Filter Debris Analysis (FDA) reveals the wealth of information trapped in filters. Along with oil analysis, it delivers a comprehensive assessment of machine wear. FDA is key for industries that include aviation, heavy machinery and energy—wind in particular--to identify wear patterns, contamination sources, and mechanical issues.
With standard oil analysis, only particles circulating in the oil that are smaller than the filter size or immediately released into the oil prior to filtering are available for analysis. As a result, as much as 95% of debris is caught in the filter and never ends up in an oil sample. Filter Debris Analysis captures this otherwise lost information.
By analyzing particles trapped in filters, lab technicians may be able to assess the type, size, and composition of debris to determine whether it originates from normal wear, corrosion, or more severe damage such bearing or gear failure. Metallic particles, for instance, can indicate abnormal wear, while non-metallic contaminants might suggest environmental contamination or lubricant degradation. FDA also helps predict component longevity, allowing for proactive maintenance that reduces downtime and prevents costly repairs. Without FDA, there may be no warning that a severe wear mode was occurring.
FILTER DEBRIS ANALYSIS AND WIND TURBINES
FDA is especially important for wind turbines for a number of reasons.
• Detects Component Wear Early: In the face of extreme operating conditions, FDA helps detect early signs of wear, such as metal particles from gears and bearings.
• Prevents Costly Downtime: Since wind turbines operate in remote locations, repairs can be expensive. Identifying potential failures early through FDA allows for predictive maintenance.
• Optimizes Lubrication System Performance: Wind turbines rely on specialized lubricants for efficient operation. FDA helps assess the effectiveness of the lubricant and filters, ensuring they are trapping contaminants effectively.
• Extends Equipment Life: By identifying abnormal debris patterns, operators can take corrective actions to prevent further damage.
• Aids in Understanding Failure Modes: FDA provides insight into the type and source of debris, helping engineers understand failure modes and improve turbine design.
• Regulatory and Warranty Compliance: Many wind turbine OEMs and maintenance contracts require regular condition monitoring, including FDA, to ensure compliance with operational guidelines and warranty conditions.
While FDA is fairly straightforward in other applications, it can be a challenge with wind turbines because of sampling and access issues; differentiating between external and internal contaminants; the complexity of lubrication systems; and extreme environmental and weather factors.
Regardless of the industry, Eurofins TestOil generally recommends FDA if customers are seeing issues such as high differential pressure with the filter, increased wear metals in the fluid, escalating vibration analysis readings, etc.
If a catastrophic failure is pending, FDA is likely to reveal it. For example, it’s a safe bet that if there are many very large metallic particles, something serious is going on. Thus, the cost-saving potential associated with FDA is very high.
Eurofins TestOil also offers FDA follow up with other advanced tests such as Material Identification Analysis (MIA) which will identify a large amount of unusual organic contamination in the filter.
For more information on working with Eurofins TestOil for FDA and oil analysis programs or training opportunities, fill out the form below; visit https://testoil.com/company/contact-us/; call 216-251-2510; or email sales@testoil.com.
About Eurofins TestOil
With more than 30 years of experience in the oil analysis industry, Eurofins TestOil focuses exclusively on assisting industrial facilities with reducing maintenance costs and avoiding unexpected downtime through oil and fuel analysis program implementation. As industry experts in diagnosing oil-related issues in equipment such as turbines, hydraulics, gearboxes, pumps, compressors and diesel generators, Eurofins TestOil provides customers with same-day turnaround on routine oil analysis testing. For more information on partnering with Eurofins TestOil on oil analysis programs or training opportunities visit https://testoil.com. Contact: Al Yates 216-251-2510; sales@testoil.com.
About Eurofins – the global leader in bio-analysis
Eurofins is Testing for Life. Eurofins is the global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing, and in discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and agroscience Contract Research services. Eurofins is also a market leader in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, and in the support of clinical studies, as well as in BioPharma Contract Development and Manufacturing. The Group also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products.
With over 61,000 staff across a network of 940 laboratories in 59 countries, Eurofins’ companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods. Eurofins Shares are listed on Euronext Paris Stock Exchange.
