Patent ID: 7355415
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for determining the condition of a non-aqueous fluid comprising: a) applying a high-frequency voltage signal between electrodes immersed in the fluid, b) measuring the fluid's response to the applied signal and determining a fluid property, c) comparing the magnitude of the determined property, relative to the magnitude of that property when the fluid is fresh, to at least one property threshold and comparing the rate of change of the determined property, relative to the average rate of change of the property as a function of fluid use to at least one rate threshold, resulting in the determination of the fluid's condition wherein the determined fluid property is the fluid's permittivity and wherein said property is used to determine the fluid's condition where the pemittivity is used to determine if contaminants in the fluid are being maintained in dispersed small particles.