In a first application, the fluid monitor ensured the protection of engines during bench tests at the MAN Saint-Nazaire factory. The solution has been certified by Bureau Veritas marine applications after extensive tests, and MAN is currently filing for a patent.
“We know that lube oil is the life blood of an engine and that 70% of major damage reveals lube-oil contamination. We wanted to develop a global monitoring solution capable of conforming to the demands of all rotating machines – such as four stroke engines, and turbomachinery – and whatever the application, whether it be marine, power plants, or anything else,” said Arnauld Filancia, Vice-President within MAN Energy Solutions.
The new fluid monitor is the result of targeted research on operational security. Designed as an easy-to-implement solution, it helps enhance installation performance and security.
Used alongside laboratory analyses, the device alerts operators with alarms and stop recommendations as soon as it detects any degradation in lube-oil quality, thereby revealing minor wear of mechanical parts. By swiftly detecting anomalies - especially important during restarts where 50 percent of damage occurs - the device allows to identify part-wear before breakdown to help maximize machine availability.