Oil purification is very important thing in safety of flights. Purified oil will run smoother with less contaminants to cause undue friction and heat. Read this article and find out more.
A number of systems are at constant work in an airplane that keep it aloft and on course. The machinery is put through a number of difficult stresses; from the bitter cold of high altitudes to the hot operating temperatures during equipment warm up. Maintaining peak operation is an imperative to ensuring that an airplane that safely takes off is able to safely touch down at its designation. That safety comes down to ensuring the mechanical systems are able to perform their function with consistency. A primary factor of that consistency is the lubrication used in the systems.
A study by Caterpillar found that dirt and contamination are the number one causes of hydraulic system failure. Not only that, but it is far ahead of any other major causes for hydraulic failure. Thus, the importance of keeping a pristine hydraulic system can not be overstated. That is one of the main areas where oil purification steps in to help ensure the safety of a given flight.
Most oil purification systems can be brought right to where the oil is. This saves on potential spills and the need to handle the oil for transport in a compliant way. The oil will then be ran through the purification system multiple times to strain out any number of harmful contaminants. Debris, water, and air bubbles are all thoroughly removed from the oil before it is reintroduced to the hydraulic system. It is often not necessary to change any oil filters when purifying oil. Changing filters is typically done when the actual oil itself is changed out for new oil.
Debris is harmful and can create clogs in various narrow areas of the hydraulic system. Should it happen to catch a hold somewhere, more debris streaming past it could pile up on it and effectively form a dam. That dam will stop the easy transfer of oil through the hydraulic system where it needs to be. Water causes changes in pressure as the machinery works hard. It may cause the system to perform differently than it otherwise would without the water present. It does not have the viscosity of oil so it will not perform the same way in the same circumstances. Air bubbles are problematic for much the same reason. They can create discrepancies in the way the machinery functions under normal circumstances.
Improving flight safety through the purification of the oil used in the systems is a simple matter. Purified oil will run smoother with less contaminants to cause undue friction and heat. The improved flow will prevent any contaminants that do find their way in from building up in a choke point to effectively cut off the flow. That increased efficiency directly translates into less system failures which provides an increase in overall safe operation and longer lasting equipment.
Oil purification does more than simply add to the safety of a flight though. It is also considered an environmentally sound practice as it allows the recycling of the oil rather than disposing of it and replacing it. Advances in technology have made it a very affordable, efficient process that anyone involved in the aerospace industry can utilize.
