Analytical equipment for detecting solid particles in lubricants

Abstract

An analytical device (130) for detecting solid particles suspended in a lubricant, the analytical device (100) comprising one or more ferromagnetic solid particle sensors (234, 235, 236, 237), one or more other sensors (238, 239, 240, 241) capable of detecting non-ferromagnetic solid particles, and one or more magnets (250). The ferromagnetic solid particle sensors (234, 235, 236, 237) are offset relative to the other sensors (238, 239, 240, 241) in a direction perpendicular to the main flow direction of the lubricant, and the magnets (250) are arranged to attract the ferromagnetic solid particles towards the ferromagnetic solid particle sensors (234, 235, 236, 237) by pulling the ferromagnetic solid particles away from the other sensors (238, 239, 240, 241).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of lubricant monitoring in machines, and more particularly to an analytical device for detecting solid particles suspended in a lubricant. Existing technology

[0002] In order to reduce operating costs, it has been found that throughout the mechanical field, lubricant maintenance and replacement times are being extended. In the more specific field of internal combustion engines and in particular gas turbine engines (such as those used in aircraft engines), a gradual reduction in lubricant consumption is observed, resulting in longer service times before lubricant replacement.

[0003] With this reduction in the frequency of lubricant changes, the opportunity to observe and / or analyze the quality of the lubricant at each oil change also decreases. However, this observation and analysis of the used oil not only allows the detection of unexpected changes in the properties of the lubricant itself, but also allows the detection of faults in the lubricated machine by means of these properties of the used oil (such as the presence of fuel or filings in the lubricant). It is known, for example, to integrate a retention sensor and in particular a metal particle sensor in the lubrication circuit, with reference to the French patent application publication number FR 2 927 401 A1. U.S. Patents US 4 657 671A, US 5 604 441 A and US 3 432 750 disclose devices for the separate detection of sensors combining ferromagnetic particles and non-ferromagnetic particles.

[0004] However, despite the existence of such sensors, simultaneous detection of different types of suspended solid particles by better distinguishing between them remains desirable.

[0005] Description of the Invention

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention relates to an analytical device for detecting solid particles suspended in a lubricant. The analytical device may comprise one or more ferromagnetic solid particle sensors and one or more other sensors capable of detecting non-ferromagnetic solid particles. In this context, "non-ferromagnetic solid particles" may be understood as particles having a particle size equal to or less than 10 4any solid particles with a magnetic susceptibility of the non-ferromagnetic solid particles. These other sensors may be offset relative to the ferromagnetic solid particle sensor in a direction perpendicular to the main flow direction of the lubricant, and the analysis device may further comprise one or more magnets arranged to attract the ferromagnetic solid particles towards the ferromagnetic solid particle sensor by pulling them away from the other sensors. The ferromagnetic solid particle sensors may in particular be inductive sensors, wherein each sensor may comprise a winding oriented in a direction perpendicular to the main flow direction of the lubricant, and the sensors for non-ferromagnetic solid particles may be optical and / or acoustic sensors and in particular configured to detect a wavelength and / or an intensity of light reflected by the non-ferromagnetic solid particles. Each ferromagnetic solid particle sensor may in particular be directional and oriented to detect ferromagnetic solid particles in a direction perpendicular to the main flow direction of the lubricant, and each of said other sensors may in particular be directional and oriented to detect non-ferromagnetic solid particles in a direction parallel to the main flow direction of the lubricant.

[0007] By means of this arrangement, ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic solid particles suspended in the lubricant can be detected separately. Thus, this characterization of the solid particles suspended in the lubricant allows a better diagnosis of their origin and a more precise prediction of the consequences of this contamination of the lubricant.

[0008] In a second aspect, the analytical device can also include one or more grids that are arranged to intersect with the main flow direction of the lubricant to separate the solid particles suspended in the lubricant by size. Therefore, each of the other sensors can be arranged to detect the non-ferromagnetic solid particles on each grid. For this purpose, each of the other sensors can be arranged to face the corresponding grid in the grid. These grids can specifically include at least one first grid and a second grid arranged downstream of the first grid in the main flow direction of the lubricant, the second grid being finer than the first grid to separate smaller-sized solid particles. Therefore, in addition to the separation between solid ferromagnetic particles and non-ferromagnetic particles, it is possible to obtain separation by size, thereby allowing even better characterization of all solid particles in suspension in the lubricant.

[0009] A third aspect of the present disclosure relates to a lubricant monitoring system comprising an analytical device according to the first aspect, one or more inlet connections, and one or more outlet connections. Each inlet connection is connectable (in particular releasable) to a lubricant circuit to allow lubricant from the lubricant circuit to enter the analytical device, and each outlet connection is connectable (in particular releasable) to the lubricant circuit to allow lubricant to pass through the analytical device back toward the lubricant circuit.

[0010] By virtue of these characteristics, it is possible to install the lubricant monitoring system on a lubricant circuit for monitoring one or more parameters of the lubricant continuously or intermittently during an operating cycle of the lubricant circuit. In particular, the installation can be temporary.

[0011] If the lubricant monitoring system comprises several of said inlet connections, it may also comprise a selective inlet valve for selectively placing said inlet connection in fluid communication with the analytical devices. It is thus possible to alternately select several lubricant sample points to be monitored, thereby allowing identification of specific sources of lubricant degradation within the circuit.

[0012] In addition, when the lubricant monitoring system further includes several of the outlet connections, it may also include a selective outlet valve to selectively place the outlet connection in fluid communication with the analytical device. The selective inlet valve and the selective outlet valve may be coupled together so that their selection is synchronized and, thus, the lubricant is returned to the same branch of the lubrication circuit from which the lubricant was sampled. The selective inlet valve and / or the selective outlet valve may include a rotating valve body, such as a cylindrical form, to allow the inlet connection and / or the outlet connection to be selected by rotating the valve body. However, alternative shapes of the selective valves, such as a sliding type, are also contemplated.

[0013] To ensure the operation of these sensors and even other parts of the lubricant monitoring system, they can further include a power supply device. This power supply device can particularly include a turbine that can be actuated by the lubricant flow through the lubricant monitoring system and / or a thermocouple that is thermally inserted between the lubricant and a heat sink in order to ensure independent power supply of the lubricant monitoring system by extracting the thermal or mechanical energy of the lubricant itself. However, it is also conceivable that the power supply device includes a power storage device instead of or in combination with the turbine and / or thermocouple.

[0014] The lubricant monitoring system may further include a communication device connected to the analysis device for transmitting data captured by the sensors to a user and / or an external device.

[0015] Additionally, the lubricant monitoring system may further include a second analysis device comprising one or more lubricant quality sensors, such as an optical sensor, a conductivity sensor, a temperature sensor, and / or a viscosity sensor.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention will be clearly understood and its advantages will become more apparent by reading the following detailed description of embodiments presented as non-limiting examples. This description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] [ Figure 1 ] Figure 1 is a partial schematic diagram of a lubricant circuit with a lubricant monitoring system according to one embodiment.

[0019] [ Figure 2 ] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a monitoring system with selective inlet and outlet valves coupled to a rotator.

[0020] [ Figure 3A ] Figure 3A It is along Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of plane III-III of the selective valve in the first position.

[0021] [ Figure 3B ] Figure 3B It is along Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of plane III-III of the selective valve in the second position.

[0022] [ Figure 3C ] Figure 3C It is along Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of plane III-III of the selective valve in the third position.

[0023] [ Figure 3D ] Figure 3D It is along Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of plane III-III of the selective valve in the fourth position.

[0024] [ Figure 4 ] Figure 4 Belongs to Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the analytical equipment in the monitoring system.

[0025] Description of Embodiments

[0026] Figure 1 Schematically illustrates a portion of a lubricant circuit 1 that can be used to lubricate a machine, in particular a turbomachine such as a turbojet aircraft engine. However, other applications are also conceivable, in particular aviation, automotive, marine or railway applications. Figure 1As illustrated in FIG, the lubricant circuit 1 may include a plurality of branches 10, 20, 30, which may originate from different components or areas of the lubricated machine and converge as illustrated in a common line 40 downstream of the corresponding pump 11, 21, 31. As illustrated, each branch 10, 20, 30 may include an upstream branch 12, 22, 32 and a downstream branch 13, 23, 33, allowing it to be connected to the lubricant monitoring system 100 in parallel with the branches 10, 20, 30. The upstream branches 12, 22, 32 and the downstream branches 13, 23, 33 may all be arranged upstream of the respective pumps 11, 21, 31. For example, they may replace the orifices typically used to insert magnetic sensors for metal particles into the lubricant circuit 1. When the lubricant monitoring system 100 is not connected to the lubricant circuit 1, plugs (not shown) can shut off these upstream branches 12, 22, 32 and downstream branches 13, 23, 33.

[0027] The lubricant monitoring system 100 may include an inlet connection 101, 102, 103 and an outlet connection 111, 112, 113 for each of the branches 10, 20, 30 of the lubricant circuit 1. Each of the inlet connections 101, 102, 103 is releasably connected to one of the plurality of upstream branches 12, 22, 32. Similarly, each of the outlet connections 111, 112, 113 may be releasably connected to one of the plurality of downstream branches 13, 23, 33. Although in the illustrated example, the lubricant circuit 1 includes three branches 10, 20, 30 and the lubricant monitoring system 100 therefore has the same number of inlet connections 101, 102, 103 and outlet connections 111, 112, 113, it is conceivable to have a different number of branches and, therefore, corresponding inlet and outlet connections. It is also conceivable to have a greater number of inlet connections than outlet connections, for example if at least some of the branches meet at a junction upstream of the pumps, so that an outlet connection of the lubricant monitoring system is connectable to the lubricant circuit between the junction and the downstream pump, or if a single outlet connection is connected to a common line 40 downstream of the pumps 11, 21, 31 (which would additionally require the pumps to be integrated in the lubricant monitoring system 100).

[0028] The lubricant monitoring system 100 may include a selective inlet valve 120, a first analysis device 130, a second analysis device 140, a power extraction device 150, and a selective outlet valve 160 in serial fluid communication between the inlet connections 101, 102, 103 and the outlet connections 111, 112, 113. Furthermore, the lubricant monitoring system 100 may include a control unit 170, a communication device 180, and a power supply device 190, which may include the power extraction device 150.

[0029] The selective inlet valve 120 can be configured to selectively place each of the inlet connections 101, 102, 103 in fluid communication with the line 200 passing through the analysis devices 130, 140 and even through the downstream power extraction device 150. The selective inlet valve 120 can also be configured to isolate the line 200 from the assembly of the inlet connections 101, 102, 103, so that the lubricant can continue to circulate on each of the branches 10, 20, 30 of the lubricant circuit 1 without being sampled. Similarly, the selective outlet valve 160 can be configured to selectively place the line 200 downstream of the analysis device, even downstream of the power extraction device 150, in fluid communication with each of the outlet connections 111, 112, 113, or to isolate it from the assembly of the outlet connections 111, 112, 113. The selective inlet 120 valve and the outlet 160 valve can in particular be in the form of valves having a rotating body, preferably for example Figure 2 are mechanically coupled together as explained in the.

[0030] As in Figure 2 and 3A 3C , the rotary valve bodies 121, 161 of the selective inlet valve 120 and the selective outlet valve 160, respectively, can each have radial through-holes 122, 162 and axial through-holes 123, 163 in fluid communication with each other. The radial through-holes 122, 162 can open on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary valve bodies 121, 161, while the axial through-holes 123, 163 can open on the front surface of the rotary valve bodies 121, 161. The selective inlet valve 120 and the selective outlet valve 160 can each further include a valve housing 124, 164 having a central orifice 125, 165 that can be located opposite the axial through-hole 123, 163 and including peripheral orifices 126, 127, 128, 166, 167, 168.

[0031] The radial apertures 126, 127, 128 of the valve housing 124 of the selective inlet valve 120 can each be in fluid communication with one of the inlet connections 101, 102, 103. The central aperture 125 of the valve housing 124 can be in fluid communication with the pipeline 200. Through relative rotation of the rotary valve body 121 relative to the valve housing 124 about its central axis X, the radial through-hole 122 of the rotary valve body 121 of the selective inlet valve 120 can be selectively placed facing each of these peripheral apertures 126, 127, 128 so as to be selectively placed to put each of the inlet connections 101, 102, 103 in fluid communication with the pipeline 200, as shown. Figures 3A to 3C The radial through hole 122 of the rotary valve body 121 of the selective inlet valve 120 can also be oriented as shown in FIG. Figure 3D, in order to isolate the line 200 from the three inlet connections 101 , 102 , 103 .

[0032] Similarly, radial apertures 166, 167, 168 of valve housing 164 of selective outlet valve 160 can each be placed in fluid communication with one of outlet connections 111, 112, 113. Central aperture 165 of valve housing 164 can be placed in fluid communication with pipeline 200. Through relative rotation of rotary valve body 161 relative to valve housing 164 about its central axis X, radial through-hole 162 of rotary valve body 161 of selective outlet valve 160 can be selectively placed facing each of these peripheral apertures 166, 167, 168 to selectively place each of outlet connections 111, 112, 113 in fluid communication with pipeline 200, or to isolate pipeline 200 from the three outlet connections 111, 112, 113.

[0033] like Figure 2 As illustrated in FIG, the rotary valve bodies 121, 161 can be mechanically coupled via a common rotary shaft 210, which in turn can be mechanically coupled to an actuating device 220, such as a stepper motor electrically connected to a control unit 170 for powering and controlling the same. Thus, the respective selections of the selective inlet valve 120 and the selective outlet valve 160 can be synchronized. However, the selective inlet valve 120 and the selective outlet valve 160 can be configured differently from the illustrated rotary configuration and can be in the form of sliding valves, for example.

[0034] like Figure 4 As explained in the first analysis device 130, it can be a device for analyzing solid particles suspended in a lubricant. It can include a housing 131 having a series of meshes 231 that are increasingly finer between its inlet 132 and outlet 133 to separate solid particles of each size. For example, the first grid 231 can have an 8 mm 2 The mesh size of the second grid 231 downstream of the first grid 231 may have a mesh size of 4 mm. 2 The mesh size of the third grid 231 downstream of the second grid 231 may have a mesh size of 1 mm. 2 The mesh size of the fourth grid 231 downstream of the third grid 231 may be 0.1 mm 2 The mesh size of the fifth grid 231 downstream of the fourth grid 231 may be 0.02 mm. 2 The mesh size of each grid is such that each grid retains particles with a larger cross-section than the corresponding mesh size. Alternatively, the mesh size of the consecutive grids may be such that ... 2 The inverse square series of , where i is the position of the grid from upstream to downstream, and Ai is the mesh size of the corresponding grid.Alternative means for separating solid particles of each size can also be envisaged, such as centrifugation.

[0035] The first analysis device 130 may also include ferromagnetic particle sensors 234, which are placed flush with, for example, the wall of the housing 131 upstream of each grid 231 to detect ferromagnetic particles of different corresponding sizes. These ferromagnetic particle sensors 234 may be, for example, inductive sensors and may each include a winding (not illustrated) having an axis that can be oriented perpendicular to the main flow direction of the lubricant between the inlet 132 and the outlet 133 of the first analysis device 130 to detect ferromagnetic particles in the winding axis via a change in the magnetic field passing through the winding. Thus, each sensor 234 may be configured to have an efficacy of at least 65%, for example, to detect at least 0.130 mg of ferromagnetic particles having a length-to-width dimension ratio of up to 20:1.

[0036] One or more magnets 250 can be arranged on the periphery of the housing 131 to attract ferromagnetic particles toward the ferromagnetic particle sensors 234. Each of these magnets 250 can be arranged coaxially with the winding of one of the ferromagnetic particle sensors 234, so as not only to attract ferromagnetic particles toward the corresponding sensor 234, but also to provide a magnetic field whose variation allows them to be detected by the sensor 234. Each magnet 250 can be a permanent magnet, or alternatively an electromagnet with a winding that can then be coaxial with the winding of the corresponding sensor 234. Optionally, another magnet 250' oriented along the same polarity can be arranged facing each magnet 250 on the opposite wall of the housing 230. The magnets 250 can have different strengths, and in particular, the strength increases in the direction of flow of the lubricant from the inlet 132 to the outlet 133 of the first analysis device 130 to compensate for the decreasing size of the ferromagnetic solid particles passing through the coherent grid 231. To achieve these different intensities, they can be, for example, electromagnets with windings having different numbers of turns, supplied by the same voltage. It is also conceivable to control the supply voltage of each electromagnet jointly or individually, and in particular as a function of the lubricant flow through the first analysis device 130. The supply voltage of each electromagnet can be, for example, between 0 and 24 V, preferably between 120 mV and 4 V.

[0037] The first analysis device 130 may also include other particle sensors 238, which are placed flush, for example, in a central area of the housing 131 facing each grid 231 to detect non-ferromagnetic particles of different corresponding sizes trapped on each grid 231. These other particle sensors 238 may be, in particular, acoustic and / or optical sensors. In particular, they may be optical sensors that perform reflectance measurements and are configured to detect the wavelength and / or intensity of light reflected by the non-ferromagnetic solid particles, thereby allowing for differentiation between different types of non-ferromagnetic solid particles. The light reflected by the non-ferromagnetic solid particles may originate from one or more sources, such as light-emitting diodes integrated into or external to each sensor 238. In order to allow the non-ferromagnetic solid particles to be illuminated through the lubricant, the light emitted by these sources and captured by the sensors 238 may be limited to certain spectral bands, and in particular, the visible spectrum. A strain sensor (not shown) may also be coupled to each grid 231 and assist in measuring the amount of solid particles on each grid 231.

[0038] By offsetting the ferromagnetic particle sensors 234 perpendicularly to the main flow direction of the lubricant, these may be arranged on the periphery of the housing 131 relative to the other sensors 238 positioned in the central area of the housing 131, and by means of the arrangement of the magnets 250 to attract the ferromagnetic particles towards the sensors 234 by pulling them away from the other sensors 238, it is possible to prevent the detection of ferromagnetic solid particles by these other sensors 238 and thus to detect the two types of solid particles separately. Each of the sensors 234 and 238 may be connected to the control unit 170 to transmit the detection of these particles to the control unit 170.

[0039] The second analysis device 140 may include one or more other sensors, such as a conductivity sensor, an optical sensor that captures the color and / or turbidity of the lubricant, a viscosity sensor, a thermometer, a pressure gauge, a vibration sensor, and / or an acoustic sensor. Each of these sensors of the second analysis device 140 may also be connected to the control unit 170 to transmit the data they have captured thereto.

[0040] The power extraction device 150 may be a turbine that is pulsed by the lubricant flowing through the pipeline 200 and is coupled to a generator or thermocouple that is capable of generating electricity from the thermal gradient between the lubricant flowing through the pipeline 200 and a heat sink (e.g., a radiator, an air flow, and / or a fuel circuit). This power extraction device 150 may be electrically connected to a power storage device 155, which may be, for example, a battery, a capacitor, and / or a flywheel, to form a power supply device 190. This power supply device 190 may be electrically connected to other components of the lubricant monitoring system 100 to ensure that they can optionally be powered even independently.

[0041] However, alternatively or in addition to this power supply device 190, external electrical connections are also conceivable. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the power supply device 190 does not comprise a power extraction device and ensures that the lubricant monitoring system 100 is powered solely by the power previously stored in the power storage device 155, or alternatively, that it does not comprise a power storage device and ensures that the lubricant monitoring system is powered by the power drawn by the power extraction device 150 from the lubricant flowing through it.

[0042] The control unit 170 can be an electronic computer that is optionally programmable. Thus, it can be integrated into an integrated circuit or microprocessor and combined with data storage components. Finally, the control unit 170 is connected to a communication device 180 for transmitting the data captured by the various sensors of the analysis devices 130 and 140 and / or the results of their analysis by the control unit to an external system and / or user. As illustrated, the communication device 180 can be a wireless communication device, but it can also be a simple electrical and / or optical connector for data transmission. The control unit 170 can also be configured to place the lubricant monitoring system 100 in an inactive mode, specifically by actuating the selective inlet 120 valve and the outlet 160 valve to isolate the line 200 from the inlets 101, 102, 103 and outlets 111, 112, 113, for example, when the power supply 190 is no longer able to provide sufficient power for normal operation of the lubricant monitoring system 100.

[0043] In order to use the lubricant monitoring system 100, after removing the plugs from the upstream branches 12, 22, 32 and downstream branches 13, 23, 33 of the lubricant monitoring system 100, the lubricant monitoring system 100 can first be installed by connecting the inlet connections 101, 102, 103 and outlet connections 111, 112, 113 of the lubricant monitoring system 100 to each of the branches 10, 20, 30 of the lubricant circuit 1 via the corresponding upstream branches 12, 22, 32 and downstream branches 13, 23, 33.

[0044] In a subsequent lubricant monitoring step, some lubricant can be continuously detoured from each of the branches 10, 20, and 30 through line 200 of lubricant monitoring system 100 by selecting each corresponding inlet connection 101, 102, and 103 and outlet connection 111, 112, and 113 (the selective inlet valve 120 and the selective outlet valve 160 can optionally be controlled by control unit 170). The lubricant circulating through line 200 can thus pass through a first analysis device 130, where different sensors can detect metallic and non-metallic solid particles of different sizes, respectively, and a second analysis device 140, where different sensors can detect lubricant characteristics such as color, turbidity, conductivity, viscosity, temperature, and / or pressure, and possibly sound and / or vibration. The data captured by the sensors of analysis devices 130 and 140 during this monitoring step can be transmitted to control unit 170 via communication device 180 for processing, analysis, storage, and / or transmission. Additionally, during this monitoring step, the power supply device 190 may provide power to various other components of the lubricant monitoring system 100 via power drawn by the power extraction device 150 on the lubricant flow passing through and / or recovered from the power storage device 155 .

[0045] When it is determined that the monitoring of the lubricant is complete, the lubricant monitoring system 100 can be uninstalled by disconnecting each inlet connection 101 , 102, 103 and each outlet connection 111 , 112, 113 of the lubricant monitoring system 100 from the corresponding upstream branch 12 , 22 , 32 and downstream branch 13 , 23 , 33 and closing the latter with a plug.

[0046] Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples of embodiment, it is obvious that various modifications and variations of these examples may be made without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Likewise, various features of the various described embodiments may be combined in additional embodiments. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative rather than restrictive.

Claims

1. An analytical device (130) for detecting solid particles suspended in a lubricant, the analytical device (130) comprising: One or more ferromagnetic solid particle sensors (234), one or more other sensors (238) capable of detecting non-ferromagnetic solid particles, and one or more magnets (250), the other sensors (238) being offset relative to the ferromagnetic solid particle sensors (234) in a direction perpendicular to the main flow direction of the lubricant, the one or more magnets (250) being arranged to attract the ferromagnetic solid particles towards the ferromagnetic solid particle sensors (234) by pulling them away from the other sensors (238).

2. The analysis device (130) according to claim 1, characterized in that Each of the ferromagnetic solid particle sensors (234) is oriented and directed to detect the ferromagnetic solid particles in a direction perpendicular to a main flow direction of the lubricant.

3. The analysis device (130) according to claim 1, characterized in that Each of the other sensors (238) is oriented and directed to detect non-ferromagnetic solid particles in a direction parallel to a main flow direction of the lubricant.

4. The analysis device (130) according to claim 1, characterized in that Also included are one or more grids (231) arranged to cross the main flow direction of the lubricant to separate solid particles suspended in the lubricant by size.

5. The analysis device (130) according to claim 4, characterized in that Each of the further sensors (238) is arranged to detect non-ferromagnetic solid particles on each of the grids (231).

6. The analysis device (130) according to claim 4, characterized in that The grid comprises at least one first grid (231) and a second grid (231) arranged downstream of the first grid in the main flow direction of the lubricant, the second grid (231) being finer than the first grid (231) in order to separate solid particles of smaller size.

7. The analysis device (130) according to claim 1, characterized in that The ferromagnetic solid particle sensor (234) is an inductive sensor.

8. The analysis device (130) according to claim 7, characterized in that Each ferromagnetic solid particle sensor (234) includes a winding oriented in a direction perpendicular to the main flow direction of the lubricant.

9. The analysis device (130) according to claim 1, characterized in that The other sensors (238) are optical and / or acoustic sensors.

10. The analysis device (130) according to claim 9, characterized in that Each of the other sensors (238) is configured to detect a wavelength and / or intensity of light reflected by the non-ferromagnetic solid particles.

11. A lubricant monitoring system (100), comprising: The analysis device (130) as claimed in claim 1, one or more inlet connections (101, 102, 103), each of which can be connected to a lubricant circuit (1) to allow lubricant from said lubricant circuit (1) to enter said analysis device (130), One or more outlet connections (111, 112, 113), each of which can be connected to the lubricant circuit (1) in order to allow the lubricant to pass through the analysis device back towards the lubricant circuit (1).

12. The lubricant monitoring system (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that The inlet connection (101, 102, 103) and the outlet connection (111, 112, 113) are releasably connected to the lubricant circuit (1).

13. The lubricant monitoring system (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that The invention comprises several of the inlet connections (101, 102, 103) and a selective inlet valve (120), wherein the selective inlet valve (120) is used to selectively place the inlet connections (101, 102, 103) in fluid communication with the analysis device (130, 140).

14. The lubricant monitoring system (100) according to claim 13, characterized in that The selective inlet valve (120) includes a rotary valve body (121).

15. The lubricant monitoring system (100) according to claim 13, characterized in that The invention comprises several outlet connections among the outlet connections (111, 112, 113) and a selective outlet valve (160), wherein the selective outlet valve (160) is used to selectively place the outlet connections (111, 112, 113) in fluid communication with the analysis device (130).

16. The lubricant monitoring system (100) according to claim 15, characterized in that The selective inlet valve (120) and the selective outlet valve (160) are coupled together.

17. The lubricant monitoring system (100) of claim 11, wherein: A communication device (180) is included that is connected to the analysis device (130).

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