Embedded fluid analysis sensors\nare essentially the miniaturization of bench-top instruments. These sensors\nemit dielectric strength readings revealing small differences that can be\nobserved and correlated to oil properties. They were designed to supply some of\nthe same data a lab can provide, but in real time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sensors\ndetect such properties as density, viscosity, temperature and water content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But most sensors can\u2019t detect additive\ndepletion, fuel, metals, nonmetallic contaminants, or a combination of\nthese. Even the biggest sensor\nproponents know they need a lab to supplement sensor observations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While\nsensors involve an upfront investment, they can be cost-justifiable for large remote\ninstallations such as shipping vessels and spacecraft and for applications in\ndangerous or unfavorable environments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
DEALING WITH DATA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sensors collect and convey data. By\nitself, this data isn\u2019t super helpful\u2014in fact, it can be frustrating if it\nsuggests some action needs to be taken and it doesn\u2019t say what that action is.\nImagine getting a notice from the IRS only saying that your tax return is\nwrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Data\nonly tells you what<\/em>, not what\u2019s wrong\nor how to fix it. For data to be valuable, it must be reviewed and interpreted\nby a human. An experienced CLS analyst will recommend action based on a\nsupplemental understanding of the customer\u2019s operating environment and\npriorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nare rigorous quality standards that sensors don\u2019t meet. Labs offer testing with accuracy levels down to\nmultiple decimal places and distinguish between different wear metal particles down\nto single parts per million. While sensors can be a good frontline defense in\nsome situations, they aren\u2019t a substitute for the increasingly sophisticated\ntesting an oil analysis lab with experienced analysts provides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Look\nat it this way: The human peripheral nervous system is, in essence, a network\nof embedded sensors that send a signal (pain) in real time when something is\nwrong or about to go wrong. The nervous\nsystem itself can\u2019t do anything about it, though and even if it could, it\nwouldn\u2019t know what to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n