Technology has been marching on and on since development of the
"gold standard" of oil analysis. Here's how one British power
plant has been benefiting from a leader of that parade. In
modern conventional power stations, the overall condition of the
fluids that lubricate large, high-value machinery is critical.
In particular, moisture in the oil can wash out critical anti-
oxidative compounds, contributing to lubricant oxidation and
subsequent loss of lubricant performance. Although Karl Fischer
(KF) titrations have been used over the years to measure the
degree of water in oil, this analytical method does, in fact,
have some limitations. Three years ago, the Ferrybridge C Power
Station in West Yorkshire, England, began moving from its use of
the KF method to use of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)
analysis to measure and control the level of water contamination
in lubricating fluids. The result? Accurate data in less
time—and with less complication—than the "gold-standard" Karl
Fischer method. Lubrication mo