Abstract: An installation for following up the evolution of the quality of a lubricant circulating in equipment includes a conduit connected, upstream, to the piece of equipment and downstream to a recovery pan. A first controlled interruption valve circulates the lubricant in the conduit, a buffer reservoir accumulates lubricant, and a first bypass line is connected to the conduit, upstream from the first valve and to the buffer reservoir. A second controlled interruption valve circulates the lubricant in the first bypass line, a second discharge line discharges the lubricant, from the buffer reservoir to the recovery pan and a third controlled interruption valve circulates the lubricant in the second discharge line. A sensor determines content in a predetermined chemical element of a lubricant sample at the outlet of the buffer reservoir. This sensor includes an X-ray source and detector and a sample cell with a poly X-ray window.

Abstract: A sensor for determining the overall content of a pre-determined chemical element in a liquid body uses X-ray fluorescence technology and includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, and a cell intended to contain a sample of lubricant to be analyzed, and is provided with a wall forming a window for passage of X-rays, the wall of the sensor cell being produced from polyethylene terephthalate, the cell also including a casing defining an internal volume for receiving the sample. A procedure for calibrating the sensor, and an automated method for online monitoring are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for determining a basicity index of a liquid body comprising: (a) detecting an intensity of an infrared signal passing through a sample of the liquid body; (b) calculating a transmittance value of infrared waves through the sample for p wave numbers, wherein p in a natural integer greater than or equal to two; and (c) determining the basicity index of the liquid body, BN, wherein of BN=Tr·M(p×1)+R, Tr is a set of transmittance values calculated in step b, M(p×1) is a set of data of a model, the set of data containing coefficients determined from measured basicity index values and measured transmittance values of reference liquid bodies, and R is a residue of the model, determined from the measured basicity index values and the measured transmittance values of the reference liquid bodies.

Abstract: A sensor for determining the overall content of a pre-determined chemical element in a liquid body uses X-ray fluorescence technology and includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, and a cell intended to contain a sample of lubricant to be analyzed, and is provided with a wall forming a window for passage of X-rays, the wall of the sensor cell being produced from polyethylene terephthalate, the cell also including a casing defining an internal volume for receiving the sample. A procedure for calibrating the sensor, and an automated method for online monitoring are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for the on-line determination of a basicity index of a liquid body to be characterized by mid-infrared spectroscopy, the method comprising: (a) detecting an intensity of an infrared signal passing through a sample of the liquid body to be characterized; (b) subsequent to step a, calculating a transmittance value of infrared waves through the sample for p wave numbers, wherein p in a natural integer greater than or equal to two; and (c) determining and expressing the basicity index of the liquid body to be characterized in the form of BN=Tr·M(p×1)+R, wherein BN is the basicity index of the liquid body to be characterized, Tr is a set of transmittance values calculated in step b, M(p×1) is a set of data of a model, the set of data containing coefficients determined from measured basicity index values and measured transmittance values of reference liquid bodies, and R is a residue of the model, determined from the measured basicity index values and the measured transmittance values of the reference liqu

Abstract: This installation for following up the evolution of the quality of a lubricant circulating in a piece of equipment includes a conduit for circulating the lubricant, this conduit connecting upstream equipment and a downstream recovery pan. The installation further includes a first controlled valve for interrupting lubricant circulation in the conduit, a buffer tank accumulating the lubricant, a first bypass line connected to the conduit, upstream from the first valve and to the buffer tank. The installation also includes a second controlled valve for interrupting the circulation of the lubricant in the first bypass line, a second line for discharging the lubricant, from the buffer tank to a recovery pan and a third controlled valve for interrupting the circulation of the lubricants in the second discharge line. A sensor allows determination of the dissolved iron content of an amount of lubricant contained in the buffer tank.

Abstract: This installation (2) for following up the evolution of the basicity of a lubricant circulating in a piece of equipment (M) comprises at least one conduit (4) for circulating (F1) the lubricant, this conduit being connected, upstream, to the piece of equipment (M) and the, downstream, to a recovery pan (6) as well as at least one sensor (48) for determining the basicity index of the lubricant. The installation further comprises a first controlled valve (20) for interrupting the circulation (F1) of the lubricant in the conduit (4), a buffer tank (26) for accumulating the lubricant, a first bypass line (28) connected to the conduit (4), upstream from the first valve (20) on the one hand and to the buffer tank (26) on the other hand.