PAJ GROUP

WATER-IN-OIL SENSORS

PAJ Sensor A/S is in the market of producing and developing new sensors. PAJ Sensor A/S has developed - and is globally selling - a sensor that can detect water in oil – our so-called WIO sensor.

Surveys have documented that water or moisture is the second largest contamination (after particles) in oil systems. Water has a damaging effect on the life time of oil and system components:

• Reduced oil film strength and lubricity
• Corrosion
• Hydrogen-induced fractures (embrittlement or blistering)
• Fastened oil degradation which will speed up the oils oxidization

The effect is damages to engine parts, cylinders, bearings, etc with resulting mechanical failures and therefore repairs and expensive downtime costs (ranging between EUR 10,000 - 200,000).

Any oil can hold a certain amount of water (dissolved water) depending on the oil type and temperature - until free water is formed. Free water is what has the most damaging effects, however, the damaging effect occur already at low water activity. For optimal protection of machine components the water content should not exceed 30% of the saturation point. The amount of water a specific oil type can dissolve varies significantly, depending on e.g. the base oil, additives, oxidation, temperature and pressure.