CONDIMON is an in-line multi-parameter oil condition monitoring system, including a novel oil corrosion sensor for bio-gas operated power generators.
The Need Thanks to increasing knowledge today biogas is considered one of the most important sources of bioenergy. Biogas is produced through fermentation of waste materials coming from for example agriculture, food production or human consumption. It can be used for generating heat and electricity and converted into fuel suitable for the operation of vehicles or other machines. Currently biogas engine operators often suffer from high costs associated with maintenance due to the special chemical attack on the engine and engine oil resulting from biogas operation. Quality degradation in oil can attack essential engine parts leading to increased wear and corrosive wear and to early failing of the machine. Although there is much scientific research and patents proposing oil quality sensor approaches for certain parameters, there are currently no commercially available sensor systems measuring all key parameters of oil quality needed to determine reliably the necessity of oil maintenance. CONDIMON, with its novel technology was built to be a solution for measuring the key parameters of oil quality. CONDIMON project was implemented by a consortium of European SMEs and RTD Performers under the 7th Framework Programme. The aim of the project was to develop an integrated sensor system for in-line oil condition monitoring, covering the most important oil condition parameters. The sensor system measures multiple parameters of oil such as permittivity, conductivity, temperature and moisture content and includes a novel corrosion sensor that enables the earliest warning for oil degradation. CONDIMON not only measures the physical parameters but interprets data in a visual form that is available on site as well as remotely. The sensors are connected to a PLC (Programmable Logic Control) based data acquisition system. The data provided by the sensor system is processed and evaluated by a novel algorithm taking into account all measured physical parameters and provides decision support on maintenance of the generators. Advantages: • cost-effective oil condition monitoring with acceptable upfront investment • reduced costs associated with maintenance of biogas engine • better protection of biogas fuel engines and longer lifetime • early problem detection, reduced number of plant stop days due to engine problems • need based oil change intervals • less oil consumption, saving costs on biogas motor oil • reduced costs of oil sampling The two year initiative started in November 2013 and has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no. 606080. The final project meeting took place on 20th October, 2015. The meeting’s results determined, that the CONDIMON project is a very successfully implemented and carried out project. The project ended on 31st October, 2015. For more information please visit www.condimon.eu or contact the Coordinator of the project through condimon@ateknea.com.
Countries
Austria, Germany, Hungary, Latvia