INNIO Group analyzes the chemical composition of residual dirt particles using a ZEISS solution.

INNIO Group is a company based in Jenbach (Austria) that develops and manufactures innovative systems for energy generation and compression. Because the large engines produced by the company are continuously becoming more powerful and the individual components subject to ever higher strains the INNIO Group in Jenbach introduced technical cleanliness standards 10 years ago.. To determine the source of critical residual dirt particles, the company has been using ZEISS EVO scanning electron microscope since 2015.

Finding the needle in the haystack.

Christian Troger is Operation Quality Leader at INNIO in Jenbach.

INNIO Group analyzes the chemical composition of residual dirt particles using a ZEISS solution.

“Even a tiny metallic dirt particle in our powerful engines can cause enormous damage,” stresses Christian Troger, Operation Quality Leader at INNIO in Jenbach. If, for example, a metallic particle the size of a grain of sand were to be located inside the connecting road bearing, the oil film in the bearing could break. Insufficient lubrication increases the friction between the crankshaft and the connecting rod bearing, which can lead to substantial damage.

The INNIO Group sets industry-wide standards in terms of engine performance and reliability. The Jenbacher generator sets and power-heat and power-heat-cooling generation systems in the performance range of 250 KW to 10.4 MW can be operated with many types of energy sources, such as landfill gas, sewage gas, biomethane or hydrogen, thereby supporting customers in their transition to net zero.

But the higher the efficiency and power density of the engines, the higher the peak pressures and bearing loads. The designers’ response? Harder bearings and smaller lubrication gaps. However, this increases the risk of the oil film ripping, caused by so-called killer particles.

INNIO is setting standards in its industry.

More than 25,000 INNIO Group engines have been delivered to around 100 countries to date.

Christian Troger Operation QUALITY LEADER, at INNIO in Jenbach
Even a tiny metallic dirt particle in our powerful engines can cause enormous damage.

A must: technical cleanliness

Inspired by the experiences of the automotive industry and following Guideline VDA 19, the INNIO Group already defined its first standards for technical cleanliness in 2012. The entire process encompassed around 800 project steps. And around 3 million euros were invested in measures and solutions such as air locks, encasings, and devices for the rinsing and determination of residual dirt particles.

And in order to be able to analyze the residual dirt on the components, a laboratory was set up with specially developed equipment for rinsing the components, which weigh several tons.

Johannes Bachmann, at INNIO in Jenbach and expert in material analysis, receives a filter for testing.

ZEISS EVO scanning electron microscope plays a key role in discovering and removing potential contamination sources. This microscope works with the software ZEISS Smart Particle Investigator for particle analysis and classification. The software, which fulfills the current ISO and VDA norms for technical cleanliness, combines in one single application all aspects needed to operate the SEM, process images, and perform elemental analysis.

And because the system does the particle analyses automatically, it can be operated continuously and without human supervision. This significantly lightens the workload of Johannes Bachmann, expert for material analysis at INNIO in Jenbach: If he needs to investigate a filter, the results of the analysis are ready after only an hour or two.

The system does the particle analyses automatically, it can be operated continuously and without human supervision.

Martin Mühlbacher Vice President Operations & Site Manager.
Technical cleanliness is very important in our production, which is why we test on the ZEISS EVO Mat 25, so we can meet the technical specifications 100%.

Chemical analysis of the particle by the SEM.

In addition to structure and morphology, Bachmann can also see which chemical elements the particles are made by doing EDX analysis (energy dispersive Xray spectroscopy) on the screen connected to the microscope. Since Bachmann knows exactly which materials the company works with, he can quickly determine the origin of a potentially dangerous particle.

Bachmann and Troger both concur: “With the ZEISS EVO MA 25, we find the needle in the haystack.”

With the ZEISS solution, instead of 20 filters per week, only a few filters per week need to be examined as a matter of routine.

Ten years ago, when the INNIO Group first introduced standards for technical cleanliness and redefined its processes, Bachmann analyzed at least 20 filters per day. These days, only a few filters a week need to be examined as a matter of routine. But even though the processes at the INNIO Group are running so smoothly today, no one at the company can or wants to do without scanning electron microscope. Bachmann and Troger both agree: “In the event of a worst case, we know we would find the needle in the haystack only with the ZEISS EVO MA 25.”

Finding the needle in the haystack.

Technical Cleanliness: INNIO Group analyzes the chemical composition of residual dirt particles using a ZEISS solution.

Facts

Facts and figures on increasing efficiency.

> 3 wk

In the past, analyses were carried out by external service providers, which took three weeks or longer.

≤ 2h

Today, the results are available after just one or two hours.

≥ 20

In the past, 20 filters had to be examined per week. Today, thanks to the ZEISS solution, there are routinely only a few.

Find out more about Technical Cleanliness

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