LINKING FERROUS MEASUREMENT TO PARTICLE COUNTING FOR MACHINE CONDITION MONITORING
Machine condition monitoring by oil analysis is widely practiced to prevent machine failure and lower costs. There is a wealth of information regarding key indicators of machine-health, derived from lubricant fluid analysis; wear and particulate contamination are particularly important for monitoring industrial equipment. Ferrous content is commonly used as a screen for abnormal wear. A completely redesigned magnetometer has recently been developed and is integrated into an image based particle counter classifier. The new approach, employing a Hall Effect sensor, measures total ferrous content in ppm/ml, particle count and size distribution for ferrous particles > 25 µm. Other conditions, such as free water content and silica contaminants, are also provided along with ferrous content to support comprehensive diagnostics of machine health. This presentation provides an overview of the technology, and examples of the technique in comparison to existing ferrous particle count methods.