I. Operating principle.

OILCOL is an online instrument using visible-light absorbance/transmittance to indicate ASTM D1500 oil colour. Continuous measurement and fast response help identify sudden oil-condition changes and allow action before process-equipment failure, avoiding time-consuming, costly sampling and laboratory analysis.

2. Importance of oil-colour measurement.

Changes in oil colour reflect quality variations. Refining, oxidation, particles, ageing and other factors directly affect colour, usually causing oil to darken over time. Colour measurement helps identify changes in quality or ageing. Colour alone does not establish oil quality or functional properties, but a change indicates that some characteristics have changed. It can provide an early warning of lubrication-system damage, a need for an oil change or a change in the refining process. When colour exceeds a set limit, proactive action and, if necessary, more detailed oil analysis can follow.

III. Suitable lubricant types.

Suitable for various liquid petroleum products, including lubricating oil, heating oil, diesel fuel, mineral insulating oil and hydraulic oil.

IV. Main technical features.

1. Online measurement: monitor oil quality in real time.

2. Display resolution of 0.1 for precise presentation of measurements.

3. Easy installation: convenient deployment across a range of equipment.

4. Robust construction: suitable for demanding industrial environments.

5. Serial connection (Modbus) and 4–20 mA output simplify data transfer and integration with control systems.

V. Typical applications.

1. Lubricating oil flow monitoring helps maintain stable lubrication system operation.

2. Industrial flow monitoring and process control support smooth production.

3. Steel rolling mills, heating, mineral insulating oils, ship and offshore oil-platform propulsion systems, and mining: oil-condition data supports equipment operation, safety and production efficiency in these industrial applications.

VI. Suitable types of enterprises.

1. Oil-filter and filtration-system manufacturers: supports product design optimization and performance evaluation.

2. Companies providing oil and liquid purification for hydraulic systems, turbines, compressors and transformers: real-time monitoring of purification performance improves service quality.

3. End users in power generation, pulp and paper, fuel and chemical industries can monitor oil condition promptly, plan maintenance and replacement in advance, reduce equipment-failure risk and improve production efficiency.