Schaller VISATRON Oil Mist Detection System – Advanced Engine Crankcase Oil Mist Monitoring & Protection
Schaller VISATRON Oil Mist Detection System is a professional oil mist monitoring and engine protection system designed for large diesel, gas, and dual-fuel engines used in marine propulsion, auxiliary power generation, offshore, and stationary power applications.
Developed by Schaller Automation, the VISATRON system continuously monitors the atmosphere inside engine crankcase compartments for hazardous oil mist concentrations. Early detection of abnormal oil mist formation helps provide an important warning of potential bearing damage, overheating, or other mechanical failures that could lead to an oil mist explosion and serious engine damage.
The VISATRON product family uses a continuous suction-based sampling principle to extract crankcase atmosphere and transport it to the optical measuring system. Depending on the model, the system can use a centralized measuring arrangement or multiple detectors for more precise localization of an oil-mist source.
Schaller currently offers the VISATRON VN2020 and VISATRON VN301plus as its current oil-mist detection platforms. The VN2020 is designed as a central optical analysis system, while the VN301plus can use up to 20 sensors to provide precise damage localization.
Core Working Principle
The Schaller VISATRON Oil Mist Detection System continuously draws the atmosphere from the engine crankcase compartments through a dedicated suction system.
The required suction vacuum is generated using a wear-free air-jet pump supplied with compressed air. The extracted crankcase atmosphere is then directed through the measuring system, where the oil mist concentration is optically monitored.
When abnormal oil mist develops due to conditions such as bearing damage, overheating, or mechanical friction, the concentration of oil mist in the crankcase atmosphere can increase.
The VISATRON optical measuring system detects this change and initiates an appropriate oil mist alarm, allowing the engine protection system and operating personnel to respond before the condition develops into a more serious failure.
The VN2020 uses a central optical measuring system and is designed to protect large diesel, gas, and dual-fuel engines. The VN301plus, in contrast, can use up to 20 individual sensors, allowing more accurate identification of the crankcase compartment or area generating excessive oil mist.
Key Benefits
- Continuous Engine Crankcase Oil Mist Monitoring
- Early Detection of Abnormal Oil Mist Formation
- Protection Against Oil Mist Explosion Hazards
- Suitable for Diesel, Gas & Dual-Fuel Engines
- Continuous Suction-Based Sampling
- Wear-Free Air-Jet Pump Technology
- Optical Oil Mist Measurement
- Fast Response to Increasing Oil Mist Concentration
- Automatic Adaptation to Normal Engine Clouding on Applicable Models
- Reduced False Alarm Risk
- Low Maintenance Requirements
- Engine Damage Monitoring
- Precise Damage Localization with VN301plus
- Up to 20 Sensors with VN301plus
- ATEX & IECEx Options for Applicable Configurations
- Marine Classification Approval for Applicable Models
- Suitable for Marine & Stationary Power Applications
Intelligent Control for Operators
- Continuous Oil Mist Monitoring: VISATRON continuously monitors the atmosphere inside engine crankcase compartments to detect abnormal increases in oil mist concentration. This provides an early warning of potentially dangerous engine conditions.
- Suction-Based Sampling: The system continuously extracts crankcase atmosphere using a suction system. Schaller uses a wear-free air-jet pump to generate the required suction vacuum through compressed air.
- Optical Measurement: The oil mist concentration is monitored through an optical measuring path, allowing the system to identify changes in crankcase oil mist conditions.
- Early Warning: Abnormal oil mist can be an indication of developing mechanical problems such as bearing damage or overheating. VISATRON provides an alarm when the configured oil mist threshold is reached, supporting early intervention.
- Damage Localization: The VISATRON VN301plus can use up to 20 sensors, enabling precise localization of the source of unwanted oil mist within the engine.
- Automatic Opacity Adaptation: Applicable VISATRON systems automatically adapt to normal engine clouding during operation, helping maintain reliable monitoring under changing engine conditions.
Get in Touch
Looking for a reliable Schaller VISATRON Oil Mist Detection System supplier for your marine vessel, diesel engine, gas engine, dual-fuel engine, power plant, offshore facility, or engine maintenance application?
Contact Swift Marine Tech Service for Schaller VISATRON supply, replacement oil mist detectors, spare parts, sensors, calibration and testing support, troubleshooting, maintenance assistance, and worldwide delivery.
Our technical team can assist with selecting the appropriate VISATRON model, detector configuration, sensors, suction components, replacement parts, installation accessories, and service requirements according to your engine type and application.
Schaller VISATRON: Advanced Oil Mist Detection for Large Engines
The Schaller VISATRON Oil Mist Detection System is a professional engine protection solution developed to detect hazardous oil mist formation inside the crankcase of large diesel, gas, and dual-fuel engines.
Oil mist can form when abnormal conditions develop inside an engine, including bearing damage, overheating, excessive friction, or other mechanical problems. If oil mist reaches a sufficiently high concentration, it can create a serious explosion hazard. The purpose of an oil mist detector is therefore to identify abnormal oil mist formation at an early stage and provide an alarm before a potentially catastrophic event occurs.
The VISATRON system continuously draws crankcase atmosphere through its suction arrangement. This allows the system to monitor the engine atmosphere continuously rather than relying on periodic manual inspection.
The suction system uses a wear-free air-jet pump supplied with compressed air. This creates the vacuum required to draw the crankcase atmosphere through the sampling arrangement and into the measuring system.
The extracted atmosphere passes through the optical measuring system, where changes in oil mist concentration are monitored. The system is designed to provide a rapid response when an abnormal concentration develops.
For applications requiring damage localization, the VISATRON VN301plus uses a distributed sensor arrangement with up to 20 sensors. Each sensor can monitor an individual engine area, helping operators identify the source of excessive oil mist more accurately.
The VISATRON VN2020 provides a different architecture based around a central optical analysis system. Schaller describes it as the successor to the VN87plus and VN93 systems, incorporating newer electronics, faster response, reduced maintenance requirements, and improved user operation.
The VN2020 is designed for large diesel, gas, and dual-fuel engines and is developed according to the IACS UR M10 guidelines. The manufacturer also states that the system is certified by all common classification societies for the applicable product configuration.
For engines operating in potentially explosive atmospheres, the applicable ATEX or IECEx-approved version must be selected. Schaller specifically states that the appropriate approved oil mist detector must be used where explosion-protection classification is mandatory.
The system incorporates features intended to maintain reliable operation under demanding engine conditions. For example, Schaller’s VISATRON systems use drainage concepts to manage condensed crankcase atmosphere and return excess oil to the crankcase, helping maintain proper operation during different operating conditions and engine inclinations.
The VISATRON range is suitable for main propulsion engines, auxiliary engines, diesel generators, gas engines, dual-fuel engines, offshore power systems, and stationary power-generation equipment. Schaller identifies its technology as being used for large engines from approximately 2 MW and above.
Regular inspection and maintenance of the oil mist detector, suction system, intake funnels, air supply, drainage components, optical measuring system, sensors, filters, and associated piping or cables should be carried out according to the applicable model’s maintenance instructions.
For older VISATRON installations, replacement or upgraded systems may be available depending on the engine model and existing installation. Schaller currently maintains documentation for several VISATRON generations, including VN2020, VN301plus, VN87plus, and VN93.
The Schaller VISATRON Oil Mist Detection System provides a dependable combination of continuous crankcase atmosphere monitoring, suction sampling, optical oil mist measurement, early warning, engine protection, and damage localization, making it an important safety system for large marine and stationary engines.