Design of electromagnetic sensor for metal wear particle detection in oil

Wear is one of the common faults in the mechanical transmission system. Detection of wear particles in lubricating oil can detect and evaluate the wear degree of mechanical equipment. The electromagnetic sensor for metal wear particle detection can be connected in series with the oil circuit, which has the advantages of full liquid flow, simple structure, distinguishing metal properties, and not being influenced by bubbles and vibration. In view of the shortcomings of the existing electromagnetic sensor for wear particle detection, the detection principle and the induction electromotive force model were studied, and the magnetic field change of the metal particles through three coil differential solenoids was analysed. The optimisation design method was proposed here, which was about the related parameters, such as the wire diameter, the coil turns, the coil widths and so on. The experimental analysis of the sensor was carried out based on detection hardware system that could provide the phase-locked amplification function. The 10-mm inner diameter sensor could detect the minimum 100-μm ferromagnetic metal abrasive particles after optimisation. The developed sensor could provide data information for the abrasive particle detection, fault diagnosis and early warning of wear degree of mechanical equipment.