UK Power Station Adopts Portable FTIR analyzer for Determining Water in Lubricating Oil

The level of water in lubricating oil is critical to measure and control since it can accelerate oxidation and affect lubrication performance. For years, chemists have relied on Karl Fischer titrations to measure the level of water in lubricating oil. Mr. Richard Wilson, Environmental & Performance Manager for the Ferrybridge Power Station in West Yorkshire, England, has now turned to A2 Technologies’ iPAL portable FTIR analyzer for measuring this critical parameter in the lubricating oil used in the massive turbines at this major power plant.

Mr. Wilson’s article entitled “iPAL FTIR Analyser for Moisture Determination in Lubricating Oils – An Advancement over Karl Fisher Titration” outlines a number of reasons why his plant has adopted this new technology. The article states that speed, ease and accuracy of measurement is significantly improved with the on-site FTIR analyzer and additionally no reagents are required. Moreover, the FTIR system acts as a check on off-site testing lab measurements that are made when necessary and additionally, the training of operators is far easier to accomplish with the FTIR analyzer, as compared to the Karl Fischer technology. Click Here to Access the Article

Mr. Graham Miller, president of A2 Technologies comments, “The use of the iPAL FTIR analyzer at Ferrybridge for critical analyses of lubricating oil is a good example of why a number of conventional and nuclear power stations are adopting this new technology for a range of applications including measuring moisture in oil, oil in cooling water, additive depletion, lubrication oxidation and biodiesel contamination in diesel fuel. The speed, accuracy, ease of use and on-site measurement capability of the FTIR technology provide compelling reasons for changing how analyses are carried out in these facilities.”