METHOD FOR ON-LINE MONITORING OF CONDITION OF NON-AQUEOUS FLUIDS

摘要

A method for determining condition of a highly resistive fluid intransportation and industrial equipment. The method uses apparatus thatapplies a high frequency oscillating voltage signals to electrodes immersed inthe fluid and quantifies fluid response to the signals. Apparatus can furtherinclude means to control the temperature of the fluid, or a temperature sensorto monitor the temperature of fluid at the electrodes. The method monitorsresponse of the fluid to the electrical signal applied by the apparatus. Thefrequency of the applied signal for the method is predetermined as a functionof apparatus electrode geometry, fluid temperature or temperature range, andchemical composition of the fluid being monitored. The magnitude of fluidresponse relative to initial and the rate of change of the fluid response as afunction of equipment use are used to essentially continuously determine fluidcondition while in use. In particular, the method can determines approximatecontaminant content of the fluid and can determine when the fluid has reachedthe end of its useful life due to the approximate contaminant content and/ordue to loss or ability to disperse additional contaminants as very finelydivided suspended particles. For apparatus or applications where the monitoredfluid is not controlled to constant temperature, the method includescorrecting the temperature sensitive fluid responses for temperaturevariations for the fluid quality and condition determination. The method canalso include determining when essentially complete fluid exchanges are made tothe equipment without need for additional input.