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Recently, the International Council for Machinery Lubrication launched two new varnish badges, VIM and VPR. The VPR (Varnish & Deposit Prevention and Removal) and VIM (Varnish & Deposit Identification and Measurement) badges were developed to focus on the unique and persistent challenges presented by varnish and deposits. Greg Livingstone, Chief Innovation Officer at Fluitec has been part of the development committee for these badges.
We are proud to announce that Fluid Learning is the first and only official ICML training partner offering courses for both the VIM & VPR Badges to date. Students of these courses can attend the sessions on Fluid Learning’s LMS website, obtain their certificate of achieving the training requirements and then sit the ICML exam thereafter. The content is available to anyone with internet access and with the advent of ICML’s online certification exams, students globally can achieve these badges from their homes.
The VIM Badge
The VIM Badge is designed for candidates who recommend suitable oil analysis tests and mitigation efforts related to the deposit tendencies of various in-service fluids. Additionally, it seeks to verify that they can monitor and adjust these tests and efforts accordingly. There are four main topics to be covered in the Body of Knowledge namely:
- Problems associated with Varnish and Deposits (20%)
- Varnish and Deposit Composition (24%)
- How Breakdown Products / Contaminants Become Deposits (24%)
- Oil Analysis Techniques that can be used to gauge Breakdown and Propensity towards Deposit Formation (32%)
While the overall weightings of the topics above are listed, here is a clearer picture of what each subtopic contains:
I. Problems Associated with Varnish and Deposits (20%)
- Flow restriction, starvation and filter plugging
- Restricted movement, stiction and silt lock
- Increased friction and effect on efficiency
- Impaired heat transfer
- Bearing operation
- Need to flush
- Accelerated lubricant degradation
- Lubricant performance properties
- II. Varnish and Deposit Composition (24%)
- Lubricant Breakdown Products
- Contamination
- Radiological contamination in nuclear plants
III. How Breakdown Products/Contaminants Become Deposits (24%)
Solubility of breakdown products:
- Laws of solubility
- Effect of temperature.
- Micelle (CMC)
- Agglomeration
- Soluble – insoluble equilibria, saturation and impurity-holding capacity (IHC).
IV. Oil Analysis Techniques that can be used to Gauge Breakdown and Propensity Towards Deposit Formation (32%)
- MPC Varnish Potential
- Acid Number
- FTIR
- RULER
- TOST/RPVOT
- ISO 4406
- Panel coker test
- Ultracentrifuge
- Blotter spot test
- Sample physical inspection
- Inspection methods
- OOT/OIT (oxidation onset and induction temperature)
- Noack volatility
More information about the VIM badge can be obtained from ICML directly.
The VPR badge
The VPR badge is suited for candidates who understand the proactive methods and technologies which can be employed to reduce the degree of degradation. They should also be able to sufficiently evaluate combinations of technologies to prevent and remove varnish. This includes the proper steps to set up and implement an effective varnish removal system. The four main topics covered in the Body of Knowledge for the VPR badge include:
- Problems associated with Varnish and Deposits (20%)
- Factors Affecting Breakdown (28%)
- Proactive Methods that can be used to Minimize Oil Breakdown (16%)
- Methods / Technologies that can be used to remove oil breakdown products and / prevent deposits (36%)
These are further broken down in subcategories as per below:
I. Problems Associated with Varnish and Deposits (20%)
- Flow restriction, starvation and filter plugging
- Restricted movement, stiction and silt lock
- Increased friction and effect on efficiency
- Impaired heat transfer
- Bearing operation
- Need to flush
- Accelerated lubricant degradation
- Lubricant performance properties
II. Factors Affecting Breakdown (28%)
- Effect of base fluid on breakdown and deposit formation:
- Contamination
- Temperature
III. Proactive Methods that can be used to Minimize Oil Breakdown (16%)
- Keep temperature down during service and storage.
- Keep oil clean and dry.
- Use thermally/oxidatively-robust formulations.
- Use oils with high impurity-holding capacity (IHC).
- Nitrogen blanketing (creates potential for entrained gas/nitration).
- Antioxidant additives.
- Controlling aeration and foam.
- Controlling electrostatic discharge
- Maintaining optimum fluid health
IV. Methods/Technologies that can be used to Remove Oil Breakdown Products and/or Prevent Deposits (36%)
- Particulate filtration (pros and cons)
- Electrostatic precipitation and agglomeration (pros and cons)
- Centrifugal separation (pros and cons)
- Ion exchange resins (pros and cons)
- Oil soluble PAGs (pros and cons)
- Chemical flush (pros and cons)
- Detergents and solvents (pros and cons)
- Solubility Enhancers (pros and cons)
- Spark-free/antistatic filters
More information about the VPR badge can be obtained from ICML directly.
Upon the launch of these badges, Greg also became one of the first 10 people to take the tests and attain both the ICML VIM & VPR badges. Additionally, Greg will be teaching these courses to students interested in achieving the VIM and VPR badges through our Learning platform, Fluid Learning. These courses are available as On-Demand courses and students can sit with the material at their own pace. Be sure to check out the new learning platform and attain your ICML VPR & VIM badges today!