WearSense is a self-contained wear management system consisting of proprietary IoT sensors that monitor wear and other key parameters, a gateway that connects to cloud-based storage and processing algorithms and a web-based user interface. It is primarily designed to monitor the wear in chute liners and provides near real-time information on remaining material thickness and the ability to estimate the remaining liner life.
The wear sensors, which are the foundation of the WearSense system, are attached to the chute liners and constantly measure the remaining material thickness. Each sensor has a small probe that penetrates through the liner to the wear surface. The probe wears with the liner, providing an accurate indication of the remaining thickness of the liner at that point. The wear sensor continually monitors the probe length and wirelessly conveys this information through the gateway to the cloud database, where it’s processed and stored. The data is accessed through a web-based user interface that provides information on current liner thickness and charts showing liner thickness changes over time.
The WearSense system consists of two main physical components, the sensors and the gateway. Several types of gateways are available depending on individual client requirements. But in general, the gateway will be installed in a permanent cabinet close to the asset and will be wired to receivers around the asset, which communicate wirelessly to the sensors.
The sensors themselves are usually attached directly to the back of the liner, with the probes penetrating through the liner to the wear surface. If Metso Outotec Taper-T™ attachments are being used to secure the liners, the wear sensor can be embedded directly in the fastener, requiring no additional modifications to the liner or chute wall. The Taper-T™ attachment with the embedded sensor is inserted from the inside of the chute while the liner is installed, with no access required to the outside of the chute.
If the liners are being secured by some other means, a hole is required to accommodate an insert that is welded or screwed into the back of the liner. A clearance hole is also needed in the chute wall to accommodate the sensor, although often existing UT (ultrasonic thickness) inspection openings can be used. The sensor is then screwed directly into the insert after the liner has been fitted to the chute wall. The WearSense system can be used with any metallic or ceramic liners, and the wear sensors have been successfully installed in weld overlay, Q&T plate, cast liners and ceramic tiles.
WearSense continually monitors the remaining thickness at each sensor location and reports this information through the gateway to the cloud. When the data has reached the cloud, it is securely stored, processed, and available for viewing in the web app. Since the liner thickness is continuously recorded over time, the data can also be used to estimate the average wear rate, enabling predictions of the remaining liner life.
The web app can be used in two ways to assist in maintenance planning. If the next scheduled maintenance date is pre-set, the shut date can be entered directly into the Liner GA page in the web app, which will then update to show the expected condition of the liners at that date. Alternatively, if maintenance dates are flexible, predictions on the chart view can be used to estimate when the worst liner will reach the end of its serviceable life.
In addition, users can store future planned shut dates directly in the web app. The built-in algorithms will automatically identify the liners that will need to be changed and generate an itemised list that the maintenance planners can use to prepare for the shut-down. As well as assisting in the maintenance planning process, WearSense helps to protect the asset by detecting excessive wear before damaging the chute wall.