MP Filtri LPA2, User Manual

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6 Introduction
2 Introduction
The LPA² is designed to measure and quantify the numbers of solid
contaminants in Hydraulic, Lubrication and Transmission applica-
tions. The LPA² is designed to be a laboratory accurate instrument
suitable for "on-site’’ applications utilising mineral oil as the oper-
ating fluid. Please contact local sales office for other operating fluid
options.
The instrument uses the light extinction principle whereby 2 laser
light systems shine through the fluid and lands on photodiodes. When
a particle passes through the beam it reduces the amount of light re-
ceived by the diode, and from this change in condition, the size of
the particle can be deduced.
Hydraulic and Lubricating Systems consists of sets of continuously
moving metal parts, which use hydraulic fluid as the power medium.
Hydraulic fluid is also used to create a lubrication film to keep the
precision parts separated and it is also used as a cooling medium.
The very nature of a hydraulic system is that it produces solid par-
ticulate contaminants and these are ever present in all hydraulic sys-
tems. There is a revised standard ISO cleanliness code ISO 4406:
1999 which classifies the numbers of particles that can be tolerated
within the system and it is these levels of contaminants that the par-
ticle counter is designed to measure. 1
1
ISO Cleanliness Code – The international standard for reporting solid contami-
nants is ISO4406:1999, this standard has been revised to incorporate the change
to ISO Medium Test Dust as the calibration standard.