Addressing Industry-Specific Coolant Concerns with Analysis

Maintaining your cooling system does not have to be a complicated task or result in a neglected system. Understanding the fluid and equipment needs are key to proper maintenance in the field. With proper maintenance, the fluid and equipment health can provide the adequate functions to protect and remove heat from the component parts as needed.

Different applications and environments play a critical role and can exacerbate potential problems that may hinder the cooling systems ability to circulate, remove heat and then dissipate the heat before circulating again through the system. These functions are critical for the cooling system to maintain and protect the equipment. Adequate coolant testing based on industry can identify possible issues and/or concerns. Because the fluid chemistry plays a critical role in the cooling system’s ability to transfer heat and prevent corrosion which protects overall system health.

Off-Highway/Construction

In today’s market, there is a high demand to maintain equipment. The average life for most fleets is 3.5 to 4 years, however, due to supply issues and current economic conditions, many are looking to extend the life of their fleet. Common coolant system concerns that can result in issues are often overlooked until failure occurs. These concerns can be monitored as part of an effective predictive maintenance program:

  • High Temperature Issues
    • Glycol concentration
  • Chemistry Issues
    • Corrosion inhibitor
    • Mixing
  • Contamination
    • Scale hardness
    • Glycol degradation

Manufacturing

Higher ambient temperatures in different equipment types may require different fluids to maintain system temperatures. Monitoring and knowing the fluid types are key for proper maintenance. Common coolant system concerns to monitor include:

  • OEM Requirements and Coolant Supplier Support
    • Understanding equipment recommendation for glycol to water concentrations
  • Contamination Issues
    • Scale hardness
    • Glycol degradation

Power Generation

The duty cycle for this industry is “long term, low maintenance” requiring a focus on the coolant chemistry. Typically, fluids in the system are in a state of inactivity. Operating only when needed, when serviced or when demand is required. Common coolant concerns to monitor are:

  • Contamination
    • Degradation acids
    • Grounding concerns
    • Air leak
    • Scale
  • High temperature
    • Glycol concentration
      • Maintain proper OEM glycol to water concentration
    • Chemistry issues:
      • Corrosion inhibitor
      • Mixing

Marine

The marine industry encompasses a large range of coolant systems; however, these systems will be deployed with very little access to repair parts or facilities for extended times. Increasing the system’s integrity is critical. There is a wide variety of coolant formulations to meet proper regulations and knowing the coolant formulation is key for making adjustments when needed.

  • Chemistry issues
    • Mixing
    • Maintaining proper fluid corrosion inhibitor levels
    • Understanding equipment recommendation for glycol to water concentrations
  • Contamination issues
    • Air leaks
    • Internal/External contamination concerns

Transportation

With concerns of raising inflation, high fuel prices and changes in supply availability demands, keeping equipment in operation and extending all fluid life are becoming more of a necessity. Common coolant system concerns (often overlooked until related failure occurs) can be monitored as part of an effective predictive maintenance program.

  • High Temperature Issues
    • Glycol concentration
      • Freeze point and boil point protection
    • Chemistry issues
      • Corrosion inhibitor
      • Mixing
    • Contamination
      • Scale hardness
      • Glycol degradation

Learn more about test methods for coolants here.

Overall, all industries will have similar goals to maintain equipment and get the full life from the equipment as expected, if not longer. With proper fluid analysis and monitoring, concerns can be identified early before further damage internal causes a premature failure.

If you’re interested in learning more about recommended coolant testing and analysis for different industries, sign up for our upcoming webinar What Coolant Testing is Right for You? on August 25, 2022 at 11 a.m. ET.

Register Here

Reach out to our team to see how we can support your fluid analysis program and help increase uptime in your fleet.

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Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published July 28, 2022

A Program Snapshot: HORIZON® Management Reports for Lube Marketers

The HORIZON data management system is robust in all that it can provide to a fluid analysis program. Team training is conducted on features like the Dashboard, Reading a Sample Report, Equipment List Management, Mobile App and Sample Submission – which are all important for program success. But, one feature of HORIZON that is often underutilized or undertrained is Management Reports. These reports provide lube marketers and program champions an overview of their fluid analysis program and provides specific areas for improvement.

There are twelve management report options in HORIZON. This means you can view twelve different sets of data in different areas of your program. For lubricant marketers specifically, the information provided in these reports can provide a look at how distributors and end users are utilizing their fluid analysis programs offered through the lube manufacturer.

Out of the twelve reports, there are three that I believe have significant value when it comes to information lube marketers are looking for: Program Condition, Turnaround Time and Severity Summary. A lubricant marketer can use the information provided in these reports as a touchpoint by sharing a snapshot of the overall program. This ensures the loyalty and pride in their product and the information provided will show that their distributors and end users are successfully monitoring the condition of their equipment.

Program Condition Report

When reviewing the first section of the Program Condition Report, components due/overdue, you can see if the equipment is being tested and if the integrity of equipment is still in tack. The program condition data tells you if the team is being compliant and testing regularly – and it can be the starting point to set a trackable goal.

Turnaround Time Report

The Turnaround Time Report is crucial to program success, too. The information provided in this report reassures the laboratory is meeting their goal and the samples are getting to the laboratory within five days of sample being collected.

The report helps identify areas of improvement, for example, shipping challenges. The graph provides a topic of conversation that some folks may not think about: the importance of getting samples to the laboratory as soon as possible to get results fast and avoid any potential downtime.

Severity Summary Report

The Severity Summary Report will help identify trending of the results, either up or down. This allows the users get in front of a potential problem and help identify some actions that needs to be taken. This opens up a discussion of the lubricants and where some improvements can be made.

 

If you are a lubricant marketer, I encourage you take a look at the management reports HORIZON offers. These reports make it easy to get a high-level overview of your customers, distributors and end users’ use of their fluid analysis program. If you need assistance, reach out to your account manager!

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published July 15, 2022