Sensors able to correlate to data acquired from lab instrumentation
 “Measuring the viscosity of oil is a rapid method of determining oil condition, and is universally considered to be one of the key parameters in assessing asset readiness." - Kerem Durdag, SenGenuity |
ViSmart™ Viscosity Sensors from SenGenuity, the sensors and advanced packaging division of Vectron International, are now able to correlate to data acquired from lab instrumentation for challenging, real-time, in-line oil condition monitoring applications.
In today’s market, significant legacy data and industry standards require that sensor readings be equivalent to those obtained by lab methods. This latest capability ensures that professionals can obtain lab-compatible results from the ViSmart sensor in-line and real-time for in-situ viscosity measurements, complementing lab measurements and analysis methods.
“Measuring the viscosity of oil is a rapid method of determining oil condition, and is universally considered to be one of the key parameters in assessing asset readiness,” says Kerem Durdag, director of business development, SenGenuity. “By successfully creating correlation functions that relate our ViSmart sensor data to ASTM lab viscometer data, SenGenuity has clearly demonstrated that its solid-state, real-time, in-line viscosity sensor can trend and track viscosity data in a similar fashion to a lab tool — with accuracy levels ranging from 91 to 99 percent.”
The ViSmart model series can be connected to any computer or control platform via the standard protocols, the VisConnect™ transmitter and the forthcoming CANBUS option to provide a continuous audit trail for process monitoring markets to control operating costs and maintain quality standards. Additionally, customers can leverage SenGenuity’s starter kit bench-top viscometer data station to acquire multiple channels of continuous viscosity and temperature data.
SenGenuity obtained the constants in the interpolation function between kinematic viscosity and ViSmart’s native unit of measurement, acoustic viscosity. The company used the sensor to obtain a functional dependence of the constants on shear rate for each oil tested, which included mineral and synthetic oils for engine, turbine, hydraulic and gear applications.
The results were a look-up function that allowed an oil viscosity (kinematic, dynamic or acoustic) to be interpolated at temperature and shear rate. For each oil, a pair of correlation functions converting between the measured acoustic viscosity and interpolated kinematic viscosity were evaluated. The R2 of the correlation for individual oils and groups of oils were determined.
“This successful correlation enables SenGenuity to provide our customers with the necessary tools to create their own correlation functions, allowing them to map the data set to their legacy database and use our sensor for their applications,” says SenGenuity Product Manager Shravan Jumani. “Our customers can now determine that our ViSmart viscosity sensors not only operate at repeatable shear rates, but also that the operating shear rates are relevant to the assets being lubricated under normal operating conditions.”
The ViSmart viscosity sensor complements IR spectroscopy and other bulk property sensors, and provides instantaneous online viscosity and temperature data. The ViSmart has no moving parts with a wide operating temperature range as well as universal plug-n-play connectivity for integration with and into other handheld products.
The sensor has been tested in actual commercial and military specified oils in order for a correlation function to be established between the ASTM methods acquired dataset and the sensor generated viscosity values. These correlation functions can be stored on any handheld for automatic conversion.
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