WearDetect uses sensors to detect residues in the oil to track mechanical wear. The system measures ferrous abrasion particles present in the lubricant, which can be used as an indicator of component wear.
According to the manufacturer, these sensors are currently used in wind turbines to monitor their operation between scheduled inspections. The system has no moving parts and can be connected to a PLC or condition monitoring systems for remote data access.
In addition to detecting ferrous particles, there are options for measuring the temperature and dielectric properties of the oil. These measurements can be used to identify changes related to the presence of water or insufficient lubricant levels.
Application in railway systems
The same technology can be used to monitor mechanical components of railway systems. In this context, oil analysis provides information on component wear during operation and complements procedures such as manual inspections and periodic lubricant sampling.
Operating conditions and the characteristics of the railway infrastructure can influence component wear. For this reason, continuous monitoring allows for data collection between periodic inspections and the detection of variations in the amount of particles present in the oil.
WearDetect can be integrated with control and monitoring systems to transmit measurements remotely. This allows the data obtained by the sensors to be incorporated into the maintenance procedures for wind turbines and railway equipment.
disynet GmbH includes WearDetect in its catalog of monitoring solutions. The company also offers acceleration sensors for measuring and monitoring vibrations in machinery and other equipment.
