Sensors eye Fluids And Lubricants

The latest condition-monitoring sensors keep industrial systems humming. Online fluid-monitoring sensors continuously assess fluid conditions. For instance, instruments on this press-cushion hydraulic system determine water content (top) and particulate contamination levels. The AS 2000 water sensor features a separate probe and display console. The smaller AS 1000 incorporates signal-processing electronics in the aluminum housing, making it suited for OEM installations. Both products measure dissolved water content. The handheld HMG 3000 simultaneously acquires and displays data from 10 analog and two digital sensors. Hydac's Aqua Sensor 8000 is intended for installation in return lines where free water is a concern, such as on the wet-end of paper-machine lubricating systems in paper mills or on Morgoil systems in steel plants. There has arguably never been more pressure on OEMs and machine users to improve maintenance and condition-monitoring practices. One factor is the increasingly complex nature of industrial machinery that, in turn, requires new and more-sophisticated maintenance techniques. And higher capital expenditures typically involved are an added incentive to keep equipment up and running. Another factor is that today's selling and leasing approaches often include service contracts. Regardless of the equipment involved — machine tools, excavators, or wind turbines — deals are often based not only on initial selling price but also include equipment reliability, operating life, and life-cycle cost guarantees. In many cases equipment operation depends on the quality and performance of hydraulic and lubricating oils. To handle more-stringent demands, fluids have gotten more specialized and are often tailored to work with specific hardware under specific operating and climatic conditions. There has also been a shift toward more complex formulations of both base stocks and additives. As a result, there is an increasing trend toward more-sophisticated fluid-monitoring techniques that predominantly rely on in-line or online sensors. These diagnostic devices continuously assess fluid conditions in near-real time. In contrast, conventional practices generally involve sending oil samples to off-site labs for analysis. Thus, online measurements permit faster access to data and more-informed decisions