Filter debris analysis by XRF using commercial equipment today

For wear condition monitoring, filter debris analysis (FDA) offers many adv antages over the analysis of particulates suspended in oil. By applying aut omated X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) to the filter debris, valuable con dition monitoring information can be obtained Wear sources and other partic ulate contaminants can be identified Measurements are objective and only mo dest levels of labor are required once a basic database has been set up for the machine type. A successful demonstration of the technique by Humphrey (1), using Navy turbine aircraft, will be briefly reviewed to motivate othe rs to apply the method to other types of operational machinery. This paper will discuss how, with current XRF procedures carried out on commercially a vailable equipment, owners and service providers can achieve remarkable imp rovements in condition-based wear monitoring for oil lubricated major machi nery, without investing in any further instrumentation development.