Condition Monitoring Devices For The Marine And Aviation Industries

By Hallie G. Hicks


Condition monitoring is the best way to be able to foresee the behavior of an engine or turbine. The process of observing oil and grease residues for potential wear and tear, damage and other problems is vital in cases such as marine engines. It is easy to lift the hood on a household appliance and see how its general health is, but in commercial enterprises these might be less accessible for engineers. The approach in a business differs greatly dependant on the type of machine used.

There is an assortment of different parts and methods that can be used in condition monitoring. One of the most common ways is through on-board sensors which trace fluids and detect change immediately. When using sensors it is normal to also have alarms that can send messages straight to the engineer on duty. When interruption or machinery failure is not an option this is the best defense against it.

There are other scenarios where this kind of monitoring is not just good for the protection of the machinery, but can also be important in preserving life. Jet engines are often rigged with sensors to cautiously examine emissions, temperature and performance in-flight. In these setups, the condition monitoring sensors play a fundamental role in noticing changes in the hardware that would otherwise go unnoticed. If an alarm is to be triggered, it can save pilots and engineers precious seconds in getting the plane to a safe position to perform emergency maintenance.

There are other ways to utilize condition monitoring in less time-critical usages. It can be used just as effectively in fuel sampling by testing the qualities within the fluid. A popular application for this is with bunker fuels, where the delivery of such requires understanding the grade of the fuels at the point of delivery, or in the general supervision of production lines. It has been proven to lessen costs in cases where leakages and excess waste would otherwise have gone undetected. Those lacking monitoring labs within easy reach often have to devote more time and money sourcing the same data.

Knowing whether a sensor-based system or a lab or kit is more suitable depends on the system and budget of the company. Some processes are dependent on operating 100% of the time, and these need real-time configurations. Applications for quality control will perform better and make better budget sense when monitored with kits and labs. It all relies on the machinery, and also the requirements of the company.




About the Author: