A PORTABLE X-RAY FLUORESCENCE LUBRICATING OIL DEBRIS ANALYSER

THE MOTION OF CONTACTS BETWEEN OIL-LUBRICATED COMPONENTS INSIDE AN ENGINE IS ACCOMPANIED BY FRICTION WHICH IN TURN PRODUCES WEAR PARTICLES. THESE OIL SYSTEM DEBRIS ARE DEPOSITED IN THE OIL, AND AN INCREASE IN THEIR PRODUCTION RATE IS AN IMPORTANT INDICATOR OF THE INTERNAL CONDITION OF THE ENGINE. THE MONITORING OF WEAR METALS IN LUBRICATING OILS HAS BECOME STANDARD PRACTICE IN THE AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY TO ANTICIPATE INCIPIENT FAILURES OF COMPONENTS INSIDE GAS TURBINE ENGINES. THIS PRACTICE IS ALSO FOLLOWED BY THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, IN THE TRI-SERVICE JOINT OIL ANALYSIS PROGRAM (JOAL) LABORATORIES. ONE OF THE TECHNIQUES USED TO MONITOR AND ANALYSE OIL DEBRIS IS THE X-RAY FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY (XRFS) TECHNIQUE. IN THIS PROJECT, WE PROPOSE TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A PORTABLE XRFS SYSTEM DEDICATED TO OIL SYSTEM DEBRIS ANALYSIS WHICH CAN BE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AND OPERATED IN A SHIP ENVIRONMENT, AND EASILY TRANSPORTED FROM SHIP TO SHIP, AS REQUIRED.