Protecting Hydraulic Systems in Steel Mills

1. Hydraulic System Vulnerabilities in Metallurgy

   • Ultra-high pressures (3,000-5,000+ PSI) accelerating component wear.

   • Sensitivity of servo valves to particles >5µm (NAS Class 6+ required).

   • Water-induced corrosion and additive depletion.
     Keywords: hydraulic oil purification, servo valve protection, NAS 1638

2. Filtration Solutions for Critical Applications

   • Offline filtration systems (kidney loops): Continuous ISO 14/11/8 cleanliness.

   • Coalescing separators + vacuum dehydration units (VDUs) for water removal to <100 ppm.

   • Magnetic filters for ferrous wear debris capture.
     Keywords: offline filtration systems, coalescing separator, vacuum dehydration unit

3. Case Study: BOF Furnace Tilt System

   • Problem: Frequent valve spool seizures (cost: $250k/hour downtime).

   • Solution: Installed 200 GPM kidney loop filtration with β₅≥1000 filters + VDU.

   • Result: Downtime reduced 92%, oil life extended 3x.
     Keywords: kidney loop filtration, contamination control in metallurgy

4. ROI Analysis

   • Typical savings: 40% lower hydraulic component replacements, 60% reduced oil purchases.

   • Payback period: 3-9 months.

Conclusión
Proactive hydraulic oil purification transforms maintenance from reactive to predictive. Partnering with filtration experts ensures systems meet NAS 1638 Class 5-6 standards, slashing downtime costs by 6-figures annually.

Appendices:

• Target Cleanliness Levels (ISO/NAS) for Steel Mill Hydraulics

• Filter Selection Checklist

• Water Contamination Damage Calculator