Re: Odd Sensor Design
From: Mark Jones (abuse_at_127.0.0.1)
Date: 01/18/05
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Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 12:19:44 -0500
Richard wrote:
> We have an engine model which is prone to a particular problem. When the
> engine goes down after it fails a turbo charger, it slowly fills the
> aftercooler and intake manifold up with oil. When the engine shutsdown, the
> aftercooler drains the oil into the manifold. When a operator tries to
> restart the engine, the cylinders fill up with oil (only after it actually
> starts) then hydro locks and spits a connecting rod out the side of the
> block. {yes, the engine generally starts fine with no hydrolock until it
> starts coming up to speed, then it sucks the oil in and BAM!}
>
> This is an industrial engine, which runs un-manned 24/7 and has a
> shutdown/safety panel. We have several hundred of them.
>
> What we're looking for, is some sort of sensor that can detect presence of
> oil in the intake manifold. Oil can reach up to a 1/4" deep. We have a
> port we can screw into, now we have to determine the best way of detection.
>
> Since oil is a pretty good insulator, it will have an affect on what type of
> sensor to use or design. Items we thought of....
>
> Float style or tip level sensor - Hard to read a 1/4" level
> Small, low temp hot wire, measure the current, if submerged in oil it may
> change, vrs air/gas mixture
> Capacitance measurement? - Possibly the best method???
>
> The method can not cause combustion of a combustable mixture.
> We have 24 vdc on skid.
> Normal shutdown method is to pull down inputs from our panel (3.3 vdc TTL
> with pull ups) grounding an input forces it low thus a fault.
>
> Any clever ideas for this one?
>
> Richard
>
Thread a little tube over to where the oil will most likely converge
and secure it somehow (magnets, epoxy, etc.) Then run this tube to a
small pump, like:
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?&item=PMP-2
Pulse this pump every few minutes or so. A sensor in the "output"
vessel can then easily tell if any oil has accumulated and if so,
latch the pump on continuous and trigger shutdown - both removing the
oil and shutting down the engine.
p.s. I'm looking for work. :)
-- "If necessity is the mother of invention, then is experimentation
the father?" MCJ 20041116
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