EFFECTIVE WATER REMOVAL FOR LUBRICANT AND

HYDRAULIC FLUID RESERVOIRS

We are pleased to provide you with our information package on Water Removal for
Lubricant and Hydraulic Fluid Reservoirs.

Water is the most common and damaging contaminant found in hydraulic and lubricating
systems. In this package we provide a white paper overview of the challenges associated
with water and details on the available solutions and how to properly select these tools.

EPT’s Water Removal Solutions combine best-in-class technology with world-class

expertise to provide guaranteed results. Please review our Product Specification Sheets
for details on how our technology can improve your maintenance program.

As a starting point, we offer a complimentary oil analysis and comprehensive evaluation

(ACE™) assessment that will allow our experts to review your current situation and
make practical recommendations to alleviate common issues that frequently impair
equipment reliability.

Thank you for your interest.

Peter
Peter Dufresne Jr.
Executive Vice President, Package Details
EPT
1. White Paper – Effectively Eliminating Water Contamination from Hydraulic and
Lubricating Fluids
2. Product Specification Sheets
a. TMR™ Air Total Moisture Removal System
b. TMR™ N2 Total Moisture Removal System
3. Complimentary ACE™ Assessment form

When Results Matter

WHITE PAPER
Effectively Eliminating
Water Contamination
from Hydraulic and
Lubricating Fluids
 Effectively Eliminating Water Contamination
from Hydraulic and Lubricating Fluids

Water is the most common and damaging contaminant found in hydraulic

and lubricating systems. All mechanical systems have a certain tolerance for
contamination, but in many cases these tolerances are lost due to ineffective
maintenance. Therefore, eliminating this failure pathway by adding an effec-
tive water removal program to your lubricant maintenance, is an essential
step in achieving reliability targets.
From an equipment perspective, you can easily double the life of your
mechanical systems by reducing water levels (Table 1). Doubling equipment
life also increases the “trouble-free” operating window and reliability of
“ Water is the
most common
equipment, and significantly decreases the risk of production losses.
and damaging
Table 1—Equipment life extension of a rolling element bearing from reduced water. contaminant found
NEW MOISTURE LEVEL in hydraulic and
lubricating systems.
”
1000 500 250 100 50
Moisture
(0.1%) (0.05%) (0.025%) (0.01%) (0.005%)

5000 2.3x 3.3x 4.8x 7.8x 11.2x

2500 1.6x 2.3x 3.3x 5.4x 7.8x
1000 1.4x 2.0x 3.3x 4.8x
500 1.4x 2.3x 3.3x
250 1.5x 2.3x
100 1.4x
Source: SKF and Oklahoma State University

1 When Results Matter

 Effectively Eliminating Water Contamination
from Hydraulic and Lubricating Fluids

WATER IS A PRIMARY CAUSE OF

LUBRICANT FAILURE
Lubricant breakdown is caused by oxidation and hydrolysis. Any ester-based
lubricant is sensitive to hydrolysis, which is the breakdown of the original
base stock through reaction with water. Water reverses the chemical process
originally used to manufacture the ester, so managing water levels is a key
component to the effective maintenance of these lubricants.

“ Water
While mineral oils are not sensitive to hydrolysis in the same way as ester-
based lubricants, water shortens lubricant life by promoting oxidation, acid
can exist in
formation, and may also remove additives. Aside from temperature, the rate
of oxidation is based on the amount of water, oxygen, and metal catalysts
3 forms: free, dissolved
that are present. and emulsified…just
THE BASIS FOR EFFECTIVE WATER because you cannot
REMOVAL see water, does not
For proactive hydraulic and lubricating fluid maintenance, the program needs
to move beyond reactionary measures and actually manage the drivers
of oxidation where possible. In doing so, you can significantly reduce the
mean it is not there.
”
amount of maintenance required and extend lubricant life.
Water can exist in 3 forms: free, dissolved and emulsified. Free water is the
excess water above the fluid’s saturation point and is visible as a separate
layer (Fig. 1). Dissolved water is below the fluid’s saturation point and is not
visible. Emulsified water is the point in between free and dissolved where
water first becomes visible as a “haze” (Fig. 2). The key point is that just
because you cannot see water, does not mean it is not there.

Fig. 1—Free water can be seen forming Fig. 2—Emulsified water can be seen
in the bottom of the beaker as the throughout the sample with a small
dissolved water comes out of solution. amount of free water observed in the
bottom of the beaker.

2 When Results Matter

 Effectively Eliminating Water Contamination
from Hydraulic and Lubricating Fluids
The first water in lubricating fluid will always be in the dissolved form. The
amount of water the fluid can hold in the dissolved form is a function of
the type and temperature of the lubricant. As temperature increases, more
water can be held in the dissolved form as the saturation point increases. The
movement of water from one form to another is a physical change.
Understanding which form the water is in is critical when selecting which
water removal system to use. Some water removal technologies only
remove free water, so using these tools on systems with only dissolved
water would be ineffective (Table 2).

Table 2—Water removal system versus type of water removed.

System Type Dissolved Emulsified Free

Centrifuge Not Removed Some Removed

Not Removed Some Removed

“
Water Adsorbing Filter

Coalescing Filter Not Removed Some Removed The first water in

Vacuum Dehydration Removed Removed Removed
lubricating fluid will
Air Stripping Technology Removed Removed Removed

Free Flowing N2 Blanket Removed Removed Removed

always be in the
Source: Machinery Lubrication dissolved form. The
Another important consideration when selecting a water removal system is the water ingression amount of water the
rate and frequency. While these exact numbers may be difficult to pinpoint, what needs to be
understood is whether there is a large water ingression problem or a small one, and whether it is fluid can hold in the
happening frequently or infrequently. A large water ingression issue that is happening frequently
may require a more robust solution versus what may be required for small, infrequent ingression
(Table 3).
dissolved form is a
function of the type
Table 3—Water removal system effectiveness.
System Type >10,000 ppm >1,000 ppm >500 ppm and temperature of
the lubricant.
”
Centrifuge Yes* Yes* Yes*

Water Adsorbing Filter Yes*

Coalescing Filter Yes* Yes*

Vacuum Dehydration Yes Yes

Air Stripping Technology Yes

Free Flowing N2 Blanket Yes** Yes

*Assuming free water is present and lubricant demulsibility is good

**Rates per day 150-250 ppm

3 When Results Matter

 Effectively Eliminating Water Contamination
from Hydraulic and Lubricating Fluids

SOURCES OF WATER CONTAMINATION

Understanding the source of water contamination is equally important to
understanding water ingression rates. Water is generally added to hydraulic
and lubricating fluids from either a mechanical process or from the atmo-
sphere. While it is desirable to fix all mechanical ingression points, atmo-
spheric contamination is the most common water ingression pathway, but is
often overlooked and treated as a fixed constraint that cannot be addressed.
While the use of desiccant breather elements to restrict moisture ingression is

“
common, their usage only reduces relative humidity (RH%); it does not complete-
ly dry the air and is insufficient to mitigate atmospheric water ingression. In high …atmospheric
humidity environments, desiccant breather elements can be changed weekly and
still not isolate the impact of atmospheric water ingression. contamination is
All lubricants will move towards equilibrium with the atmosphere contact- the most common
ing them. In most cases, where the moisture content of the atmosphere
contacting the lubricant is higher than the moisture content of the lubricant, water ingression
water will be transferred from the atmosphere into the lubricant. In this
situation, the transfer of water from atmosphere to the lubricant occurs via pathway, but is often
mass transfer.
overlooked and
treated as a fixed
constraint that cannot
be addressed.
”

Fig. 3—In atmospheric breathing hydraulic and lubricating fluid reservoirs, the humid
air above the lubricant will transfer water into the lubricant via condensation/mass
transfer. Although breather elements offer some mitigation, they cannot prevent
atmospheric water ingression.

A Cautionary Note Regarding Extraction Fans

In some lubricant reservoir designs, extraction fans are used to prevent
condensation; however, in humid environments they have the opposite
effect as the increased contact between the moist air and the surface
of the lubricant contributes water. While extraction fans are common in
gas turbines to promote oil return to the reservoir, their usage in hydrau-
lic systems is not recommended as bearing cooling is irrelevant and the
approach disregards the deleterious effect of atmospheric water ingression.

4 When Results Matter

 Effectively Eliminating Water Contamination
from Hydraulic and Lubricating Fluids

WATER REMOVAL SYSTEM SELECTION

Removing water introduced from mechanical processes can be accomplished
with a variety of water removal tools that are appropriate for the type and
amount of water present. In these situations, high capacity water removal
systems may be required.
Atmospheric contamination, on the other hand, presents a fundamental
challenge when selecting an appropriate water removal system, as most
options only remove water from the lubricant without addressing the source.
While most water removal systems appropriate for the type and amount of
water present would work, they simply dehydrate the hydraulic or lubricat-
ing fluid such that it can accept more water from atmosphere. This creates a
counter-productive, energy-intensive cycle that contributes to higher rates
of breakdown and results in ineffective and expensive water removal.
Carefully matching the water removal system’s capabilities with your appli-
cation is critical. The water removal system must be able to remove the form
of water present in your application and remove it according to the amount
of water ingression. Additional considerations include initial cost, consum-
able cost and energy cost. A brief review of the major types of water remov-
al systems are listed below, followed by a summary in Table 4.

Water Absorbing Filters

Absorbent filters can be used to remove a small amount of free water from
lubricants. These filters are normally effective for very small lubricant reser-
voirs with non-atmospheric water ingression. They have a limited capacity
and would be expensive to use in large reservoirs or in cases with ongoing Water absorbent filters.
water problems.

Coalescing Systems
These systems are used to remove large amounts of free water from lubricants
in a short period. These units are expensive and ideally suited for extremely
high water ingression rates, i.e. >1% water ingress per day. While this water
removal technology is essential in situations with high water ingression rates,
they cannot remove dissolved water. This can be a problem in cases where the
desired water limit is significantly below the saturation point, or with oils that
hold high levels of dissolved or emulsified water. Coalescing also requires that
lubricants have good water separation (demulsibility).

Coalescing System. Courtesy of

Hy-Pro Filtration

5 When Results Matter

 Effectively Eliminating Water Contamination
from Hydraulic and Lubricating Fluids

Vacuum Dehydrator
These mechanical systems are ideal for removing large amounts of water in
a short period of time. These systems remove all forms of water, so they are
versatile. The units are expensive and mechanically intensive. When purchas-
ing, make sure the vacuum pump is very high quality and low maintenance
as this is the heart of the vacuum dehydrator. Spend the extra money on
systems with high-efficiency, maintenance-free designs. If dissolved gas
removal is desired, only high-efficiency designs will work.
Using vacuum dehydration equipment continuously on atmospheric breath-
ing lubricant reservoirs with low rates of water ingression is not ideal. While
the vacuum dehydrator will maintain the oil significantly below the satu-
ration point for water, the lubricant will start to pull additional water from
atmosphere. This counter-productive situation is expensive and can contrib-
ute to further breakdown of the lubricant. If you are using these systems in Vacuum Dehydrator. Courtesy of
this situation, cycle their usage so they are only operating when needed to Hy-Pro Filtration
reduce energy consumption and decrease fluid stress.

Air Stripping Technology

Air stripping technology injects dry air and heat into a fluid. Moisture is
transferred into the air which is then removed under vacuum. These systems
are expensive and mechanically intensive and only suitable when water
ingression rates are low. The physical introduction of heat and air into the
lubricating fluid is also a questionable practice as heat and oxygen are key
contributors to oxidation breakdown of the lubricant.

Free Flowing Dry Gas Blankets

Dry gas blankets inject dry air into the headspace above the lubricant level,
which is then exhausted out the breather element. This technique is simply
a reversal of atmospheric water contamination. While effective at reducing
water, the quality, volume and cost of the air used are frequent issues. For
this reason, engineered systems are recommended (e.g. TMR™ Air System)
that produce a precise amount of clean, and very dry air (-40°C dew point)
at the reservoir from a normal compressed air source. For specialized appli-
cations including transformers and electro-hydraulic control (EHC) systems,
free flowing nitrogen blankets are recommended.

TMR™ Air System

6 When Results Matter

 Effectively Eliminating Water Contamination
from Hydraulic and Lubricating Fluids

Free Flowing Nitrogen Blankets

Free flowing dry nitrogen blankets (e.g. TMR™ N2 System) generate and inject
a small amount of high purity nitrogen into the headspace above the lubri-
cant level, which is then exhausted out the breather element. Free flowing
nitrogen blankets exploit the natural principle of equilibrium by keeping the
atmosphere on top of the lubricant <0.01% RH, which will always be much drier
than the lubricant. The free flowing dry nitrogen on top of the lubricant has an
extremely high capacity to remove water and dissolved oxygen (Fig. 4).

TMR™ N2 System
Fig. 4—With free flowing N2 blankets, the lubricating or hydraulic fluid is always
protected with high purity N2 at <0.01% RH. Water in the fluid will convert into water
vapor and be vented out the breather element.

This highly effective technique reverses atmospheric water ingression. Free

flowing nitrogen blankets also offer the important benefit of eliminating
fluid contact with oxygen, which reduces oxidation breakdown. Over time,
harmful breakdown gases including hydrogen and carbon monoxide are also
removed.
Free flowing nitrogen blankets like the TMR™ N2 system, produce a precise
amount of extremely high quality nitrogen (99%) directly at the reservoir
from a normal compressed air source. With a typical life of 10 years, no
moving parts or electrical requirements, TMR™ N2 systems are extremely cost
effective (Table 4), and ideally suited to atmospheric breathing reservoirs or
systems with low to moderate water ingression rates.

7 When Results Matter

 Effectively Eliminating Water Contamination
from Hydraulic and Lubricating Fluids
Table 4—Water removal system versus capital cost and cost of consumables.
System Type Capital Cost Consumable Cost Energy Cost
Centrifuge High Low Moderate
Water Removal Filter Low Highest Low
Coalescing Filter High Moderate Moderate
Vacuum Dehydration High Low High
Air Stripping Technology High Low Highest
Free Flowing N2 Blanket Low Lowest Low

SUMMARY
Reducing water levels has been proven to extend equipment life and trou-
ble-free operating windows by a minimum of 1.4x to as high as 11x. Carefully
selecting water removal equipment so that it is matched to your application
requirements can avoid costly mistakes and the need to repurchase the
correct water removal system. In applications where the primary ingression
pathway is mechanical in nature and cannot be eliminated, selecting the
correct water removal system is essential for cost effective operation. When
the primary ingression pathway is atmosphere, choosing a water removal
system that eliminates the underlying source will not only reduce mainte-
nance requirements, but also reduce rates of breakdown extending fluid life.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
1. TMR™ Air System Product Information
2. TMR™ N2 System Product Information
3. Turbine Oil Coalescing Skids, www.hyprofiltration.com
4. Vacuum Dehydration Systems, www.hyprofiltration.com

CONTACT INFORMATION
For additional information contact:
E sales@cleanoil.com
T +1.403.246.3044

TMR is a trademark of EPT.

© 2016 EPT. All rights reserved. 09/16

8 When Results Matter

TMR™ AIR
TOTAL MOISTURE REMOVAL SYSTEM
HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, LOW COST WATER REMOVAL SYSTEMS
FOR ATMOSPHERIC BREATHING LUBRICANT RESERVOIRS
Overview
Water is the most common and damaging contaminant
found in hydraulic and lubricating systems. Water can
exist in 3 forms: free, dissolved and emulsified. EPT’s Total
Moisture Removal (TMR™) Air systems cost effectively
remove all 3 forms of water from lubricants and hydraulic
fluids through mass transfer which is a highly effective,
non-mechanical process. Most water removal systems use
heat, vacuum and pumps, which are all expensive to oper-
ate and maintain, to force the separation of water from
the lubricant. The TMR™ Air system exploits the principle
of chemical equilibrium to remove all types of water in a
much more gentle, and energy efficient methodology.
4772 - 50 AVE SE, Calgary AB T2B 3R4, Canada T 403.246.3044 E sales@cleanoil.com
In many applications, the primary mode of water ingres-
sion is atmosphere, which provides an unlimited source
of water whenever the moisture content in the atmo-
sphere is higher than in the lubricant. Atmospheric water
ingression rates are typically low and constant, which
lends itself perfectly to the TMR™ Air system. Using
mechanical separation systems in this scenario would
simply dehydrate the lubricant to an unsaturated state
so that it can absorb more water from atmosphere. This
creates an energy intensive cycle that fails to address
the primary cause of water ingression.
When Results Matter
Free Flowing Nitrogen Blankets Long-life, Low-cost, with Minimal
TMR Air systems produce dry gas (-40°C/-40°F dew
™
Maintenance
point and <1% relative humidity) using a small amount TMR™ Air systems have very low maintenance require-
of standard compressed air at ambient conditions ments. Two inlet air filters need to be replaced every
(75°F/24°C). The dry gas is introduced into the reservoir 6 months to remove residual oil from the compressed
headspace at a point above the lubricant surface. As the air source, which would otherwise reduce system life.
clean, dry air sweeps across the reservoir, it will absorb With proper maintenance, TMR™ Air systems should last
water vapor which is forced out of lubricant as it moves 5 years or more at which time only the generation unit
towards moisture equilibrium with the dry gas. would need to be replaced. The total cost of ownership
TMR™ Air systems reverse the normal reservoir breath- of a TMR™ Air system over 5 years is estimated to be
ing cycle (see illustration) so that reservoirs are always $5,500 – $8,000 in total (depending on size), which in
discharging a small amount of dry air. In this configuration, many cases is $50,000 lower than mechanical systems
the ingression of atmospheric water, particulate and frequently used in these applications. That is a return on
metal ions is eliminated. Lubricant and hydraulic reservoirs investment (ROI) of $44,500 or 809%. When you consider
operating in sea water environments, heavy industrial or that one TMR™ Air system can be shared between two
agricultural regions can accumulate soluble metal ions, reservoirs that are close in proximity, the ROI is even
which are catalysts that accelerate lubricant breakdown. more dramatic.

High Performance with Predictable Results

CASE STUDY 1
TMR™ system started on 24-Dec-13
Water Content (ppm)

2000

1500

1000

500

0
24 Dec. 13
25 Dec. 13
26 Dec. 13
27 Dec. 13
28 Dec. 13
29 Dec. 13
30 Dec. 13
31 Dec. 13
01 Jan. 14
02 Jan. 14
03 Jan. 14
04 Jan. 14
05 Jan. 14
06 Jan. 14
07 Jan. 14
08 Jan. 14
09 Jan. 14
10 Jan. 14
11 Jan. 14
12 Jan. 14
13 Jan. 14
14 Jan. 14
15 Jan. 14
16 Jan. 14
17 Jan. 14
18 Jan. 14
19 Jan. 14
20 Jan. 14

When Results Matter

4772 - 50 AVE SE, Calgary AB T2B 3R4, Canada T 403.246.3044 E sales@cleanoil.com

 CONTAMINATION SOURCES

ATMOSPHERIC HUMIDITY AIR POLLUTION COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS

COMPRESSED AIR IN
0.55 MPa (80 psi)
11 – 44 LPM (23 – 93 SCFH)

Atmospheric Breathing Lubricant Reservoirs TMR™ Air Conditioned Reservoir

TMR
DRY AIR OUTLET
Humid air & metal ions from sea water or < -60°C (-76°F) dew point /
Pressure 96% of inlet
industrial environments enter fluid reservoir
and catalyze degradation processes.
RESERVOIR
DISCHARGE

(BREATHER ELEMENT) (BREATHER ELEMENT)

AIR
Water Transfer

HEADSPACE

Water Transfer
Relative Humidity 40-100% HEADSPACE
AIR
AIR Relative Humidity <1%

FLUID LEVEL LUBRICATING FLUID

Water levels vary with Atmospheric Humidity FLUID LEVEL LUBRICATING FLUID
Water migrates from wet fluid to dry headspace

Key Issues with Atmospheric Breathing Key Benefits of TMR™ Air Systems
Lubricant Reservoirs • Dry gas is generated at the source providing unlimit-
• The lubricant has unlimited access to water when ed capacity to reduce existing moisture.
atmospheric moisture levels are greater than lubri- • Maintains water at very low levels (<50 ppm total or
cant moisture levels. <350 ppm for EHC fluids) reducing the rate of lubri-
• Breather elements cannot reduce existing water cant breakdown.
levels. • Free flowing dry gas is exhausted out the breather
• Breather elements, which are designed to reduce element, reversing the typical flow configuration and
condensation, have limited capacity and cannot eliminating one of the key ingression points for water
prevent water ingression from atmosphere via mass and particulate contamination.
transfer. • Normally eliminates the need for expensive vacuum
Note: extraction fans used to prevent condensation make this dehydration equipment or disposable filter elements
situation worse. when water ingression rates are <200 ppm/day or
• Sea water and industrial environments will also solely from atmosphere.
contribute metal ions which increases the rate of • Very low maintenance requirements
lubricant breakdown. (30 minutes per year).
• Quick return on investment (ROI).

When Results Matter

4772 - 50 AVE SE, Calgary AB T2B 3R4, Canada T 403.246.3044 E sales@cleanoil.com

TMR™ Air System Sizing
TMR™ Air systems are regulated, intrinsically safe and have a manually adjusted flow control valve with flow meter.
These systems are ideally suited when oil reservoirs are in small rooms where you do not want to change atmo-
spheric gas levels through the addition of nitrogen. They are designed to remove up to 100 ppm water per day and
sized according to the headspace volume. Reservoirs need a breather element (or suitable exhaust) and excessive
atmosphere access points should be sealed. Reservoir extraction fans are not ideal in applications without bearings
and should be removed if technically and logistically feasible. TMR™ systems will not work while extraction fans are
operating. Contact your authorized dealer for additional information.

SIZING AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

PART NUMBER 600904

Reservoir Volume (L/gal) ≤2000/7570

Daily Water Removal (ppm) 100

Connections: Inlet/Outlet FNPT (in.) ¼

Dimensions LxWxH (mm/in.) 354 x 127 x 607/

14 x 5 x 24

Shipping Dimensions LxWxH (mm/in.) 508 x 250 x 734/

20 x 10 x 29

Shipping Weight (kg/lb) 10/21

Output Flow Rate – Manual Control with Flow Meter (LPM/SCFH) 0-28/0-60

Pre-set Flow Rate (LPM/SCFH) 14/30

Air Consumption Max. at 0.69 MPa/100 psi (LPM/SCFH) 0-85/0-180

REPLACEMENT PARTS

PART NUMBER 600904

Particulate Filter 601265

Oil Coalescer 601514

Pressure Gauge 601556

Replacement Membrane 601740

AVAILABLE OPTIONS DESCRIPTION

M1 Manifold to share 1 TMR™ Air with 2 reservoirs.

Additional Resources
1. White Paper: Effectively Eliminating Water Contamination from Hydraulic and Lubricating Fluids
2. TMR™ N2 System Product Information

TMR™ is a trademark of EPT.

© 2016 EPT. All rights reserved.

09/16 When Results Matter

4772 - 50 AVE SE, Calgary AB T2B 3R4, Canada T 403.246.3044 E sales@cleanoil.com

TMR™ N2
TOTAL MOISTURE REMOVAL
NITROGEN SYSTEM
HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, LOW COST WATER REMOVAL SYSTEMS
FOR ATMOSPHERIC BREATHING LUBRICANT RESERVOIRS
Overview
Water is the most common and damaging contaminant
found in hydraulic and lubricating systems. Water can exist
in 3 forms: free, dissolved and emulsified. EPT’s Total Mois-
ture Removal Nitrogen (TMR™ N2) systems cost effectively
remove all 3 forms of water from lubricants and hydraulic
fluids through mass transfer which is a highly effective,
non-mechanical process. Most water removal systems use
heat, vacuum and pumps, which are all expensive to oper-
ate and maintain, to force the separation of water from
the lubricant. The TMR™ N2 system exploits the principle
of chemical equilibrium to remove all types of water in a
much more gentle, and energy efficient methodology.
4772 - 50 AVE SE, Calgary AB T2B 3R4, Canada T 403.246.3044 E sales@cleanoil.com
In many applications, the primary mode of water ingres-
sion is atmosphere, which provides an unlimited source of
water whenever the moisture content in the atmosphere
is higher than in the lubricant. Atmospheric water ingres-
sion rates are typically low and constant, which lends
itself perfectly to the TMR™ N2 system. Using mechanical
separation systems in this scenario would simply dehy-
drate the lubricant to an unsaturated state so that it can
absorb more water from atmosphere. This creates an
energy intensive cycle that fails to address the primary
cause of water ingression.
When Results Matter
Free Flowing Nitrogen Blankets water and metals, comprise the 3 primary catalysts of
oxidation. Therefore, these systems offer users the ability
TMR N2 systems produce ≥97% N2 gas that is extremely
™
to move beyond reactionary maintenance and actually
dry (-67.8°C/-90°F dew point and <0.01% relative humid-
manage the factors that accelerate oxidation. By contin-
ity) using a small amount of standard compressed air at
ually managing water and oxygen levels and by elimi-
ambient conditions (75˚F/24˚C). The N2 gas is introduced
nating metal ion ingression from atmosphere, users can
into the reservoir headspace at a point above the lubri-
lower the rate of lubricant breakdown, reducing mainte-
cant surface forming a nitrogen blanket. As the clean, dry
nance requirements and extending fluid life.
N2 gas sweeps across the reservoir, it will absorb water
vapor which is forced out of lubricant as it moves towards Long-life, Low-cost, with Minimal
moisture equilibrium with the nitrogen blanket.
Maintenance
TMR™ N2 systems reverse the normal reservoir breath- TMR™ N2 systems have very low maintenance require-
ing cycle (see illustration) so that reservoirs are always ments. Two inlet air filters need to be replaced every
discharging a small amount of high purity N2. In this 6 months to remove residual oil from the compressed
configuration, reservoirs will be continually insulated air source, which would otherwise reduce system life.
with a free-flowing nitrogen blanket which eliminates With proper maintenance, TMR™ N2 systems should last
the ingression of atmospheric water, particulate, and 8 years or more at which time only the generation unit
metal ions. Lubricant and hydraulic reservoirs operating would need to be replaced. The total cost of ownership
in sea water environments, heavy industrial or agricultur- of a TMR™ N2 system over 8 years is estimated to be
al regions can accumulate soluble metal ions, which are $5,500 – $8,000 in total (depending on size), which in
catalysts that accelerate lubricant breakdown. many cases is $50,000 lower than mechanical systems
frequently used in these applications. That is a return on
Moving Beyond Water Removal to investment (ROI) of $44,500 or 809%. When you consid-
Managing Oxidation Levels er that one TMR™ N2 system can be shared between
TMR™ N2 systems offer the additional benefit of elim- two reservoirs that are close in proximity, the ROI is
inating fluid contact with oxygen, which along with even more dramatic.

High Performance with Predictable Results

CASE STUDY 1
TMR™ system started on 2-Jul-14
Water Content (ppm)

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
02 July 14

03 July 14

04 July 14

05 July 14

06 July 14

07 July 14

08 July 14

09 July 14

10 July 14

11 July 14

12 July 14

13 July 14

14 July 14

15 July 14

16 July 14

17 July 14

When Results Matter

4772 - 50 AVE SE, Calgary AB T2B 3R4, Canada T 403.246.3044 E sales@cleanoil.com

 CONTAMINATION SOURCES

ATMOSPHERIC HUMIDITY AIR POLLUTION COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS

NITROGEN OUTLET
< -67.8°C (-90°F) dew point /
Pressure varies by number

Atmospheric Breathing Lubricant Reservoirs TMR™ N2 Conditioned Reservoir

AIR INLET PSI

0.69 MPa (100 psi)

TMR N2
Humid air & metal ions from sea water or 38 – 187 LPM (80 – 397 SCFH)
industrial environments enter fluid reservoir
and catalyze degradation processes.
RESERVOIR
DISCHARGE

(BREATHER ELEMENT) (BREATHER ELEMENT)

AIR
Water Transfer

HEADSPACE

Water Transfer
Relative Humidity 40-100% HEADSPACE

Transfer
Dissolved Gas
AIR NITROGEN
AIR
Relative Humidity <1%

FLUID LEVEL LUBRICATING FLUID

Water levels vary with Atmospheric Humidity FLUID LEVEL LUBRICATING FLUID
Water migrates from wet fluid to dry headspace

Key Issues with Atmospheric Breathing Key Benefits of TMR™ N2 Systems

Lubricant Reservoirs • High purity N2 (≥97%) is generated at the source
• The lubricant has unlimited access to water when providing unlimited capacity to reduce existing mois-
atmospheric moisture levels are greater than lubri- ture.
cant moisture levels. • Maintains water at very low levels (<50 ppm total or
• Breather elements cannot reduce existing water <350 ppm for EHC fluids) reducing the rate of lubri-
levels. cant breakdown.

• Breather elements, which are designed to reduce
condensation, have limited capacity and cannot
prevent water ingression from atmosphere via mass
transfer.
Note: extraction fans used to prevent condensation make this
situation worse.
• Sea water and industrial environments will also
contribute metal ions which increases the rate of
lubricant breakdown.
• Common water removal alternatives including vacu-
um dehydrators that effectively remove water, but
do not address the contamination source creating
an energy intensive cycle where the fluid absorbs as
much water as it can hold from atmosphere.
• Free flowing N2 is exhausted out the breather
element or facility exhaust, reversing the typical flow
configuration and eliminating one of the key ingres-
sion points for water and particulate contamination.
• Eliminates lubricant contact with oxygen, reducing
oxidation and promoting the removal of H2, CO, C2H4
and other harmful breakdown gases.
• Normally eliminates the need for expensive vacuum
dehydration equipment or disposable filter elements
when water ingression rates are low or solely from
atmosphere.
• Very low maintenance requirements
(30 minutes per year).
• Quick return on investment (ROI).

When Results Matter

4772 - 50 AVE SE, Calgary AB T2B 3R4, Canada T 403.246.3044 E sales@cleanoil.com

TMR N2 System Sizing
TMR™ N2 systems are regulated, intrinsically safe and have a manually adjusted flow control valve with flow meter.
They are designed to remove up to 100 – 300 ppm water per day and sized according to the headspace volume.
Reservoirs need a breather element (or suitable exhaust) and excessive atmosphere access points should be sealed.
Reservoir extraction fans are not ideal in applications without bearings and should be removed if feasible.

SIZING AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

PART NUMBER 601902 60190 601904 601905

Reservoir Volume (L/gal) ≤1532/400 ≤3028/800 ≤7570/2000 ≤11356/3000

Daily Water Removal (ppm) 100-300 100-300 100-300 100-300

Connections: Inlet/Outlet FNPT (in.) 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4

Dimensions LxWxH (mm/in.) 466 x 162 x 762/ 466 x 162 x 1217/ 499 x 168 x 1217/ 442 x 365 x 1769/
18⅜ x 6⅜ x 30 18⅜ x 6⅜ x 47⅞ 19⅝ x 6⅝ x 47⅞ 17⅜ x 14⅜ x 69⅝

Shipping Dimensions LxWxH (mm/in.) 508 x 254 x 864/ 534 x 280 x 1296/ 534 x 280 x 1296/ PART 1
20 x 10 x 34 21 x 11 x 51 21 x 11 x 51 508 x 250 x 607/
20 x 10 x 29
PART 2
127 x 127 x 1677/
5 x 5 x 66

Shipping Weight (kg/lb) 10/21 20/44 22/48 PART 1

11/23
PART 2
10/20

N2 Output – Manual Control with Flow Meter (LPM/SCFH) 0-25/0-50 0-25/0-50 0-50/0-100 0-100/0-200

Pre-set Flow Rate (LPM/SCFH) 14/30 21/45 35/75 70/150

% N2 at Pre-set Flow of 100 psi/0.69 MPa, Air Temp. of 21°C/70°F 97% >97% >97% >97%

Air Consumption Max. at 0.69 MPa/100 psi (LPM/SCFH) 0-38/0-80 0-64/0-136 0-114/0-241 0-187/0-397
Note: Temperature of membrane must stay ≥75°F/24°C for optimal performance. Nitrogen recovery will be hindered if temperature averages ≤75°F/24°C.

REPLACEMENT PARTS

PART NUMBER 601902 60190 601904 601905

Particulate Filter 601265 601265 601265 601265

Oil Coalescer 601514 601514 601514 601514

Pressure Gauge 601556 601556 601556 601556

Replacement Membrane 601341 601551 601599 601609

AVAILABLE OPTIONS DESCRIPTION

M1 Manifold to share 1 TMR™ N2 with 2 reservoirs.

Additional Resources
1. White Paper: Effectively Eliminating Water Contamination from Hydraulic and Lubricating Fluids
2. TMR™ Air System Product Information

TMR™ is a trademark of EPT. © 2016 EPT. All rights reserved.

09/16 When Results Matter

4772 - 50 AVE SE, Calgary AB T2B 3R4, Canada T 403.246.3044 E sales@cleanoil.com

 ACE™ OIL ASSESSMENT
Please complete this editable pdf form to avoid delay in ACE™ (Analysis and Comprehensive
Evaluation) assessment and reporting. This assessment includes key testing required for your
application. The ACE™ Plus assessment includes a demonstration of ICB™ (Ion Charge Bonding)
filter cleaning of your sample.

A 50 mL new oil sample is required with each submission for baseline testing.

ACE™ (send 250 mL)

ACE™ Plus (send 1000 mL)

CONTACT INFORMATION

Name: Email address:

Phone: State, Province or Country:

EQUIPMENT INFORMATION OIL INFORMATION

Company Name: Brand Name (Exact):

Plant: Sample Date:
Unit ID: Oil Age:
Application: Purification System(s):
(if other) Installation Date (if recent):
OEM & Model: Last Filter Change Date:
Reservoir Volume:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Problems / Comments / Requests (PLEASE COMPLETE):

SUBMIT FORM

EPT Lab: 4772 - 50 AVE SE, Calgary AB T2B 3R4, Canada | lab@cleanoil.com | (403) 450-1764
 OIL SAMPLE SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS
When shipping oil samples for lab analysis, please carefully follow the instructions below.
All shipping is to be prepaid.

Preventing leaking oil samples is the sole responsibility of the shipper/customer.

These additional steps are suggested

as guidelines: SHIPPING ADDRESS
1. Only use proper lab sample containers; Direct to EPT lab in Canada (for rush shipments)
NEVER ship glass bottles or improperly sealed 5 business day results turn around
containers. If you require sample containers, EPT
please contact us at lab@cleanoil.com. 4772 - 50 AVE SE
Calgary AB T2B 3R4
2. Fill sample bottle 90% full. There should be no Canada
air gap.
Attention: EPT Lab - lab@cleanoil.com
3. Secure lid and tape lid closed with electrical 403-450-1764
tape so the lid cannot loosen during transport
(scotch tape or masking tape is not sufficient).

4. Place the sample bottle in a sealable plastic

USA GROUND SHIPMENTS
bag (e.g. Ziploc®).
10 business day results turn around
5. Place sample inside box with appropriate Hy-Pro Filtration
internal packing material so that the sample 6810 Layton Road
cannot move inside the box. Paper packing Andersen, IN 46011
materials are preferred as they can absorb oil in USA
the event of a leak.
Attention: Curt Martin
6. Include all relevant MSDS/SDS on the outside curt.martin@hyprofiltration.com
of the box for easy reference and a copy 317-849-3535
of them inside the box in case the box gets
destroyed in shipment. If you do not have the
proper MSDS/SDS, please contact EPT and we
can help find the correct one. INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS
To satisfy international customs requirements, all
7. On the shipping waybill, under description shipments must have the following information
state “oil sample for lab testing,” indicate included on the air waybill:
volume of sample and value of sample as $10
Description: Sample for lab testing
per liter. Volume: 1 Liter (or actual volume being shipped)
HS Number: 2707.03
Value: $10.00 per liter
Tax ID of Receiver: TAX ID 821128428

EPT Lab: 4772 - 50 AVE SE, Calgary AB T2B 3R4, Canada | lab@cleanoil.com | (403) 450-1764