WHAT WE DO

Glossary of Terms

T: temperature change, Fahrenheit

TAN : (Total) acid number

TBN : (Total) base number
Thermal conductivity: measure of the ability of a solid or liquid to transfer heat.

Thermal stability: ability of a fuel or lubricant to resist oxidation under high temperature operating conditions.

Thermography: the use of infrared thermography whereby temperatures of a wide variety of targets can be measured remotely and without contact. This is accomplished by measuring the infrared energy radiating from the surface of the target and converting this measurement to an equivalent surface temperature.

Thin film lubrication: a condition of lubrication in which the film thickness of the lubricant is such that the friction between the surfaces is determined by the properties of the surfaces as well as by the viscosity of the lubricant.

Thrust Bearing: an axial-load bearing.

Total Acid Number (TAN): the quantity of base, expressed in milligrams of potassium hydroxide, that is required to neutralize all acidic constituents present in 1 gram of sample. (ASTM Designation D 974.)
Total Base Number (TBN): the quantity of acid, expressed in terms of the equivalent number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide that is required to neutralize all basic constituents present in 1 gram of sample. (ASTM Designation D 974.)
Turbidity: the degree of opacity of a fluid.

Turbine oil: A top-quality rust- and oxidation-inhibited (R&O) oil that meets the rigid requirements traditionally imposed on steam-turbine lubrication. Quality turbine oils are also distinguished by good demulsibility, a requisite of effective oil-water separation. Turbine oils are widely used in other exacting applications for which long service life and dependable lubrication are mandatory. Such compressors, hydraulic systems, gear drives, and other equipment. Turbine oils can also be used as heat transfer fluids in open systems, where oxidation stability is of primary importance.

Turbulent flow sampler: a sampler that contains a flow path in which turbulence is induced in the main stream by abruptly changing the direction of the fluid.

Unbalanced seal : A mechanical seal arrangement wherein the full hydraulic pressure of the seal chamber acts to close the seal faces.

Unloading: the release of contaminant that was initially captured by the filter medium.