Advanced Sensors and Condition Monitoring

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• understand the advantages and limitations of a variety of techniques for condition monitoring
• develop a maintenance strategy based on system response
• understand the practical aspects of sensor use and type
• apply signal-processing methods
• design Instrumentation Systems
• perform practical analysis on actual machines and systems
• understand the environmental benefits of condition monitoring techniques

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the transducers typically encountered in engineering applications
• condition monitoring approaches, sensor types, sensor placement, data analysis
• the principles of instrumentation and measurement systems

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• These skills demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the commercial and economic context of engineering and system processes.
• communication skills through project work

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• better communicate ideas and understand instrumentation systems
• determine the condition of a system from performance data and establish if repair or maintenance is necessary

Lectures 1-6 Introduction to condition monitoring:

• Maintenance philosophies: time based versus condition based

Intelligent fault detection

• Non destructive testing vs condition monitoring
• Condition monitoring procedure and system integration

Lectures 7 - 12 MEMS devices:

• Common microfabrication techniques
• Applications of MEMS in sensing systems, including pressure sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes and strain gauges
• Overview of microfluidics
• Energy harvesting and wireless networks

Lectures 13 - 18 Ultrasonic Sensing systems:

• Fundamental principles of ultrasonic systems
• Applications of ultrasonic sensors including distance and position measurement, flow velocity measurement, non destructive testing

Lectures 19-21 Advanced signal processing techniques:

• Time domain analysis (Kurtosis, skewness, enveloping, shock pulse method)
• Frequency domain analysis (Fourier transforms for spectral analysis, cepstrum)
• Time-frequency analysis (STFT, Wavelet)
• Artificial intelligence technologies

Lectures 22-33 Condition monitoring techniques

• Vibration based techniques
• Acoustic emission
• Thermal techniques
• Oil debris analysis
• Corrosion monitoring
• Strain sensing

Lectures 34-36 Project consultations:

• Group based project consultations

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• A series of lectures in which the emphasis is on the practical application of the techniques. Dedicated project classes.

Learning activities include

• Worked examples and group projects.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Comprehensive list of reading materials supplied to students in week 1..

Internet Resources

Vibration-based condition monitoring: industrial, aerospace and automotive applications.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External