DEKRA Rail brochure

Lubricated systems

Condition assessment and degradationof lubricated systems
Analyzing the oil and grease, it’s possible to determine the state of a lubricated system. DEKRA Rail monitors thousands oflubricated systems by analyzing oil and grease samples in its laboratory. Among other things, these tests involve engines,gear boxes, transmissions and hydraulic systems. Fleet managers are able to use the results to plan and optimize theirmaintenance processes.

Lubricants ensure that systems keep running with the least
possible friction. If the oil contains any particles from othermaterials, this indicates that wear or contamination is occurring.
Oil samples thus provide a good indication of whether there
is something wrong with the system.

Targeted analysis
DEKRA Rail analyzes samples from the oil or magnetic plug andexamines the wear particles. What is the material: for example,
iron, chrome, tin, steel, sand or rust? How many particles areinvolved? How large are the particles? Are they grouped together
or isolated from each other in the oil? The data is then analyzed.
Is it normal to expect these small particles or can the process ofwear be said to be abnormal? What does this say about the individual system, or is it more an indication of what may be amiss withthe whole fleet?
If degradation is quicker than expected, DEKRA Rail will investigate the technical causes and any external causes that might beat play. How was maintenance carried out? Was the asset more
intensively used than anticipated? Or is the problem connected tosome other aspect of usage? For example, is the engine of a diesel
locomotive running idle too frequently? Based on this information, a fleet manager can make reasoned decisions, for example,
about the best moment for a recondition. A decision can also betaken to carry out tests more frequently and so keep closer trackof any potential problems.

Quick results
DEKRA Rail has its own testing laboratory with equipment that
can help identify relevant data more quickly. In addition, we havea data-analysis and modeling lab with access to large amounts ofhistorical data. On the back of more than 90 years’ expertise,
DEKRA Rail can deliver results quickly and reliably.

Optimization of maintenance, the right action
at the right time
Using the available data, we will carry out a risk analysis for anindividual system or a complete fleet. Any anomalous data canbe quickly identified. This enables the specific maintenance ofindividual items, thus keeping the condition of the entire fleet
under control. DEKRA Rail is able to draw quick and reliableconclusions about the condition of a fleet and come up with aconcrete forecast for the remaining useful life. This allows you
wto optimize your maintenance schedule. Experience shows thatproper assessment of the condition of lubricated systems canidentify excessive wear in its early stages and so allow for thetimely adjustment of maintenance.

Other services provided by DEKRA Rail
> Railway Certification and Assessment Services> ERTMS services> Wheel-Rail optimization> Product Testing> NDT services> Remaining useful life assessment

Contact
DEKRA Rail experts can be contacted via:Telephone+31 30 3005 100

Postal address

PO Box 8125
3503 RC Utrecht
The Netherlands

Business address Concordiastraat 67
Utrecht
The Netherlands
WebE-mailwww.dekra-rail.com
info.rail@dekra.com