DETECTION OF WEAR-PARTICLES AND OTHER IMPURITIES IN INDUSTRIAL OR OTHER FLUIDS

摘要

A method of detecting contamination in a fluid sample includes bringing a fluid sample into contact with a pair of spaced apart electrodes and applying a plurality of voltages across the electrodes, wherein the plurality of voltages vary in magnitude between a first and second voltage level. The current is then measured between the electrodes at the plurality of voltages and a contamination level is determined using the measured currents. A system for determining a particulate contamination level in a fluid sample is also described. The system includes a sensor including a pair of spaced apart electrodes (106), wherein the fluid sample (104) is brought into contact with the electrodes for detection of the level of particulate contamination therein, and a voltage application means (110) for applying a voltage across the spaced apart electrodes. The system also further includes a current sensor (112) coupled to one of the electrodes. The current sensor measures a current magnitude between the electrodes and the current magnitude is associated with the particulate contamination level in the fluid sample.