Magnetic Filtration Helps Extend the Life of Hydraulic Systems

(This story was originally published by Power & Motion)
Preventing contaminants from entering hydraulic systems is key to ensuring their long-term performance. Standard filtration technologies can prevent entry of a number of contaminants but may not catch everything.

This is where MagShield’s magnetic filtration technology can come into play. It uses magnets to remove ferrous contaminants — metals such as steel and iron — that may be too small for other filters to capture.

Metal components utilized in mobile machinery wear down over time, releasing metal particles (referred to as wear materials) that can get into hydraulic and other fluid circuits which can lead to performance issues if not captured or removed during a fluid change.

Most of these wear materials are iron which is very hard and abrasive, said Joe Arico, product manager at MagShield. “If left unchecked and circulating through a system, [iron] causes a lot of [issues] for components, oil and filters. It basically just makes the equipment less reliable.”

Therefore, it can benefit machine performance to use a filter capable of capturing these materials. However, they are often too small for a traditional filter to capture.

Arico explained that OEMs have to find the right balance between practicality and protection. While use of a finer filter enables small particulate to be captured, issues associated with restriction and larger pressure drops can occur which may negatively affect hydraulic system performance. These filters clog faster as well, requiring more frequent replacement.

However, if the filter is not fine enough then too many contaminants can get through and cause premature failure. Arico said standard OEM filters used on mobile equipment tend to be in the 10-micron range because they capture most contaminants without hindering performance of the hydraulics.

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