US 11,719,614 B2
Method for analyzing the particles contained in an operating fluid of an apparatus, and apparatus for carrying out the method
Niklas Berberich, Munich (DE); and Dominik Huber, Garching bei Muenchen (DE)
Assigned to Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Munich (DE)
Appl. No. 17/41,376
Filed by Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Munich (DE)
PCT Filed Apr. 17, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/059982
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 24, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/219323, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2018 207 441.0 (DE), filed on May 15, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0116351 A1, Apr. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 15/06 (2006.01); G01N 33/28 (2006.01); G01N 1/20 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 15/0618 (2013.01) [G01N 15/0656 (2013.01); G01N 33/2835 (2013.01); G01N 2001/2064 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of analyzing particles present in a service fluid of a device, comprising the acts of:
analyzing the particles during operation of the device wherein a service fluid flows through a service fluid circuit of the device during the analyzing;
branching off a service fluid stream at a first branch point of the service fluid circuit;
feeding the branched-off service fluid stream to a separation unit;
branching the branched-off service fluid stream into a first service fluid stream and a second service fluid stream by the separation unit, wherein the first service fluid stream flows out of the separation unit via a first outlet to an evaluation unit and the second service fluid stream flows out of the separation unit via a second outlet to the service fluid circuit of the device;
feeding a majority of particles present in the branched-off service fluid stream to the first service fluid stream by the separation unit;
ascertaining at least one parameter of the particles fed to the first service fluid stream by the evaluation unit; and
feeding a liquid component of the first service fluid stream, after the ascertaining, to the service fluid circuit of the device.