AIX Technology Monitoring Systems presents
Continuous real-time monitoring of the crankshaft pin
The system that sees what no physical barrier can. Detects critical failures in offshore engines before they become catastrophes — protecting people, equipment and operations.
CTM — Crankpin Temperature Monitoring is a system developed by AIX Technology Monitoring Systems to monitor, in real time, the temperature of the crankshaft pin in high-performance engines — especially the Caterpillar 3500 series, widely used in offshore operations.
Installed at the crankshaft access points, CTM uses high-precision sensors that identify thermal variations between cylinders. It is invisible, continuous, and highly precise protection — acting where no physical barrier reaches.
Motor Caterpillar 3500
Continuous crankpin monitoring
Current protection systems — such as the Oil Mist Detector and conventional physical barriers — are fundamental for protecting workers against external risks. But there is a blind spot: they do not monitor what happens inside the engine.
Failures in the connecting rod bearing (big end bearing) cause a progressive increase in temperature at the crankpin. Without early detection, this process rapidly evolves into catastrophic consequences.
"These barriers do not monitor what happens inside the engine. They do not detect internal failures, do not track thermal variations and do not prevent mechanical collapses. It is a problem no one sees — until it is too late."
— José Maria Cruz Lima, Commercial Director and Co-Founder, AIXTemperature sensors installed at the crankshaft access points of each cylinder — no structural modifications to the engine required.
The system reads the crankpin temperature in real time, identifying abnormal thermal variations between cylinders with ±0.5°C accuracy.
When the variation exceeds +5°C compared to other cylinders, the alarm is triggered automatically in less than 5 seconds — allowing intervention before collapse.
Sensors with ±0.5°C accuracy calibrated for continuous operation in harsh offshore environments.
Detection and alarm trigger in less than 5 seconds — 3× faster than the Oil Mist Detector.
No structural modifications to the engine. Full installation per cylinder in a single working day.
Compatible with the main alarm and monitoring systems installed on offshore platforms.
| Capability | Oil Mist Detector | Physical Protection | CTM — AIX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal thermal variation detection | Não | Parcialmente | ✓ Sim |
| Continuous real-time monitoring | Não | Sim | ✓ Sim |
| Anomaly detection time | — | — | ~5 seconds |
| Alarm system integration | Não | Não | ✓ Sim |
| Non-invasive installation | Não | Não | ✓ Sim |
| Operation in offshore environments | Limitado | Limitado | ✓ Sim |
| International certification | — | Varia | DNV GL |
| ✓ Complements | ✓ Complements | ✓ Integrates all |
CTM has received type approval from DNV — the leading international maritime classification society — certifying compliance with the most stringent safety and reliability standards for offshore operations.
Certification attesting compliance with international standards of safety and operational reliability for maritime and offshore applications
Talk to an AIX specialist and discover how CTM can protect your assets, reduce operational costs and eliminate the risk of catastrophic failures in your operation.