SONOTEC is expanding its preventive maintenance portfolio with the new SONASCREEN® Sensor. The stationary acoustic camera enables continuous monitoring of critical plant areas and detects leaks and electrical partial discharges at an early stage. Featuring 176 microphones, an integrated thermal imaging camera, and a powerful API, the sensor can be flexibly integrated into existing monitoring and automation solutions.
While mobile acoustic cameras are primarily used for regular inspection rounds, the SONASCREEN Sensor is designed for continuous monitoring of critical points. Permanently installed on equipment or integrated into mobile systems such as robots, it continuously detects acoustic anomalies, thereby enabling condition-based maintenance. Thanks to edge computing, the sensor can perform measurements autonomously, store data locally, and provide relevant results for further processing.
176 Microphones for Precise Sound Source Localization
At the heart of the SONASCREEN Sensor is a high-performance array of 176 digital MEMS microphones with a sampling rate of 200 kHz. The frequency range of up to 100 kHz enables the detection of both audible sound and ultrasound. With up to 100 acoustic images per second, sound sources are localized in real time. An optical camera and an integrated thermal imaging camera complement the acoustic measurement data, enabling a more comprehensive assessment of equipment condition.
Continuous Monitoring of Leaks and Electrical Partial Discharges
The sensor’s primary applications are leak detection in compressed air systems and the detection of electrical partial discharges. Compressed air leaks can be localized at an early stage and assessed in terms of their associated losses. In electrical systems, the sensor helps detect and localize partial discharges in the ultrasonic range. This allows critical plant areas to be monitored in a targeted manner and anomalies to be incorporated into maintenance processes at an early stage.
Open API for Automated Monitoring Solutions
A key feature of the SONASCREEN Sensor is its powerful API, which allows the device to be integrated into customer-specific applications and existing systems. Various data streams – from acoustic, video, and thermal imaging data to frequency spectra and raw acoustic signals – can be provided individually. Furthermore, the API enables the configuration of key measurement parameters and trigger functions. Combined with autonomous operation and local data processing, the SONASCREEN Sensor thus provides the foundation for customized and automated monitoring solutions.
In this way, the SONASCREEN Sensor combines high-resolution acoustic measurement technology with autonomous operation and flexible system integration – providing the foundation for continuous, automatable monitoring of critical plant areas and predictive maintenance.