A method and a sampling tool for collecting particles from lubrication fluid of an engine are disclosed. The particles collected may be used to conduct analysis to diagnose a condition of the engine. The tool can be detachably connectable to a lubrication system of the engine. The tool comprises an inlet for receiving lubrication fluid from the lubrication system of the engine, a filter and a pump configured to induce a flow of the lubrication fluid through the filter.

There is disclosed a tool for filtering a lubricant to meet a target ISO cleanliness code. The tool includes a skid-mounted integrated filtration system having a pump that circulates a flow of lubricant from an inlet port, through a heater, through a series of specifically sized filters, and past a digital particle counter. The filtration system also includes a user interface and a programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to track outputs from the pump, the oil heater, and the particle counter to monitor a cleanliness of the circulating lubricant. The filtration system also includes a filtration operations server in communication with the PLC and configured to implement a tracking and monitoring software application enabling control of the filtration system from the system itself or remotely through one or more remote user terminals such as a smartphone, a laptop or tablet computer, and the like. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A method for determining when to change a lubricating fluid flowing within an apparatus includes monitoring the lubricating fluid flowing within the apparatus by passing radiation through the lubricating fluid from a radiation source. The lubricating fluid is analyzed for a presence of particles in the lubricating fluid based on the radiation passing through the lubricating fluid. A concentration of the particles in the lubricating fluid is determined when the presence of particles is detected. An alert to change the lubricating fluid is generated when the concentration of particles in the lubricating fluid exceeds a threshold.

A method of determining wear of a seal element includes rotating a seal plate relative to the seal element and such that the seal plate and the seal element form a rotational sealing interface. The seal element includes an insert embedded in the seal element. A portion of the seal element is worn with a sealing face of the seal plate. The insert is contacted with the sealing face of the seal plate. A portion of the insert is worn to create a wear particle of the insert. The presence of the wear particle in a lubrication oil is sensed with an oil monitoring system.

An oil debris monitoring sensor includes a multiple of passages within the housing, each of the multiple of passages surrounded by a set of coils to detect a particle. A method for determining a presence of a particle in a system includes a) installing a single sensor in-line with an oil flow path; b) communicating oil through a multiple of passages within the housing of the single sensor; c) detecting a particle through the single sensor; and d) isolating the particle to one of the multiple of passages within the sensor housing.

A method for monitoring a status of a reduction gear of a gas turbine includes the steps of: obtaining measurements of parameters accomplished during an operating phase of the gas turbine, these parameters including temperatures of a lubricating oil of the reduction gear at the inlet and at the outlet of the reduction gear, a parameter representing a speed of the gas turbine, as well as at least one context parameter; selecting measurements; normalizing temperatures of the lubricating oil using the measurements of the context parameter; evaluating a thermal efficiency of the reduction gear by using a physical model defining the thermal efficiency based on a difference between the temperature of the lubricating oil; and determining a status of the reduction gear depending on a step of comparing the evaluated thermal efficiency with respect to a reference signature.

A magnetic head for a magnetic detector for detecting metal particles in a hydraulic circuit includes an axial body internally including at least one magnet, at least a first electrode defining an air gap zone located in the magnetic field created by the magnet, such that the circuit creates a particle alignment zone in the air gap, and an electrical connector for electrically connecting the electrodes. The magnet can be a diametrically magnetized magnet.

A system includes a chip detector that includes a magnet, the chip detector operable to collect a plurality of chips in a lubricant flow. The system also includes a radiation sensor associated with the magnet and operable to detect radiation emitted by at least some of the plurality of chips collected by the magnet.

A method of distributing oil to a component within a gas turbine engine includes directing a first oil flow from an oil source to an engine component and back to the oil source, directing a second oil flow from the oil source to a generator driven by the engine and back to the oil source, monitoring a parameter of the second oil flow downstream of the generator and upstream of the oil source, detecting a contaminant in the second oil flow based on the parameter, and reducing the second oil flow to the generator when the contaminant is detected without reducing the first oil flow to the engine component. A shared oil system for a component of a gas turbine engine and a generator driven by the gas turbine engine is also discussed.

The invention relates to a monitoring system (SY1) for monitoring an engine (6) comprising: a sensor unit (U1) connected via an inlet line (12) to an oil circuit (C1) of the engine, the sensor unit comprising one or more sensors (SN) for measuring first parameters representative of the quality of an oil (OL) taken from the oil circuit; an analysis unit (U2) for establishing, based on the first parameters (PR1) or second parameters (PR2) obtained from the first parameters, whether at least one predefined condition (CN) is met, by comparing the first or second parameters with at least one threshold value; and a detection unit (U3) configured to detect a deterioration (EVT) of the quality of the oil representative of an abnormal state of the engine, if at least one predefined condition (CN) is met. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.