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Real-time monitoring of wear debris in lubrication oil using a microfluidic inductive Coulter counting device

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Abstract

A microfluidic device based on an inductive Coulter counting principle to detect metal wear particles in lubrication oil is presented. The device detects the passage of ferrous and nonferrous particles by monitoring the inductance change of an embedded coil. The device was tested using iron and copper particles ranging in size from 50 to 125 μm. The testing results have demonstrated that the device is capable of detecting and distinguishing ferrous and nonferrous metal particles in lubrication oil; such particles can be indicative of potential machine faults in rotating and reciprocating machinery.

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Acknowledgments

This article is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Numbers CMMI-0968736 and DBI-0649798.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, 302 Buchtel Commons, Akron, OH, 44325-3903, USA

    Li Du, Jiang Zhe & Fred Choy

  2. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325-3904, USA

    Joan Carletta & Robert Veillette

Authors
  1. Li Du
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  2. Jiang Zhe
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  3. Joan Carletta
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  4. Robert Veillette
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  5. Fred Choy
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Correspondence to Jiang Zhe.

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Du, L., Zhe, J., Carletta, J. et al. Real-time monitoring of wear debris in lubrication oil using a microfluidic inductive Coulter counting device. Microfluid Nanofluid 9, 1241–1245 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-010-0627-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-010-0627-y

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