Importance of fluid cleanliness in

hydraulics
Looking to the modern machinery requirements
hydraulics play a very active & crucial role in machine
drives. As the high-precision machinery uses advanced
hydraulic components like axial pumps & proportional
valves maintenance of such elements is the most vital
necessity.
In hydraulics more than 80% of problems are due to
contaminated fluid & so it is important to keep system
fluid very clean & free of contaminants. Looking to these
points latest concepts & methods of oil cleaning should be
taken in prime consideration.

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Tasks of a Hydraulic Filter
 Particle Proportions

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Diameter in µm

Human hair

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5
1
Bearing Fine/coarse
lubrication film particle
 Contamination Classes
NAS 12 ISO 21/18 NAS 9 ISO 18/15

Fresh oil, Fresh oil,

delivery in barrels delivery in tank trucks

NAS 7 ISO 15/13 NAS 5 ISO 14/11

Fresh oil, Required for modern

delivery in mini containers hydraulic systems

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Filtration Technology Development
Year Development Filtration rate
1940 First use of air and oil filters for 100 µm
engines; strainers
1950 Big increase of hydraulic
applications and so filtration
1960 Use of star pleated 50 to 100 µm
mesh packs with inner core
1970 Development of paper and up to 3 µm
metall fleece elements nominal
1980 Launch of the Multipass Test, up to 3 µm
start of absolute filtration absolute
1990 Absolute filtration in all applications 1 µm and 2µm
absolute
 Origins of Contamination
• External contamination
• Internal contamination
• Assembly
• Initial contamination
• Abrasion
• New oil
• Repairs

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 Effects of contamination (Wear due to
dirt particles)

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 Clearances in various hydraulic
components-01

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 Surface & Depth filtration

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 Filter arrangement in hydraulic system

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 Suction line filter

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 Pressure Line Filter

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Typical selection chart for pressure line
filters

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 Return Line Filter

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 Typical selection chart for suction &
return filters

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 Filler & Breather with filling sieve

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 Typical selection chart for filter in
breather

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Cleanliness classes as per ISO 4406

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 Cleanliness classes as per NAS-1638

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 Comparison of Contamination
Classifications

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 Recommended filter pore sizes for
Rexroth components

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 Degree of separation Beta ratio

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 Filter efficiency

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 Some facts about contamination
problem & filters
From time to time development has taken place for better method of
oil cleaning. A continuous research & innovation is going on world-
wide for Better & better filter technology.
Contamination ingress in hydraulic system cannot be brought to zero.
To clean the oil to a certain class is not difficult but what difficult is, to
maintain that cleanliness level consistently during working cycles.
As you go for fine filter you should be more careful & prompt to keep
watch on filter clogging & replacement.
We cannot keep hydraulic systems healthy without filters &
protection to hydraulic system can be given by on-line filters only &
not by other off-line cleaning methods.

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 Electrostatic cleaning method
Electrostatic cleaning can
be useful to control micro-
level contaminants.
Particularly if your main
trouble is fine particles this
can be very useful method
for off-line cleaning.

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 Working principle of ELC machine

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 Cleaning range of ELC M/c. (General
Idea)

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 Filter is a must

• ELC is good technique for removal of micro-level

contamination. ELC concept reduces the danger of
hydraulic system malfunction where very small particles
can affect severely. Moreover continuous running of ELC
systems reduces load on working filters of the system.
• But a misconception that ELC can take place of filtration
should be removed from one’s mind. On-line safety of
hydraulic components can be achieved with protection
filters only & not with ELC methods.

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 The Drive & Control Company

Thanks for your attention

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