of the antioxidants sacrifices itself in preservation and regeneration of the other. A realistic example is the synergy between amines and phenols (1,2,3 &8) whereby the hindered phenols give excellent protection at low-temperature regimes (and deplete first), while the amine antioxidants are more effective in extending lubricant life at higher temperature ranges.