Fluid power systems are extremely susceptible to particle contamination and problems which follow due to all the moving parts. Hydraulic components are subject to high pressure and tight tolerances, this means any contamination from internal or external sources can cause a lot of damage quickly.
The following statistics relate to failures from contamination.
- 70%-80% of hydraulic equipment failures are due to hydraulic fluid contamination.
- Particulate as small as 2 micron can cause significant issues within a hydraulic system.
- The most commonly used filters capture particles from 5-20 microns. Using a high quality filter can help improve prevention.
Not all fluid analysis tests are going to detect all the contamination within a system. Some will enter the system directly from damaged seals, dirty equipment or debris that has built up within the system. The biggest concern is silt sized particles from 1 – 10 micron in size, which many filters are not designed to efficiently remove such small particles. Second to hard particle contamination is water found in hydraulics. Water causes problems in a number of ways, primarily any contact with an iron or steel surface will begin to rust. This can induce premature failure due to corrosion, as well as introduce rust particles into the fluid.
So it’s clear to see that contamination can be a big problem for hydraulic systems. It is critical that hydraulic fluid be checked regularly and systems kept clean and dry. A well designed hydraulic system is generally trouble free, but even the best system can run into problems if operated with poorly treated hydraulic oils that allow contaminants to build up.
