Routine Vibration Surveys

Routine vibration surveys are conducted with a portable digital data collector/FFT analyzer and a computer program designed to manage the database for trending and spectral analysis. Portable data collection systems have the capability of collecting data directly from permanent continuous vibration monitoring systems installed on key plant equipment and directly off the case of the balance of small plant equipment. Tern Technologies, Inc. utilizes an SKF Condition Monitoring Microlog data collector and its associated Prism4 software. The Microlog stores overall vibration, high-resolution FFT spectra to 6400 lines, time domain waveforms, process variables and alpha numeric comments. The powerful Prism4 software includes features such as alarm and danger set points based on overall vibration, percent change from previous value, spectral banding and in or out of window alarms such as axial position, to flag changes in machine condition. The Prism4 Pro diagnostics program analyzes a single machine in less than 30 seconds, surveys 1200 data points in less than one hour and compares live and historical data to over 2000 symptoms. Tern Technologies, Inc. has the experience to design successful vibration monitoring programs. This requires experienced personnel to set up and implement vibration

survey programs, insuring that the program is launched quickly and efficiently with immediate results. Data collection routes are set up for efficiency and consistency of data collection. The machinery analyst is much more productive performing analysis rather than collecting data. Improperly designed routes force the analyst to constantly backtrack in order to gather data that has been missed or to cover the same ground twice to collect different data. Machines in the database must be easily identifiable to all involved in the survey program. Also, individual data points should be identified logically and consistently from machine to machine. In addition to vibration data, process parameters, temperatures, and motor current data are included to assist in pinpointing machinery problems.

Once problems are identified, reports are generated to produce follow through and feedback. The reports are designed to give management recommendations such as: ratings on the severity of the vibration, how long the vibration has trended upward and time projections until alarm or danger set points are reached. The report also includes diagnostics capabilities to help identify the possible sources of the vibration, tests that can be done to verify the source and repair recommendations. Performance of regular routine vibration surveys will result in decreased downtime (increased availability), increased production and efficiency, and decreased maintenance cost. This all translates directly to increased profit. Digital data collection and analysis has greatly reduced the per point cost of implementing a vibration program and provides the user with a quick return on investment.