Cambridge Consultants Limited and Pall Corporation develop in-line particulate contamination monitor

Citation

(2002), "Cambridge Consultants Limited and Pall Corporation develop in-line particulate contamination monitor", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 54 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilt.2002.01854dad.006

Cambridge Consultants Limited and Pall Corporation develop in-line particulate contamination monitor

Cambridge Consultants Limited and Pall Corporation develop in-line particulate contamination monitorKeywords: Contamination, Monitoring

A low cost particulate contamination monitor (Plate 3) to measure fluid cleanliness in-line is now available. The monitor is a compact and self-contained device that provides an affordable approach to continuous real time monitoring of fluid systems. It is possible to undertake these measurements under high pressures (up to 450bar) and over a wide temperature range, typically 0&#176C to 70&#176C, at a flow rate of 1-5m per second, providing significant advantages over other current monitoring methods. This low cost system offers benefits including precision particle sizing, zero fluid loss as the monitoring is conducted in-line, and middle of the stream fluid measurements over flow bores of nominally 30mm diameter.

Plate 3 CCL and Pall's low cost in-line particulate monitor

The diagnostic monitor was developed by CCL for Pall Corporation. It is based on a novel 3-bar illumination system and an advanced Bayesian signal processing algorithm, both invented and patented by CCL. The monitor will measure particles in hydraulic and lubricating systems in the order of 1-30 microns and produce a real time iso-cleanliness code. The system is unique in the industry and detects rapidly system anomalous changes in particle size and concentration that are indications of system failure.

CCL's Robert Jones who initiated the work and managed the team that produced the prototype systems for Pall commented, "This has been an extremely demanding piece of work. The basic measurement is in itself very difficult and this was compounded by the need to engineer the system for reliable in-line operation at low cost. CCL's collaboration with Pall, who provided invaluable industrial and partical analysis expertise, was crucial to the success of the programme."

Pall took delivery of a set of prototype sensors from CCL which they used for extensive industrial trials. In parallel with these trials, Pall transferred the sensors to production and incorporated remote ISO code read-out. Production units are now being shipped and the initial response from the market has been very good.

For general enquiries contact: Patrick Pordage or Claire Gale, Cambridge Consultants Limited, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1223 420024; Web site: www.cambridgeconsultants.com