Recently, a few of our team members created a video to help a customer with a minor issue they were having. We thought that if one customer might have the issue, another might, also, so we uploaded the video, How to Remove a Cambridge Viscosity 500 Series Viscometer Piston, in case it could help other customers.
Did you know we have a global representative network that supports Cambridge viscometers all over the world? We decided to reach out to a few of them to get their thoughts on the compressor industry. The first rep we talked to is Suzhou TAIEN, who is responsible for viscometer sales and support in China.
When compressor manufacturers design a new compressor model, part of the process includes determining the type of refrigerant and the accompanying lubricating oil, which is necessary to reduce friction on metal parts, reduce wear on the compressor, and extend the life of the system. The company must conduct extensive testing to ensure proper energy efficiency and functionality. The lubricant has a significant impact on the performance of the compressor. Over-lubrication can impact the compressor’s ability to cool properly, but too much refrigerant will lead to more wear and a shorter compressor lifecycle.
If there’s anything that we’ve learned in 30+ years of business, it’s that our customers are smart. Often, you’re the best in your field. You know your industry as well as you know the face looking back at you in the mirror.
When it comes to rotating equipment, it’s a question of when—not if—a failure will occur. Engine breakdowns, for example, are often caused when the bearings in rotating parts fail. What does this have to do with viscosity, you may be wondering. Faulty bearings can generally be traced to one of three issues: 1) Severe service conditions, 2) improper handling or installation, or 3) poor lubrication.
The need for accurate and reliable viscosity measurement in high pressures and temperatures spans many applications across multiple industries. Oil exploration, enhanced oil recovery, and bearing analysis are just a few. Cambridge Viscosity has a long history of meeting these challenges. The key is in the SPL-440 sensor, which is the heart of the VISCOlab PVT. Our new white paper touches on why viscosity measurement is so important when it comes to oil extraction.
Download the White Paper: Achieving Accurate Viscosity Measurement in Conditions of Extreme Pressure and Temperature
Managing lubricant viscosity is essential to maintaining the health of a compressor in a process plant, because a single compressor failure can cost $10,000 a day or more in lost revenue. Considering it’s another $10,000 to rebuild a compressor, or more than $100,000 to replace a compressor, maintaining the health and performance of compressors is important.
There is always some level of uncertainty in comparing on-line viscosity measurements with laboratory measurements. When it comes to viscosity analysis, a major reason for that uncertainty – and inconsistent measurements – is because the fluids are, in fact, under different conditions.
Safety eyewear has never been more important than right now. In an industry that was already growing at a rate of 4% CAGR, with a projection to reach $3B by 2025, the COVID pandemic created a massive surge in demand for safety eyewear in 2020.
Almost two months ago, while those of us in the United States were enjoying our Thanksgiving holiday, our associates in Italy were holding a webinar on viscosity measurement in pressroom converters. This event inspired a series of material discussing the coating application, including last week’s blog highlighting factors that influence viscosity measurement in the pressroom converter application.
Spring and wire products are a substantial market – estimated to reach $468B by the end of 2020. Wire is widely used in manufactured goods, including electronics, automobiles, motors, transformers, and a wide array of other products. The coating on the wire is possibly the single most important variable in wire quality, and viscosity plays an important role in ensuring quality.
In shipping vessels, “bunker” refers to the fuel and lube oils that are stored on the ship and used for machinery operation. When the fuel or oil is intended for transfer to another ship for use in its machinery, the operation to transport the oil is called “bunkering.”
When it comes to coatings, product quality can live or die by viscosity. A too-viscous mixture can result in bubbling and an inconsistent, bumpy, “orange-peel” texture. A solution that is not viscous enough can result in a coating that is too thin, drippy, or saggy. Plus, depending on the application, a coating that is too thin may not provide the necessary top-coat protection. In either case, a coating that has an off-spec viscosity in either direction can result in product rejection or product failure.
