Fluid contamination is a major issue for professionals working with hydraulic machines and systems, engines and other industrial equipment. Whether it's hydraulic fluids, fuels, engine oil, coolant or cutting fluid, uncontrolled contamination can have serious consequences for the performance and lifespan of equipment. Operators need to be aware that any contaminant, however minute, can cause significant damage if left untreated. High-performance filtration is therefore essential to ensure the longevity and efficiency of systems.
Sources of fluid contamination
Fluid contamination comes mainly from three major sources:
Solid particles
They are one of the most frequent causes of contamination. Originating from the circuit itself, from wear on mechanical components, from the external environment or from machining in industry, they accumulate rapidly in fluids. These abrasive particles, often invisible to the naked eye, circulate in the system and attack the components, accelerating their wear.
“⚠️Watch out for microparticles! The human eye perceives contaminants up to 40µm in size. Below this size, these pollutants are invisible to the naked eye. Yet these imperceptible particles cause general wear and tear on your equipment. They are also the main cause of damage to your current systems. Why should this be? With machines becoming ever more precise, the slightest deviation alters their accuracy. A few micro-particles of between 1 and 8µm are enough to alter or block system components, to the point of rendering the machine unusable. The installation of filters with an appropriate filtration threshold secures the complex systems of your machines, which are increasingly sensitive to contamination.“
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Water
Water ingress into fluids is another critical source of contamination. It can come from condensation due to temperature variations or from leaks. Even in small quantities, water compromises the performance of fluids by encouraging the oxidation of metal components and the formation of sludge. In hydraulic systems, it can alter the viscosity of fluids and cause serious failures.
Bacteria
Fluids are exposed to bacterial proliferation in the presence of humidity. These bacteria degrade the chemical properties of the fluids and rapidly clog the filters until they clog the system.
These three types of contaminant, if not treated in time, lead to systemic failures.
Risks associated with contaminants
Fluid contamination directly affects the correct operation of equipment and can have a considerable impact on productivity and maintenance costs. Among the major risks :
Premature wear of components: Abrasive solid particles or deposits caused by water quickly damage the internal parts of circuits, pumps and injectors. This causes accelerated wear and reduces the life of the equipment.
High maintenance costs: Uncontrolled contamination increases the frequency of maintenance operations, the need to replace filters and damaged parts, and the costs associated with equipment downtime.
Risk of production stoppages: Contaminated equipment is more likely to break down, leading to unplanned production stoppages that are costly and detrimental to business continuity.
Shorter fluid life: Contaminants accelerate the degradation of fluids, requiring them to be replaced more frequently and unexpectedly, which increases operating costs.
Significantly reduced machine precision: Contaminated fluids affect system performance, reducing machine accuracy and compromising the quality of operations.
Poor contamination management can also have an impact on the overall safety of installations, particularly in industrial environments where fluids play a critical role in cooling or lubricating components. Appropriate filtration can prevent these risks and ensure optimum use of fluids.
HIFI FILTER® solutions for treating fluid contamination
Before deployment, our teams take a number of parameters into account:
The amount of equipment
The fluids used
The space available on your systems
Component sensitivity
Circuit pressure and flow
The quantity and type of pollutants
Working conditions
For production plants, the type of materials machined
Depending on this information, several installation solutions are possible:
Mobile filtration units
HIFI FILTER® mobile filtration units are preventive and curative maintenance tools designed to provide a simple, portable and versatile solution. Adapted to a variety of mobile or industrial equipment, these trolleys guarantee fast, efficient maintenance. Several models are available, each capable of meeting different needs. Depending on the model chosen, our filtration units can remove water and/or particles from fluids such as fuel, hydraulic oil or cutting fluids.
A 2-in-1 solution tailored to your operations:
Distribution: Filtration trolleys ensure the safe transfer of fluids between the container and the tank, guaranteeing risk-free handling.
Decontamination: Connected directly to the tank, they effectively decontaminate the fluids, then reinject them cleanly into the tank.
To meet your specific requirements, we can also design customised filtration trolleys. Contact us to discuss your requirements and find out about our customised solutions.
Diesel mobile filtration unit demonstration
Oil mobile filtration unit demonstration
“⚠️ Even new fluid can be contaminated! How can this happen? These contaminants can come from the manufacture of the fluid, the storage tank or the multiple transfers during its transportation. To secure your supply, clean your fluids, for example using a filtration trolley.“
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Bypass filtration groups
Bypass filtration provides continuous fluid purification, operating independently of the main circuit.
With a higher filtration threshold, this method is an ideal complement to original filtration. It helps to improve fluid quality without causing potential pressure or flow disturbances in the main system.
Filters
HIFI FILTER offers a full range of filters for every application.
Hydraulic filters to protect high- and low-pressure circuits, fuel filters to purify fuels by removing impurities and water, engine oil and coolant filters to ensure optimum engine operation and cutting fluid filters to maintain machining quality and tool life.
Why decontaminate your fluids?
✔️ EXTEND THE LIFE CYCLE OF FLUIDS Depending on the manufacturer, a fluid has a limited shelf life. However, once this time limit has been reached, the fluid is not necessarily out of date. It may simply be contaminated. With HIFI FILTER® filtration solutions, you can thoroughly purify your fluids and reuse them up to 3 times longer (provided their chemical properties are still preserved). Thanks to this extended use, you can space out your maintenance, reduce your fluid purchases and limit your environmental impact.
✔️ MAXIMISE MACHINE LIFE On production machines, standard filtration is designed to protect components and limit general wear and tear on systems. Adopting a higher filtration fineness gives you greater protection and increased profitability.
✔️ LIMIT THE RISK OF BREAKDOWNS With better control of fluid contamination levels, breakdowns caused by component failure are fewer and your maintenance costs fall. As a result, equipment operational availability and production yields increase.
Why choose HIFI FILTER®?
HIFI FILTER® is a recognised player in filtration. By choosing our solutions, you benefit from :
A complete and varied range of filters and adapted solutions.
Certified quality for optimum, long-lasting performance.
Personalised support and recognised technical expertise.
Our filtration solutions not only help to extend the life of your equipment, but also reduce your maintenance costs and unplanned downtime.
Fluid contamination represents a major challenge that every professional must anticipate. By relying on the expertise of HIFI FILTER®, you can preserve the performance, reliability and lifespan of your systems. Thanks to our complete filtration solutions, you can effectively eliminate contaminants and ensure optimum quality for your fluids. Optimise your operations today with HIFI FILTER®. Contact us to find out more about our products and benefit from a filtration solution tailored to your specific needs.
HIFI FILTER® offers filtration solutions to capture large contaminants and extend the life of original filters, as well as purification systems for in-depth oil treatment, with a range of replacement elements adapted to each installation.
Hydraulic systems are essential in many sectors, where their reliability and efficiency play a crucial role. However, the performance of these systems can be seriously compromised by various contaminants in the hydraulic fluid.
