SEW-EURODRIVE -
New SEW oil sensor predicts oil lifespan
A new oil analysis sensor from leading drive solutions group, SEW-Eurodrive, is providing Australian industry with a powerful tool to aid the prevention of unplanned gear-unit downtime. The SEW-Eurodrive DUO10A oil analysis sensor allows the early detection of gear-unit oil deterioration and can prevent eventual gear-unit damage or failure, making it a key element of any effective predictive maintenance program.
Part of an evolving portfolio of gear-unit predictive maintenance solutions from SEW-Eurodrive, the new DUO10A oil analysis sensor complements the company's DUV10A vibration analysis sensor. "The DUO10A oil sensor helps on-site technicians ensure oil changes occur precisely when they are required," said SEW-Eurodrive applications engineer, Luke Schmidt. "Neglecting oil changes can be catastrophic to the short-term performance and the longevity of the gear unit. While the DUO10A sensor is effective in ensuring scheduled gear-unit oil changes are carried out, it also helps eliminate premature and unnecessary oil changes, which are wasteful and costly."
The new SEW-Eurodrive DUO10A oil analysis sensor monitors gear-unit lubricating oil temperature and accurately predicts the remaining lifespan of the oil. An all-in-one predictive maintenance solution, the oil sensor comprises an integrated temperature sensor, an on-board library of reference oil data (mineral, synthetic, poly-glycol or food-grade), a digital readout display and a four-channel digital output for connection to supervisory control equipment.
One of the most accurate units on the market, the DUO10A oil analysis sensor measures the lubricating oil temperature every minute. At 15 minute-intervals, the average temperature over the past 15 minutes is displayed on the unit's digital readout, along with the recommended number of remaining oil service life (in days).
According to Schmidt, the DUO10A oil analysis sensor enables site engineers to accurately predict and plan gear-unit maintenance. "The oil sensor can be configured to raise a 'pre-alarm' when a predetermined set-point is reached, indicating that an oil change should be scheduled," he said. "When the remaining oil service hours reaches zero, another alarm is raised indicating that an immediate oil change is required. Alarms can also be configured to alert staff when a particular oil temperature limit is exceeded."
The DUO10A oil analysis sensor is extremely easy to use. Once installed directly on the gear unit, operators can select the oil type using two on-board buttons. Additional oil types can be added to the sensor's on-board library on request. Operation is further enhanced thanks to the four-channel digital output that accommodates alarm output connectivity to supervisory controllers. "The DUO10A oil sensor can be configured to alert key personnel of upcoming oil changes," said Schmidt. "The alarm can be transmitted to an on-site HMI, SCADA or PLC. The sensor can also be wired to a locally-mounted frequency inverter, which eliminates the need to run a dedicated power cable for the sensor."
