APC-3 CINRG Particle Counter

The CINRG APC-3 Particle Counter is a fully automated system designed to operate according to the diluted sample methodology, with dilution ratios ranging from 1:10 to 2:1.

This allows for the analysis of high-viscosity lubricants and the elimination of interferences in particle count analysis by light extinction, which may be caused by certain levels of water contamination or the presence of “soft particles”, through the use of mixed composition solvents.

The APC-3 model is also configured to evaluate the quality of the results obtained for each analysed sample by monitoring the maximum limits of the coincidence factor. This factor refers to the simultaneous presence of more than one particle within the analyser’s detection zone, which leads to incorrect measurements and inaccurate counts.

Additionally, the equipment monitors the condition of the dilution solvent, ensuring it contributes no more than 12.5% of the total number of particles present in the sample, highlighting the importance of using a clean and appropriate solvent for the analysis of critical systems, such as turbines, hydraulic systems, and fuels.

What type of interference can water contamination cause in particle counting? And what is meant by soft particles?

To accurately measure solid particle contamination levels, it is essential to eliminate any readings that might be influenced by the presence of small amounts of free water.

These tiny “droplets”, dispersed in the lubricant, refract the incident light during the particle counting test, thus altering the measurement taken by the sensor. Therefore, the dilution technique using a “water masker” (mixed solvent) enables the even distribution and dispersion of water droplets smaller than the target size, removing this direct interference from the analysis.

As for “soft particles”, these are certain additives or additive by-products that are semi-insoluble or completely insoluble in oil, such as the antifoaming agent polydimethylsiloxane and oxidation by-products.

 Like water droplets, they also scatter light in automatic particle counters, producing artificially high counts. However, these materials do not have a clearly established impact on the wear or erosion of machine system components, so their contribution to the total particle count can be disregarded through the solubilisation of such compounds, made possible by the dilution methodology offered by the APC-3.

Thus, thanks to its interference elimination properties and constant result monitoring, the system ensures the accuracy and reliability of the data obtained, significantly contributing to operational safety, and facilitating decision-making.