On-line monitoring of degredation and contamination of lubricant of rotating equipment

• US 20060169031A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Limin Song, Michael F. Raterman
• Original Assignee: Limin Song, Michael F. Raterman
• Inventors: Song, Limin, Raterman, Michael F.
• Application Number:
  US11/312,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20060169031A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/53.50
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

The present invention is a system for the determination of the useful life of a lubricant and detection of water or process fluid contamination level contained in a mechanical system. The system includes a lubricant sensor to measure a physical or chemical property of the lubricant, a database, a computer having access to the database, and a data acquisition system for providing power to the sensor and converting the measurement to numerical values for data storage. In a preferred embodiment the physical or chemical property is the dielectric constant.

Claims

1. A system for the determination of the useful life of a lubricant and/or detection of water or process fluid contamination level contained in a mechanical system comprising

(a) a lubricant sensor to measure a physical or chemical property of the lubricant,

(b) a database,

(c) a computer having access to the database,

(d) an on-line data acquisition system for converting the measurement to numerical values for storage in said database.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a circulation system for circulating lubricant from the mechanical system to the lubricant sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said circulation system includes a pump, and a means for bringing the lubricant into contact with the lubricant sensor.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the circulation system further comprises a filter and a lubricant reservoir for contacting the lubricant with the sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is in contact with the mechanical system.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is on-line with the mechanical system.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said database includes data regarding the lubricant and the measured physical or chemical property in order to determine the remaining useful life of the lubricant.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said physical or chemical property is dielectric constant.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor includes a circuit that compensates for the temperature effect of the physical or chemical property.