Protecting Industrial Hydraulic Systems from Contamination with OILN2 and Seal’N’Dry
Hydraulic oil systems are highly susceptible to airborne contamination. Open reservoirs “breathe” in dirty air and moisture as temperature changes cause expansion and contraction, letting oxygen, water vapor, dust and more enter the oil chamber. Over time this causes oil oxidation, sludge, and even corrosion, leading to shorter component life and up to 85% of all hydraulic failures. Frequent filter clogs, oil changes and downtime are the norm with open reservoirs.
Figure: In an open hydraulic reservoir (“The Old Way – Open System”), moist air brings in water, oxygen and dirt, causing dirty oil. Converting to a closed reservoir (e.g. with OILN2™) replaces moisture with dry nitrogen, keeping the oil clean and extending its life.
The solution is to eliminate the source of contamination by converting the system to a sealed, dry environment. Inventive Resources’ OILN2™ and Seal’N’Dry® products both accomplish this by replacing the standard breather cap with a closed “air bladder” system. In such sealed systems, any incoming air must pass through internal cartridges that remove moisture and oxygen before they contact the oil. The result is oil that stays clean, dry, and blanketed in inert gas, dramatically reducing oxidation and wear.
The Challenge of Oil Contamination
In a typical open reservoir system, every time the hydraulic pump cycles with changing heat or other factors, it creates pressure changes that draw in ambient air through the vent cap. This air can be humid and dirty, containing water vapor, dust, microbes and oxygen. These contaminants lead to:
Oxidation of oil (because of dissolved oxygen), forming sludge and acidic byproducts.
Moisture problems: high humidity and condensation cause free water accumulation and emulsified oil, which promotes corrosion and wear.
Particulate intrusion: dust and dirt enter the oil, accelerating filter clogging and bearing wear.
Frequent maintenance: contaminated oil and filters must be changed often, increasing costs and downtime.
Oil contamination is a leading root cause of hydraulic failures. Oil contamination causes over 85% of all hydraulic system failures. In other words, preventing contaminant ingress is critical for reliability.
The OILN2™
The OILN2™ system is a patented, self-contained solution that transforms an open reservoir into a nitrogen-blanketed closed system. It installs onto the existing vent cap (replacing the old cap) with a simple connector. Once mounted, OILN2 creates a sealed chamber above the oil and uses an expandable bladder to compensate for volume changes and avoid air ingress. All air moving in or out of the reservoir must pass through the OILN2 unit.
With the OilN2, a thermal conduction rod (known as a heat pipe) is added to remove heat from the reservoir’s air continuously. Lastly, an oxygen absorber in the system removes any remaining oxygen. This setup stops oil oxidation and keeps the oil clean, dry and blanketed in a high concentration of nitrogen.
Key features of OILN2:
Seals the oil reservoir into a closed, expandable-bladder system.
Thermal rod + cartridge technology that removes oxygen and moisture from the air.
Continuously blankets the oil with nitrogen, preventing oxidation and corrosion.
Compatible with 1 to 1,000 gallon reservoirs (select unit size for volume).
Easy installation: one connection at the breather port, no electrical power needed.
Low maintenance: cartridge replacement is infrequent (often years) once installed on a clean system.
Benefits: With OILN2 or Seal’N’Dry in place, hydraulic oil stays clean and dry, eliminating the need for frequent oil and filter changes. By preventing sludge and corrosion, it greatly reduces downtime and maintenance costs. Equipment life is extended, too! In fact, typical payback on an OILN2 installation is under one year.
By proactively protecting your oil reservoir, you protect your entire hydraulic system.