In the last three months I have had to replace balance chamber diaphragms on three Fresenius 3KOS serial numbered machines. All three had 22,000 to 25,000 hours on them. I was wondering if anyone else has had to replace balance chamber diaphragms on a 3KOS series machine in the 22,000 to 25,000 hour range.
Thanks, Lumpy
<St. Louis Biomed>
Posted
Lumpy,
I don't think you're seeing a problem with the machines made from that year. You're just seeing a problem with a machine with that many hours. In my experience, it's pretty common to start replacing balance chamber membranes on any Fresenius machine after 20000 hours.
<Guest>
Posted
St. Louis is right. I have all H's with a little more hours than yours and I have had to replace almost all balance chaber membranes this year. Just part of the deal and loads of fun!!
<Lumpy>
Posted
I would agree with the two replies from St. Louis and guest, if it were not for the fact that we have two units that have 1KOS machines with well over 35,000 hours, that have never had the balance chamber diaphragms replaced. Thanks for the comments though.
I have heard that On Line Clearance is tougher on BC membranes, do to higher pressure in the BC occurring during the tests. Do your 3KOS machines have it, and your 1KOS don't? I can't say from personal experience since our first OLC machines are 4KOS with 20 to 24000 hours and everything previous to that did not have it. If the older machines don't have the OLC it would help prove that theory out.
Posts: 365 | Location: Cleveland.OH | Registered: 03 February 2006
It's the roll of the production materials dice. Like ya'll, I have machines with over 25K hrs and not a peep on anything. I have some H's with over 35K hrs and no B/C issues. Yet at another facility I provide support to, 1999 model year H's at 10K hrs started tearing the B/C diaphrams. All 11 machines needed new diaphrams by the time they hit 12K hrs. That facility was 3 day/wk, acid/heat treatment days and bleaching weekly. No exotic chemicals in use. It's the way it is. Goes for everything in the machines. Bad production runs have had me replace many K front panels with only a few thousand hours. que sara sara.
