Hardware and software for oil quality monitoring in biogas-driven engines
Biomass is one of the largest and most important renewable energy options currently available. In Europe, there are presently more than 13 800 biogas plants that have considerable room for improvements to increase productivity and profitability. For example, biogas operations often suffer from high costs associated with oil degradation that can lead to corrosive wear and early failure of engine parts. The EU-funded CONDIMON (Development of an in-line multi-parameter oil condition monitoring system including a novel oil corrosion sensor for bio-gas operated power generator engines) initiative worked to develop a sensor system for monitoring oil quality in biogas-driven engines. The innovative system examines the most important oil condition parameters, including lubricant corrosion (acidity), and indicates when oil needs to be changed. CONDIMON used a novel corrosion sensor, as well as commercial sensing elements measuring permittivity, conductivity, viscosity, temperature and moisture. The team integrated these sensors in a programmable logic controller (PLC) data acquisition system and processed the data using a novel algorithm. Project partners developed the sensor body and housing unit as well as the electronics for sensor signal readout and to control the PLC data acquisition system. The researchers provided a multisensory system capable of supplying operators of biogas plants with useful data about oil quality in real time and online. The novel multisensory system should reduce maintenance costs of biogas engines, and ensure longer engine lifetime. CONDIMON work was in line with the EU target of raising the share of energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20 %. This will lead to reduced maintenance costs and increased profitability of biogas plants currently operating in Europe.
Keywords
Gas monitoring, biogas plants, oil degradation, CONDIMON, multisensory system
