MACHINERY LUBRICATION- INDIA MARCH-APRIL 2020 | Page 10

Stephen Steen | Poseidon Systems
OIL ANALYSIS
Advantages of Using
Real-Time, In-Line Oil Sensors
8 | March - April 2020 |
www.machinerylubricationindia.com
Previous sensors generally were
simple, single-point dielectric,
conductivity or permittivity
measurement devices used to
detect oil oxidation but were not
sensitive to other key parameters.
The newest sensors are capable of
not only detecting degradation
of the overall oil quality but
also estimating the percentage
of soot, base number, relative
humidity, additive depletion, etc.
These devices can identify most,
if not all, events and project the
remaining useful life of the oil
while the asset is in operation.
Oil analysis has been the
backbone of reliability
progra ms over t he
past century. From the
earliest instruments used by
laboratories to the more modern,
miniaturized benchtop equipment,
this technology has transformed
the way and speed by which
maintenance decisions are made.
Among the latest advancements
are in-line, real-time oil sensors,
which promise to deliver true
online monitoring capabilities.
“These
devices can
identify most,
if not all,
events and
project the
remaining
useful life of
the oil while
the asset is in
operation.”
Figure 1. Oil-quality readings from an online sensor installed
on a diesel engine