Water Contamination! The Kryptonite of Lubricants.

Lubricant is the lifeblood of our turbines and is considered a powerful asset—some might even call it a hero. However, like many heroes, it has a secret weakness: water. Water contamination in lubricating fluids has been a significant issue since the advent of advanced turbine systems. When left unchecked, water contamination can expose the vulnerabilities of your hero.

That’s why understanding water contamination and knowing how to detect and remove it is not only smart maintenance but also critical for the proper functioning of turbine systems.

Water Contamination in Lubricating Fluids: A Silent Threat

Water is one of the most harmful contaminants in hydraulic and lubricating systems, causing chemical degradation in ester-based lubricants and accelerating oxidation and acid formation in mineral oils. Water contamination appears in three forms: free, emulsified, and dissolved, each requiring different removal methods. Often, standard maintenance technologies fail to address all three forms, resulting in costly downtime.

This is where oil analysis becomes more than a routine task; it is a vital tool in your maintenance strategy. Collecting regular oil samples and conducting analysis provides the insight you need to manage your lubricant’s lifecycle and protect your most critical systems from contaminants like water. There are two key methods outlined by ASTM for detecting water content in lubricants: ASTM D6304-20 & ASTM D7546-15.

“It starts slow and often goes unnoticed, but once water contaminates the lubricant, the effects cannot be ignored.”

Did you know that as little as 1% water can reduce a bearing’s life by 90%? Water can accelerate oxidation by up to 10 times, and can chemically react with certain synthetic materials, producing acids. This contamination leads to sludge buildup, corrosion, and clogged filters.

While Superman may have no cure for exposure to kryptonite, the solution for water contamination is simple, impactful, and requires minimal effort.

The Tale of the Preventative Maintenance Hero

In a world of roaring turbines, one element reigns supreme: the lubricant. Silent, tireless, and essential, it flows through systems like blood through veins, protecting against wear and tear to keep machines alive.

However, even the strongest Titan has a weakness. For lubricants, that weakness is water—the kryptonite of lubrication. Water creeps in unnoticed, in the form of mist, vapour, and droplets. It attacks from within, oxidizes oil, creates acids, and ruthlessly reduces bearing life. Despite the lubricant’s valiant efforts, each drop of contamination weakens it further, leading to system failures and inevitable downtime.

Just when hope seemed lost, a quiet force emerged from the shadows of innovation: TMR® N2.

It doesn’t boast; instead, like a true hero, it vigilantly watches over the reservoir, replacing harmful oxygen with a blanket of high-purity nitrogen. Invisible yet powerful, it forms a barrier against the very elements that threaten to compromise the lubricant.

With TMR N2, there is:

• No more water
• No more oxidation
• No more premature failure

TMR N2 requires no complex controls or expensive vacuum systems—just clean, simple, passive protection—a low-effort, high-impact hero, always on duty.

Thus, in the battle against water contamination, the lubricant finally found an ally: TMR N2, a Preventive Maintenance Hero.

Reintroducing the TMR N2 Product Line

The TMR N2 series is low-effort, high-impact equipment designed to passively protect your reservoir by eliminating atmospheric water ingress using high-purity nitrogen. This nitrogen is introduced into the reservoir’s headspace above the lubricant surface, forming a nitrogen blanket. As the clean, dry nitrogen circulates across the reservoir, it creates an insulating layer that prevents oxygen and other contaminants from entering the oil, thus eliminating the risk of atmospheric water ingression.

Key Benefits:

• Removes water and oxygen from the reservoir headspace
• Inhibits oil breakdown and retains dissolved gases
• Reduces biological activity in the breather and demister elements
• Easy to retrofit, requiring no complex systems or high energy use
• Suitable for most hydrocarbon-based fluids

 Unlocking the potential of TMR N2

Conclusion

Water may be the kryptonite to lubricants, but unlike Superman, your system doesn’t have to succumb to its effects. By understanding the dangers of water contamination and its impact on lubricant health and equipment reliability, you can take control before it escalates into a crisis.

The TMR N2 product line offers a proactive defence: a straightforward, innovative solution that quietly and effectively protects your lubricant from water ingress and oxidation, thereby extending the lifespan of your lubricant. Shut the door on water contamination in lubricating fluids and install the TMR N2.

TMR N2: Low Effort, High Impact, Preventative Maintenance Hero.