Let's dive into a big question: When should we change the turbine oil in power plants? This question came up when I talked to someone who works at a power plant. There are two ways to decide when to change the oil: old-school thinking versus new-school thinking. The...
Oil analysis success hinges on the quality of the oil sample. Drawing a representative oil sample involves a combination of factors, including selecting the right location, deploying the right method, using the right hardware, determining the right sampling frequency,...
Lubricants are often thought of as a machine's lifeblood. To protect machine investment and perform as designed, their needs and end-user requirements must be understood and met with diligence. Getting the most out of your lubricants requires a lubrication management...
What Is Microdieseling? Microdieseling occurs when entrained air moves from low-pressure zones to high-pressure in a lubrication system, reaching localized temperatures above 1000°C and carbonizing the oil. The term microdieseling got its name from the diesel engine....
We all find ourselves participating in some leadership training these days. Most, if not all, of these are corporate or human resource-driven based on a well-intentioned company desire to strengthen the organizational culture. This desire is driven by an underlying...
Companies enhance workforce efficiency and performance through various strategies. The most significant labor group is the production sector. Managers, where possible, have integrated operators into systematic, structured, and occasionally complex pre-shift equipment...
In the maintenance world, tools are indispensable because they allow a maintainer to perform and complete work safely, consistently, and efficiently. When we think of tools, most immediately picture a handheld device used to accomplish a task. Only some will recognize...
Technologies for monitoring machine vibration levels have been around for decades. The further development of such technologies, however, has been relatively slow. With the rapid advancement of digital component technologies providing ever-new opportunities, time has...
In the late 1980s, I took one of the hardest courses of my graduate studies - quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is the physics and math behind how all matter is formed and interacts with the world around it. Amongst other things, quantum mechanics can answer some...
Most lubricant products include a "best before date" on the packaging and labeling materials. Provided as a "when to use by" guide, these dates are based on a manufacturer's projected shelf life of a product when stored as directed, per information on its packaging....
