Sampling In Dusty Environments
Are you having trouble getting a contaminant-free oil sample in dusty environments? Checkfluid knows that getting a precise sample can be difficult in some industries - think mining, construction, foundries, etc. While a sampling valve will work for getting a precise oil sample in most environments, these are some that require extra care to ensure samples are spot-on. If there is a concern that airborne dust and debris could get into your oil sample, a simple fix is to use a zip-lock bag.
The zip-bag method is easy. It works by first putting the sampling bottle inside of the zip-bag while in a clean environment. Next, after the valve has been purged, and without opening the bag, twist the cap off the sampling bottle. The cap remains in the zip-bag. This keeps the cap safe from outside contamination. Then thread the bottle in the bag into the sampling device (valve or probe). The user will then obtain the sample, as usual, tighten the cap back onto the bottle, while still in the bag, and ship the sample to the lab. This simple procedure effectively permits samples to be obtained without exposing the fluid or bottle to the atmosphere or surface condition. Zip-bag sampling videos for zip-bag sampling can be seen by clicking here for the KP and here for the KST.
More detailed sampling instructions can be found here for the KP Pushbutton, and here for the KST Series
However, the zip-bag method, while simple, is not fool-proof. In extremely dusty, dirty sampling environments, airborne contaminates can still have the opportunity to enter the sample bottle or zip-bag. These are situations where the extended effort beyond the zip-bag may need to be made to ensure outside contaminants do not get into the oil sample. For these challenging sampling environments Checkfluid has developed a Vacuum Charged Bottle (VC Bottle) for high-risk situations such as mining sites, construction sites, foundries, primary metal industries, etc.
To be released next month, the VC Bottle is easy to use, and will allow instant delivery of oil from the sampling valve to the bottle. With the VC Bottle there is no longer a concern about contaminants getting into the zip bag. You will be able to capture the precise data you need from high or low viscosity fluid, 50% faster than other competitive products. Through this you'll get reliable trending analysis, saving you from the expensive process of second-guessing results, or traveling back to the area to draw new samples. The VC Bottle works with a specialty probe. This probe will change depending on the sampling valve in use. Right now the VC Bottle will work with the following Checkfluid valves: KP, LP, KST, L, LT, LTJ, AD, and AB. A glass bottle will be available for transformer sampling.
