Electrostatic Discharge and Filtration
The introduction of new hydraulic and lubricant oils which conform to the latest ash-free standards through the elimination of traditional anti-wear additives, mainly zinc, has meant that these oils have been rendered non-conductive. Non-conductive fluids passing through high performance filters with a modest hydraulic load will produce a static charge which will be carried in the fluid around the system.
Problems occur in the following areas:
- Static discharge through the filter element burns holes in the filter media rendering the filter useless.
- Static discharge in the oil will burn it and cause it to age prematurely.
- Static discharge can create explosive hazards, e.g. in systems and hazardous zones.
- Static discharge could affect electronic equipment and either damage or cause inconsistent malfunction from electromagnetic waves.
A video of this phenomenon can be seen here.
Read more about this topic: Hydraulic Engineering
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