A high throughput inductive pulse sensor for online oil debris monitoring

A high throughput inductive pulse sensor based on inductive Coulter counting principle for detecting metallic wear debris in lubrication oil is presented. The device detects the passage of metallic debris by monitoring the inductance change of a two-layer planar coil with a meso-scale fluidic pipe crossing its center, which is designed to attain high throughput without sacrificing the sensitivity. The testing results using iron and copper particles ranging in size from 50 to 150 μm have demonstrated that the device is capable of detecting and distinguishing ferrous and non-ferrous metallic debris in lubrication oil with a high throughput.

Research highlights► The inductive pulse sensor enables counting and differentiating of ferrous and non-ferrous metal debris. ► The use of meso-scale fluidic pipe improves the throughput. ► The use of the 2-layer planar coil enhances the sensitivity, the sensor is capable of detecting metal debris as small as 50 μm.