EXPERIENCES AND TESTING OF AN AUTONOMOUS ON-LINE OIL QUALITY MONITOR FOR DIESEL ENGINES

摘要

The paper summarizes the author’s application and testing of an oil quality sensor for diesel engine applications. Maintaining healthy fluid systems is critical to keeping machinery in a high readiness state. The authors describe the oil sensing principles and recent experiences proving the sensor’s ability to autonomously assess oil quality and classify specific diesel oil contaminants. The sensor includes both analog and digital electronics enabling the sensor to perform fluid interrogations, operate contaminant classifier algorithms, trend specific estimated contaminants, implement higher-level communications protocols and ultimately enable prognostics of future oil quality or contaminant level. The sensor design enables direct insertion into a drain plug or fluid circulation line, as done in the current testing effort. The authors provide an overview of the experimental approach, pressure-fed lubrication system, seeded fault contamination plan, and test results. The main result of the 6-month test program was demonstrated classification of multiple contaminants below the condemning limit of each.