Posted to News on 15th Feb 2010, 00:00
Hydroscopic breathers boost performance
These innovative hydroscopic breathers from JBJ Techniques use a unique filtration process to remove moisture and particles before they enter the system, so treating the cause of problems rather than the symptoms. And, from an environmental point of view, they can reduce energy consumption by up to 20%.
Moisture and particle accu-mulation are major factors of oil and hydraulic fluid contamination in industrial equipment. Neglected, these detriments restrict equipment efficiency, cause machine downtime and significant expense in replacement fluids, parts and labour repair. But JBJ Techniques has a solution, in the form of the DesCase hydroscopic breathers.
The DesCase breathers incorporate a proven, field-tested design. They prevent water and contaminants from entering fluid reservoirs as differential pressures occur through thermal expansion and contraction of the fluid, or during the filling or emptying process. Manu-factured with a hydroscopic agent, they have the capability to extract water vapour from the air as it is drawn through the unit. Accompanying solid particles are then removed by a patented polyester fabric filter, allowing only clean, dry air to enter the system.
By stopping solid particles from 0.5 micron and by drying air, DesCase filter breathers can significantly increase the lifetimes of lubricants, fluids and associated mechanical and hydraulic equipment. Also, directly and indirectly, DesCase filters decrease replacement frequency for in-line filters and lubricants and decrease the risk of failures, given that statistically 90% of failures are generated by a bad or polluted fluid. In addition, because of the visual change indicator of the DesCase dessicant filter, users have immediate feedback about a potential failure before having a shut-down of the machine.
Environmental benefits
DesCase breathers can also play an important role in helping manufacturers to reach targets in pollution prevention and sustainable developments. Because the DesCase dessicant filters maintain and optimise the quality of the fluid, efficiency of systems is optimised, resulting in reduced energy consump-tion. Case studies indicate that energy consumption can be decreased by as much as 30%.
In addition, as a result of the effectiveness of the design, users will have to replace lubricants, fluids, in-line filters, and mechanical and hydraulic components less frequently, they will spend less money in waste treatment.
JBJ Techniques can point to numerous case studies where the DesCase filters are saving money and offering environmental benefits. One example is a hydraulically-driven glass footbridge at the Paris International Airport, France, with a DesCase breather on board. The manufacturer, ThyssenKrupp, specifies the breathers to eliminate the downtime caused by fluid contamination. And the airport uses DesCase breathers on most ground support and baggage handling equipment. Elsewhere, Nordco, a major supplier of ground support equipment used by major airlines, uses DesCase breathers to prevent cold weather hydraulic complications.
In the plastics industry, Clopay Plastics of Kentucky, USA, has 'accessorised' gearboxes on its machines with DesCase breathers for easy oil analysis and lubrication best practice. And in the electricity industry, NES (Nashville Electric Service) uses DesCase breathers to protect a $1.2 million mobile substation that is used in emergency situations to provide power to surrounding counties.
