Water is a common form of contamination of lubricant and equipment. It can enter through the seals, vents, breathers, or any other openings in the housing. The amount of water in the lubricant is most often caused by environmental conditions such as humidity, rain, and large temperature changes. People can also cause water ingression; through steam quenching or wash down of the equipment, and improper storage and handling methods.

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Water contamination can cause damaging effects to the lubricant and the equipment. Increase oxidation, increase viscosity, aeration, and additive depletion are some of the problems associated with water contamination in the lubricant. It can also effect the equipment causing corrosion, cavitation, silting, and a reduction of the EHD film thickness. By understanding the effects of water contamination, it is easy to see how crucial it is to reduce or eliminate it.

Once water contamination has entered the lubricant, it can exist in one or more of the following forms; dissolved, emulsified, or free water. Dissolved water contains water molecules that are dispersed one-by-one through the air in contact with, or within the lubricant. This form of water is invisible to the naked eye. Emulsified water contains microscopic pockets of water that are dispersed in stable suspension in the oil, as the oil ages this area of water will expand. This form of water causes the lubricant to look cloudy. The final form is free water, it is the phase separation of emulsified water. Free water when mixed with the lubricant readily settles to the bottom of the equipment. The most damaging forms of water contamination, to the lubricant and equipment, are emulsified and free water

The EASZ-1 is a very easy tool to install. It can measure total water i.e. water in oil in all its forms. More importantly it can measure it immediately with a response time of 1 second . The sensing elements are robust and measure and increase in dissolved, emulsified or free water in oil as it is actually occurring. The EASZ-1 does not have to wait for a temperature equilibrium to occur between sensing element and liquid media. Built in temperature compensation and digital circuits enhance its accuracy and sensors do not need to be frequently replaced or recalibrated. Should the client wish to test or recalibrate the unit to known oils, this function can be performed on site with an RS 232 cable and commands through a terminal emulator such as hyperterminal