One technical challenge we threw their way recently was to determine if our new oil mist oil was compatible with our gearbox oil. (In this purge mist scenario, the oil mist oil filled the vapor space above the gearbox liquid level.) To make it more realistic, we also wanted to consider residual oil previously condensed into the gearbox oil. Thus, we jointly defined a compatibility test with appropriate concentrations level of both oil mist oils with the gear oil – a 3 oil mixture. Over a 7 day period they heated and cooled the mixtures of oils searching for any precipitants or cloudiness that can result from incompatible oils. The good news for us was that we could confidently switch to the new mist oil without concerns over how the three different additive packages and base stocks would co-exist at the expected concentrations.
D. Sterrick, Rotating Equipment Group Leader, Chemical Industry