A predictive diagnostics system for monitoring mechanical seals. The system autonomously detects a loss of lubrication within a sliding seal interface of a mechanical seal, the system including a loss of lubrication failure mode logic module configured to monitor data sensed by one or more sensors and diagnose conditions relating to a loss of lubrication within the sliding seal interface, and a plurality of other failure mode logic modules configured to monitor data sensed by the one or more sensors and diagnose conditions relating to specific types of mechanical failures known to occur in mechanical seal systems, the loss of lubrication failure mode logic module configured to determine which of the plurality of other failure mode logic modules are activated during the diagnosis of conditions related to a loss of lubrication within the sliding seal interface.

A sensor system for detecting particles within a fluid, the sensor system comprising: i) a gauge body having a working surface for receiving a particle containing fluid; ii) an impactor spaced apart from the working surface of the gauge body defining a spacing between the impactor and the working surface of the gauge body through which particle containing fluid can pass, wherein the sensor system is configured such that as the particle containing fluid passes through the spacing between the impactor and the working surface of the gauge body, particles disposed over the working surface are impacted by the impactor generating a signal which is dependent on one or both of the size and concentration of particles in the fluid; and iii) a sensor configured to detect the signal generated by the particles impacting the impactor and provide an output signal.

Methods and systems are provided for estimating ethanol content in fuel, water content in fuel, and an age of the fuel in a vehicle engine. In one example, a method may include estimating fuel ethanol content, water content, or fuel age based on a resonant frequency (f) of pressure pulsations, a change in fuel rail pressure (p), and a damping coefficient () of pressure pulsations in the fuel rail as estimated after a fuel injection or a pump stroke. One or more engine operating parameters may be adjusted based on the estimated fuel ethanol content, water content, and fuel age.

A fluid sensor including a sensing area configured to receive a fluid. The fluid sensor includes a transducer and a capacitive sensor. The transducer is configured to output an ultrasonic wave through the fluid. The capacitive sensor includes a capacitive plate configured to reflect the ultrasonic wave toward the transducer.

A working fluid monitoring system for monitoring a working fluid of working fluid system of a piece of equipment is provided. The working fluid monitoring system can include a filter member having an inlet, an outlet, and a filter media disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The filter member can be configured to permit fluid communication of the working fluid of the working fluid system from the inlet, through the filter media, and out the outlet of the filter member. A sensor is in operable communication with the working fluid within the filter member and is configured to monitor in situ a parameter of the working fluid and/or the working fluid system.

In one example embodiment, a fluid induced instability detection system is provided that monitors various vibration characteristics of a turbomachine, collects vibration data in real-time, and uses the vibration data to detect and analyze changes in various operating parameters such as vibration, speed, and loading conditions, and to provide an indication of a vibration anomaly and/or potential operational risk in one or more components of the turbomachine. The vibration data can be particularly associated with certain components that are directly or indirectly impacted by a modification in process fluid flow characteristics or lubrication oil flow characteristics in the turbomachine due to various reasons such as process fluid flow disturbances, lubricating oil flow disturbances, and/or a change in turbomachine operational parameters. The fluid induced instability detection system detects abnormalities in the vibration data and provides an indication of one or more potential faults in the turbomachine.

To provide a deterioration prediction device with which it is possible to easily and precisely predict deterioration of an edible oil and fat.

The deterioration prediction device 1 of the present invention comprises an acoustic data acquisition unit 2 that acquires acoustic data from when a fried food article is cooked using a fry oil, an indicator extraction unit 11 within a processing unit 3 (control unit 10) that extracts an indicator pertaining to deterioration of the fry oil from the acquired acoustic data, and a comparative assessment unit 13 that assesses the extent of deterioration of an oil and fat, based on the indicator extracted by the indicator extraction unit 11.

A predictive diagnostics system for monitoring mechanical seals. The system autonomously detects a loss of lubrication within a sliding seal interface of a mechanical seal, the system including a loss of lubrication failure mode logic module configured to monitor data sensed by one or more sensors and diagnose conditions relating to a loss of lubrication within the sliding seal interface, and a plurality of other failure mode logic modules configured to monitor data sensed by the one or more sensors and diagnose conditions relating to specific types of mechanical failures known to occur in mechanical seal systems, the loss of lubrication failure mode logic module configured to determine which of the plurality of other failure mode logic modules are activated during the diagnosis of conditions related to a loss of lubrication within the sliding seal interface.

A device for examining a test material via acoustic spectroscopy, including a measuring distance which is formed from a reference material and the test material an ultrasonic transmission device for transmitting an ultrasonic transmission signal having an initial amplitude (A0) through the measuring distance, a first ultrasonic reception device for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic reception signal after the signal has passed through the measuring distance, and a second ultrasonic reception device for receiving the ultrasonic receiving signal reflected on the boundary surface between the test material and the reference material after the signal has twice passed through the reference material or test material, the transmission device being configured for giving ultrasonic transmission signals having different frequencies (f) and the two reception devices being configured for receiving corresponding ultrasonic reception signals having different frequencies.

Apparatus (10) and methods for making simultaneous measurements of composition (water-cut), fluid flow, and sound attenuation in a multiphase fluid flowing (15) through a pipe (12) in real-time, using the same apparatus (10) are described. Additionally, the apparatus (10) provides real-time pipe wall thickness monitoring for observing pipe corrosion or internal deposition. Knowledge of wall thickness is necessary to correct for water-cut (oil-water composition) automatically by adjusting the liquid path length internal to the pipe (spool). The use of short duration frequency chirp excitation signals (24) enables the apparatus to provide information that can be used to extract multiple levels of information from the same measurement in multiphase fluids including the presence of a significant quantity of gas (60% gas volume fraction) in different flow regimes. Besides measuring steady flow, this device is useful for measurements during fast changing flows, such as for a rod-pumped well. Measurements up to about 1000 times a second can reliably be made.