Infrared Oil Analysis with FluidScan 1000 Series

The FluidScan^® 1000 series handheld Infrared oil analyzer offers a precise quantitative assessment of a lubricant's state, serving as a pivotal component in Machine Condition Monitoring (MCM) for both proactive and predictive maintenance within Reliability Management initiatives.

Through this device, users can pinpoint when oil requires servicing due to deterioration in chemistry, contamination from substances like water, or incorrect oil types. Moreover, the FluidScan adheres to ASTM D7889, "Standard Test Method for Field Determination of In-Service Fluid Properties Using IR Spectroscopy."

Image Credit:Spectro Scientific

Dedicated Direct Infrared Spectrometer for Lubricant Condition Monitoring

With no moving parts, it is intended for field-use applications.

Small enough for handheld and travel use

Results that can be put into practice right away for quick decisions

For lubricants used in gearboxes, turbines, and hydraulic systems, water, TAN, and oxidation

TBN, oxidation/sulfation/nitration for engine oils, water, glycol, soot, additive depletion

Transmissions, greases, fuel blending, biodiesel, and lubricants are some more uses.

Easy to Use

Tests only require a single oil drop and a minute.

Solvents are not needed for cleaning.

Color-coded for ease of interpretation and user-adjustable alarm limitations.



Image Credit:Spectro Scientific

Determine When In-Service Oil is Not Fit for Use

Direct, instantaneous measurement of TAN, oxidation, and water for lubricants used in hydraulic systems, gearboxes, and turbines.

TBN, water, glycol, soot, additive depletion, and oxidation for engine oil are also measured.

Highly Repeatable and Reproducible Results

In compliance with ASTM D7889, the standard test method for determining in-service fluid properties in the field using infrared spectroscopy.

Good correlation with KF water, TAN, and TBN laboratory tests.

Reproducibility and repeatability are on par with the benchtop FTIR method outlined in ASTM E2412.

Data analysis adheres to ASTM E1655 standards.

It additionally meets the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (NESHAP RICE) requirements by extending oil change intervals for engines and backup generators when utilized alongside the Spectro MiniVisc 3050 Portable Viscometer.

Comprehensive Fluid Library and Application Categories

More than 850 fluids are ready for use right now

Various fluid libraries available according to the use case

In the field, users can customize fluid libraries.



Image Credit:Spectro Scientific

Measured Parameters

An advantage of FluidScan over laboratory FTIR is its capability to provide absolute quantitative results for essential properties such as Total Acid Number (TAN) and water contamination in industrial lubricants or Total Base Number (TBN), water, glycol, and soot in engine oils. The table below outlines various parameters offered by FluidScan based on the type of oil.

Source: Spectro Scientific

Application Categories	Properties Measured by FluidScan
Transmission	Water (PPM), Oxidation (Abs/0.1 mm), Fluid Integrity (unitless)
Hydraulic - Fire resistant (Phosphate Ester)	Water (PPM), TAN (mg KOH/g)
Hydraulic - Aerospace (Synthetic Hydraulic Fluid)	Water (PPM), Oxidation (Abs/0.1 mm), Alien Fluid mineral based (MIL-H-2304) (%), and Alien Fluid engine oil (ML-H-23699) (%)
Heat Transfer (Quenching Oil)	Water (PPM), Oxidation (Abs/0.1 mm)
Industrial (Steam and CCGT Turbine, Hydraulic, Compressor, Chiller, Gear, etc.)	Water (PPM), Oxidation (Abs/0.1 mm), TAN (mg KOH/g)
Turbine Aerospace (Synthetic Gas Turbine Oil)	Water (PPM), TAN (mg KOH/g), Antioxidant (% depletion)
Engines (Engine oil for different engine types, including Gasoline, Diesel, Heavy Duty Diesel, HFO, Natural Gas, etc.)	Water (PPM), Oxidation (Abs/0.1 mm), TBN (mg KOH/g), TAN (mg KOH/g) (Natural Gas only), Sulfation (Abs/0.1 mm), Nitration (Abs/cm), Soot (%), Glycol (%), Anti Wear (%)Biodiesel Dilution (%) (Diesel & Heavy Duty Diesel – Engine Oils)
Ethanol in Gasoline	Ethanol (%)
FAME in Diesel	FAME (%)
Biodiesel Feedstock	Water (PPM), FFA (%)
Biodiesel	Water (PPM), TAN (mg KOH/g), Total Glycerin (%)
Grease	Water (abs/0.1 mm), Oxidation (abs/0.1 mm), Water Index (unitless)

Fluid Manager Desktop Application Provides:

Capability to report

Device synchronization

Data redundancy

The Asset Manager database

Applications Include:

Mineral and synthetic oils are utilized in engines, gearboxes, and transmissions.

Turbines, hydraulic systems, and other parts of machinery

Fuel/Biodiesel

Quality Control of New Oils

Innovative Water and Fluid Indentity Methods

Entire water algorithm that is patented for both dissolved and free water

Karl Fischer titration's solvent-free substitute

Grease condition monitoring using the water index

Using fluid integrity to identify fluid mixtures



Image Credit:Spectro Scientific



Image Credit:Spectro Scientific



Image Credit:Spectro Scientific

Operating Principle



Image Credit:Spectro Scientific

Innovation in Hardware

The FluidScan's basis is a unique mid-infrared spectrometer. The main component, the grating dispersive optical system, is served by a solid-state waveguide to minimize light leakage and enhance the signal-to-noise ratio.

This design approach removes moving parts from the system, giving the system intrinsic longevity and eliminating the need for frequent field calibration.

Methods Unique to FluidScan

Industrial fluids using patented total water measurement (including dissolved and free water)

Fluid integrity measures to help identify confusion and track changes in oil condition

Trends in grease condition using the water index

Multivariate Calibration and Fluid Classification

Generic calibrations do not yield reliable findings for all types of oil for metrics like TAN, TBN, and water. To overcome this, FluidScan uses complex chemometric methods, such as those outlined in ASTM E1655.

Multivariate calibrations (ASTM E2412) can, for example, account for water's effects on the infrared signals associated with TAN in gas turbine oils.

Based on their chemistry, a classifier is also utilized to group the oils in the fluid library into various families that share an algorithm set. Field users can match a new oil to the fluid library for dependable results quickly and easily by using this categorization procedure.

Source: Spectro Scientific

FluidScan Parameter	Method	Correlates To
AW Additive	Complies with ASTMD7889	ASTM D7412/E2412 (FTIR)
Oxidation	Complies with ASTMD7889	ASTM D7414/E2412 (FTIR)
Sulfation	Complies with ASTMD7889	ASTM D7415/E2412 (FTIR)
Nitration	Complies with ASTMD7889	ASTM D7624/E2412 (FTIR)
Glycol	Uses techniques described in ASTM E1655	ASTM E2412 (FTIR)
Soot	Complies with ASTMD7889	ASTM D5967 (Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis)
TBN	Uses techniques described in ASTM E1655	ASTM D4739 (Potentiometric Titration)
TAN	Uses techniques described in ASTM E1655	ASTM D664 (Potentiometric Titration)
Water	Uses techniques described in ASTM E1655	ASTM E2412 (FTIR)/ASTM D6304 (KarlFischer Titration)

Product Models

Source: Spectro Scientific

PN	FluidScan 1000	FluidScan 1100
Default library	One free library from FL364 toFL371 at time of purchase	Industrial
Upgradable to full library	Yes	Yes
Total water license	Optional	Optional
Route base analysis	No	Yes
OilView Interface	No	Yes
TruVu 360 Device Console Interface	No	Yes
Intended application	Portable Analysis	On-Site Analysis