Abstract
One of the important trends for condition monitoring in the 21st century is the development of smart sensors that will permit the cost-effective continuous monitoring of key machine equipments. In this study, an integrated in-line oil monitoring sensor assigned for continuous in situ monitoring multiple parameters of oil performance is presented. The sensor estimates oil deterioration based on the information about chemical degradation, total contamination, water content of oil and oil temperature. The oil oxidation is estimated by "chromatic ratio", total contamination is measured by the changes in optical density of oil in three optical wave-bands ('Red', 'Green' and 'Blue') and water content is evaluated as relative saturation of oil by water. In order to evaluate the sensor's effectiveness, the sensor was applied to several used oil samples in steel making industry and the results were compared with those measured by standard test methods.