The FluidScan® 1000 series handheld Infrared oil analyzer offers a precise quantitative assessment of a lubricant's state, serving as a pivotal component in Machine Condition Monitoring (MCM) for both proactive and predictive maintenance within Reliability Management initiatives.
Through this device, users can pinpoint when oil requires servicing due to deterioration in chemistry, contamination from substances like water, or incorrect oil types. Moreover, the FluidScan adheres to ASTM D7889, "Standard Test Method for Field Determination of In-Service Fluid Properties Using IR Spectroscopy."
Image Credit: Spectro Scientific
Dedicated Direct Infrared Spectrometer for Lubricant Condition Monitoring
- With no moving parts, it is intended for field-use applications.
- Small enough for handheld and travel use
- Results that can be put into practice right away for quick decisions
- For lubricants used in gearboxes, turbines, and hydraulic systems, water, TAN, and oxidation
- TBN, oxidation/sulfation/nitration for engine oils, water, glycol, soot, additive depletion
- Transmissions, greases, fuel blending, biodiesel, and lubricants are some more uses.
Easy to Use
- Tests only require a single oil drop and a minute.
- Solvents are not needed for cleaning.
- Color-coded for ease of interpretation and user-adjustable alarm limitations.
Image Credit: Spectro Scientific
Determine When In-Service Oil is Not Fit for Use
- Direct, instantaneous measurement of TAN, oxidation, and water for lubricants used in hydraulic systems, gearboxes, and turbines.
- TBN, water, glycol, soot, additive depletion, and oxidation for engine oil are also measured.
Highly Repeatable and Reproducible Results
- In compliance with ASTM D7889, the standard test method for determining in-service fluid properties in the field using infrared spectroscopy.
- Good correlation with KF water, TAN, and TBN laboratory tests.
- Reproducibility and repeatability are on par with the benchtop FTIR method outlined in ASTM E2412.
- Data analysis adheres to ASTM E1655 standards.
- It additionally meets the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (NESHAP RICE) requirements by extending oil change intervals for engines and backup generators when utilized alongside the Spectro MiniVisc 3050 Portable Viscometer.
Comprehensive Fluid Library and Application Categories
- More than 850 fluids are ready for use right now
- Various fluid libraries available according to the use case
- In the field, users can customize fluid libraries.
Image Credit: Spectro Scientific
Measured Parameters
An advantage of FluidScan over laboratory FTIR is its capability to provide absolute quantitative results for essential properties such as Total Acid Number (TAN) and water contamination in industrial lubricants or Total Base Number (TBN), water, glycol, and soot in engine oils. The table below outlines various parameters offered by FluidScan based on the type of oil.
Source: Spectro Scientific
| Application Categories |
Properties Measured by FluidScan |
| Transmission |
Water (PPM), Oxidation (Abs/0.1 mm), Fluid Integrity (unitless) |
| Hydraulic - Fire resistant (Phosphate Ester) |
Water (PPM), TAN (mg KOH/g) |
| Hydraulic - Aerospace (Synthetic Hydraulic Fluid) |
Water (PPM), Oxidation (Abs/0.1 mm), Alien Fluid mineral based (MIL-H-2304) (%), and Alien Fluid engine oil (ML-H-23699) (%) |
| Heat Transfer (Quenching Oil) |
Water (PPM), Oxidation (Abs/0.1 mm) |
| Industrial (Steam and CCGT Turbine, Hydraulic, Compressor, Chiller, Gear, etc.) |
Water (PPM), Oxidation (Abs/0.1 mm), TAN (mg KOH/g) |
| Turbine Aerospace (Synthetic Gas Turbine Oil) |
Water (PPM), TAN (mg KOH/g), Antioxidant (% depletion) |
| Engines (Engine oil for different engine types, including Gasoline, Diesel, Heavy Duty Diesel, HFO, Natural Gas, etc.) |
Water (PPM), Oxidation (Abs/0.1 mm), TBN (mg KOH/g), TAN (mg KOH/g) (Natural Gas only), Sulfation (Abs/0.1 mm), Nitration (Abs/cm), Soot (%), Glycol (%), Anti Wear (%)Biodiesel Dilution (%) (Diesel & Heavy Duty Diesel – Engine Oils) |
| Ethanol in Gasoline |
Ethanol (%) |
| FAME in Diesel |
FAME (%) |
| Biodiesel Feedstock |
Water (PPM), FFA (%) |
| Biodiesel |
Water (PPM), TAN (mg KOH/g), Total Glycerin (%) |
| Grease |
Water (abs/0.1 mm), Oxidation (abs/0.1 mm), Water Index (unitless) |
Fluid Manager Desktop Application Provides:
- Capability to report
- Device synchronization
- Data redundancy
- The Asset Manager database
Applications Include:
- Mineral and synthetic oils are utilized in engines, gearboxes, and transmissions.
- Turbines, hydraulic systems, and other parts of machinery
- Fuel/Biodiesel
- Quality Control of New Oils
Innovative Water and Fluid Indentity Methods
- Entire water algorithm that is patented for both dissolved and free water
- Karl Fischer titration's solvent-free substitute
- Grease condition monitoring using the water index
- Using fluid integrity to identify fluid mixtures
Image Credit: Spectro Scientific
Image Credit: Spectro Scientific
Image Credit: Spectro Scientific
Operating Principle
Image Credit: Spectro Scientific
Innovation in Hardware
The FluidScan's basis is a unique mid-infrared spectrometer. The main component, the grating dispersive optical system, is served by a solid-state waveguide to minimize light leakage and enhance the signal-to-noise ratio.
This design approach removes moving parts from the system, giving the system intrinsic longevity and eliminating the need for frequent field calibration.
Methods Unique to FluidScan
- Industrial fluids using patented total water measurement (including dissolved and free water)
- Fluid integrity measures to help identify confusion and track changes in oil condition
- Trends in grease condition using the water index
Multivariate Calibration and Fluid Classification
Generic calibrations do not yield reliable findings for all types of oil for metrics like TAN, TBN, and water. To overcome this, FluidScan uses complex chemometric methods, such as those outlined in ASTM E1655.
- Multivariate calibrations (ASTM E2412) can, for example, account for water's effects on the infrared signals associated with TAN in gas turbine oils.
- Based on their chemistry, a classifier is also utilized to group the oils in the fluid library into various families that share an algorithm set. Field users can match a new oil to the fluid library for dependable results quickly and easily by using this categorization procedure.
Source: Spectro Scientific
| FluidScan Parameter |
Method |
Correlates To |
| AW Additive |
Complies with ASTMD7889 |
ASTM D7412/E2412 (FTIR) |
| Oxidation |
Complies with ASTMD7889 |
ASTM D7414/E2412 (FTIR) |
| Sulfation |
Complies with ASTMD7889 |
ASTM D7415/E2412 (FTIR) |
| Nitration |
Complies with ASTMD7889 |
ASTM D7624/E2412 (FTIR) |
| Glycol |
Uses techniques described in ASTM E1655 |
ASTM E2412 (FTIR) |
| Soot |
Complies with ASTMD7889 |
ASTM D5967 (Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis) |
| TBN |
Uses techniques described in ASTM E1655 |
ASTM D4739 (Potentiometric Titration) |
| TAN |
Uses techniques described in ASTM E1655 |
ASTM D664 (Potentiometric Titration) |
| Water |
Uses techniques described in ASTM E1655 |
ASTM E2412 (FTIR)/ASTM D6304 (KarlFischer Titration) |
Product Models
Source: Spectro Scientific
| PN |
FluidScan 1000 |
FluidScan 1100 |
| Default library |
One free library from FL364 to
FL371 at time of purchase |
Industrial |
| Upgradable to full library |
Yes |
Yes |
| Total water license |
Optional |
Optional |
| Route base analysis |
No |
Yes |
| OilView Interface |
No |
Yes |
| TruVu 360 Device Console Interface |
No |
Yes |
| Intended application |
Portable Analysis |
On-Site Analysis |