if i were to tap a sampling point at the bearing lube oil return line, where would be the best location? is there any standard on installing sampling point at the individual bearing lube oil return? i dont see any in our turbomachinery and yet our management wants us to introduce ferrography in our lube oil monitoring - the only current available sampling point is at the oil reservoirs.

I guess the question goes to what are you looking for and what can ferrography detect.

I think ferrography is primarily intended to detect particles with iron content (although I may be mistaken).

So, as far as bearing wear, your important indicators might be things like tin (From babbit) and copper (from brass/bronze) showing up in ICP or to get larger particles RFS.

But there is not any wear of steel parts that is expected in a bearing that I can think of. So I don't particularly see what advantage is gained in looking at the bearing oil returns.

On the other hand, there might iron associated with oil pump impeller wear, or sump rust, or contamination. For these, I would think the oil sump may be as good a location as any.

Just my thoughts. Please take them with a grain of salt.

If you search www.noria.com, maybe you will find an article related to this matter. As a general question, do you have a lubrication strategy ready for your plant including where to locate your sampling points?

Have your turbomachineries got a magnetic particle detector fitted? Can refer to PTS50. x for a condition monitoring standard.

pete, yes that is my intention. what i wish to get is the perfect location for me to tap the sampling point at the oil return line i.e at the elbow, or elsewhere.

come to think of its necessity, i find it is a bit redundant considering the online vibration monitoring we have. can anybody briefly explain which plot i should use to measure the bearing clearance and how to see the clearance from the plot.

josh, the sampling point we have as of now for all our turbomachineries are at their respective reservoirs.

josh, i never heard of magnetic particle detector. sounds interesting. will lo0k for that PTS50

On some hydraulic equipment (excavators, bulldozers, backhoe loaders) there is a "magnetic particle detector".
Normally we call it a magnetized drain plug, which is at the lowest point in the reservoir.