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Kittiwake Developments has added to its range of on-board oil condition monitoring equipment with the launch of the DIGI Insolubles meter.

The compact DIGI meter is designed to test for contaminants in fuels and lubricants which can provide an early warning system to impending machinery and equipment failure. The device has been designed to deliver accurate results to engineers at sea in under two minutes.

“This new handheld unit is designed to put on-site, instant and actionable oil condition results straight into the hands of the engineer,” said Kittiwake’s Marketing Manager Paul Froome. “With its waterproof casing and battery power, the DIGI meter is robust enough to withstand even the toughest working environments. It is an essential addition to any ship-based maintenance regime.”

The DIGI Insolubles test kit has been developed by Kittiwake using colorimetry. It utilises Kittiwake’s latest test metering technology to provide fast and highly accurate field results. The unit comes complete in a portable carry case with all reagents and consumables required for instant testing.

Froome said that the need to monitor the level of insolubles and soot inside ship machinery and equipment is vital to guaranteeing sound reliability and performance.

Insolubles are solid contamination particles often left in oil as a result of the build-up of combustion related debris and oxidation products. These can include carbon from incomplete combustion of fuel and, to a lesser extent, lubricants, organic polymers from oxidisation of the lube oil and fuel. They also contain sulphates from combustion of fuel sulphur and reaction with TBN additives and wear metals.

Metallic fuel ash and airborne grit such as dust, dirt and silica can also be present, as well as asphaltenes (mainly from engines using residual fuel oil).

”High insolubles will cause lacquer formation on hot surfaces, sticking of piston rings and wear of cylinder liner and bearing surfaces,” said Froome. “In addition to the wear, the detergent property of the oil will decrease, becoming a catalyst for further deterioration. A build-up of insolubles will generally increase the oils viscosity and create other problems such as foaming. Ultimately, increased oil viscosity will cause wear of bearings and running surfaces, blockage of oil ways and filters, and the fouling around the piston pack and piston top land.”

Kittiwake’s extensive range of on-board machinery and oil condition monitoring equipment is helping to keep vessels at sea by reducing the need for unnecessary port stops which can undermine productivity and profitability. The new DIGI meter further extends the Kittiwake portfolio.

“At Kittiwake, we’re not just experts in machinery condition monitoring and fuel and lube oil analysis, we are partners to the marine industry, providing our customers with the information and the technology they need to keep their fleets running,” said Froome.

“We apply a deep understanding of our customers' businesses to deliver the right solution at the right time, to meet ever-changing market demands, such as the demand for enhanced environmental protection. The new DIGI Insolubles test meter is part of our commitment to continue serving the marine industry and to help ship operators meet the ever growing challenges that they must face.”