초록 ▼

A system that facilitates device and/or machinery diagnostics, prognostics and control by way of condition sensing, such as sensing the condition of the device and/or a fluid of the device (e.g., fluid health indicators). The system can employ a plurality of sensors to determine a current state and

A system that facilitates device and/or machinery diagnostics, prognostics and control by way of condition sensing, such as sensing the condition of the device and/or a fluid of the device (e.g., fluid health indicators). The system can employ a plurality of sensors to determine a current state and estimate a future state of the fluid and/or device, as well as providing control of the device, e.g., in order to increase the remaining useful life of the fluid and/or operation of the device. The sensors can communicate wirelessly with each other, with the device, and/or with a central control system that provides, e.g., sensor fusion, prognostics and control integration. In addition, the sensors can be powered locally based upon the physical or chemical properties of the environment.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system that facilitates machinery diagnostics, prognostics and control by way of condition sensing, comprising: a device with a fluid and a mode of operation; a fluid sensor in contact with the fluid that measures a parameter of the fluid and transmits data associated with

What is claimed is: 1. A system that facilitates machinery diagnostics, prognostics and control by way of condition sensing, comprising: a device with a fluid and a mode of operation; a fluid sensor in contact with the fluid that measures a parameter of the fluid and transmits data associated with the parameter, the fluid sensor is powered by an attribute of the fluid; and a control component that receives the data, determines a current state of the fluid, and infers a future state of the fluid in real-time. 2. The system of claim 1, the parameter is at least one of oxidation level, temperature, viscosity, oxidation/reduction potential, pH, dielectric, TAN, H2O, conductivity, ferrous contamination, additive state, and chemical contaminants. 3. The system of claim 1, the control component determines the current state based at least in part upon a comparison of the data with pre-existing state data associated with the fluid. 4. The system of claim 1, the control component infers the future state based upon at least one the current state, pre-existing state data associated with the fluid and a prognostics algorithm. 5. The system of claim 1, the control component is embedded in the fluid sensor. 6. The system of claim 1, the control component is remote from the fluid sensor. 7. The system of claim 6, the control component communicates with the fluid sensor by way of wireless communication. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor network that is at least one of a DeviceNet network and an IntelliBus network. 9. The system of claim 1, the current state is an evaluation of a health of the fluid. 10. The system of claim 1, the future state is an estimate of a useful life of the fluid. 11. The system of claim 1, the control component determines a remedial action and provides control information in connection with the remedial action. 12. The system of claim 11, the remedial action is at least one of a change of the mode of operation of the device and a release of an additive into the fluid. 13. The system of claim 12, the control component implements the remedial action by transmitting the control information to the device. 14. The system of claim 11, the control component transmits the control information as an alert. 15. The system of claim 1, the fluid sensor is at least one of an RTD sensor, an acidity sensor, an impedance sensor, an electrochemical sensor and a moisture sensor. 16. The system of claim 1, the fluid sensor is a smart sensor that includes at least one data specification and operates in accordance with IEEE 1451 open standards. 17. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a MEMS structure and a NANO structure that moves in the fluid and supplies energy to the fluid sensor. 18. The system of claim 17, the at least one of a MEMS structure and a NANO structure moves in the fluid based upon at least one of a fluid flow, a pressure fluctuation, a vibration from the device, and a thermal gradient. 19. The system of claim 17, the at least one of a MEMS structure and a NANO structure is at least one of a paddle wheel, a flapping plate, a rotating disk, a pressure diaphragm, a piezoelectric material, and a thermo-electric material. 20. The system of claim 1, the fluid is a dielectric fluid and the fluid sensor harvests energy based upon a charge extant in the dielectric fluid. 21. The system of claim 20, the charge is created from at least one of particle detachment, tribocharging, scuffing on a surface of the device, and work activity on a surface. 22. The system of claim 20, further comprising an electrode with a sacrificial element that supplies energy to the fluid sensor based upon an electrochemical reaction between the fluid and the element. 23. The system of claim 1, the fluid sensor is powered by a fuel cell that harvests energy from the fluid. 24. The system of claim 1, the device further comprising a microgenerator that supplies power to the fluid sensor. 25. The system of claim 1, the fluid sensor employs Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to determine a conductivity of the fluid. 26. The system of claim 25, the fluid sensor detects a metal ion signature of a metal by way of electrochemical analysis. 27. The system of claim 26, the control component employs the signature to determine the current state, the current state relates to at least one of metal wear in the device and an amount metal in the fluid. 28. The system of claim 27, the control component requests additional data from the fluid sensor, the additional data relates to probing and/or tracking. 29. The system of claim 28, the control component employs the additional data to infer and/or update the future state. 30. The system of claim 1, the fluid sensor includes an element that is coated with a material that enhances at least one of detection, identification and quantity determination of a biological agent in the fluid. 31. The system of claim 1, the fluid sensor includes an element that is coated with an ion selective coating or a coating that promotes selective ion transfer to enhance at least one of detection, identification and quantity determination of a material. 32. The system of claim 1, the fluid sensor is packaged in a ceramic carrier. 33. The system of claim 32, the ceramic carrier is at least one of inexpensive to fabricate, suitable for mass fabrication, easy to disassemble and re-assemble, water tight, resistant to exposure to the fluids, suitable for multiple sensors, easy to embed into the device, and capable of shielding the fluid sensor from a stray field. 34. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor that measures a second parameter of the device in situ and transmits data associated with the second parameter to the control component. 35. The system of claim 34, the second parameter is at least one of a fluid parameter and a device parameter. 36. The system of claim 35, the device parameter relates to at least one of vibration data and a decibel level. 37. The system of claim 36, the control component receives data from the fluid sensor and the second sensor and employs sensor fusion to infer the future state.