Locomotive sensor system for monitoring engine and lubricant health

A system comprising:

• a sensor configured to be in contact with lubricant within an engine, the sensor including a sensing region circuit that is configured to generate stimuli at different times during operation of the engine;
• and
• one or more processors configured to receive signals from the sensor during operation of the engine, the signals representative of responses of the lubricant to the stimuli, the one or more processors configured to, during operation of the engine, analyze the responses signals and determine, in real time with receiving the signals from the sensor, one or more of a total base number (TBN) or a total acid number (TAN) of the lubricant,
• wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
• determine, during the operation of the engine, one or more of a rate of change in the TBN or a rate of change in the TAN of the lubricant between a first time and a second time;
• and
• determine, during operation of the engine, an unhealthy state of the one or more of the engine or the lubricant responsive to one or more of the rate of change in the TBN of the lubricant decreasing at a rate that is faster than a designated rate of change or the rate of change in the TAN increasing at a rate that is faster than the designated rate of change.

A system comprising:

• a sensor configured to be in contact with a lubricant within a rotating equipment of a system, wherein the sensor is configured to generate detectable stimuli responsive to a change in at least one of an acidic content or a basic content of the lubricant at different times during operation of the rotating equipment;
• and
• one or more processors configured to receive signals from the sensor during operation of the rotating equipment, the signals representative of responses of the lubricant to the stimuli, the one or more processors configured to, during operation of the rotating equipment, analyze the signals and determine one or more of a total base number (TBN) or a total acid number (TAN) of the lubricant,
• wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
• determine, during operation of the rotating equipment, one or more of a rate of change in the TBN or a rate of change in the TAN of the lubricant;
• and
• determine, during operation of the rotating equipment, an unhealthy state of one or more of the rotating equipment or the lubricant based on the one or more of the rate of change in the TBN or the rate of change in the TAN of the lubricant that is determined.