Vibration Measurements: Analyse before disassembling
In any process, the waste must be avoided, whether it is of time or material goods, which always results in the waste of resources. Thus, it is fundamental to a good predictive maintenance plan. On this plan, it is essential to include the study of the system’s vibration, which allows the understanding of the global status of the system mechanical components.
The vibration analysis allows the detection of several problems, from defects, imbalances or misalignments. It is possible, without disassembling, to understand what kind of intervention must be planned and accomplished.
What is the principle of this analysis?
The vibration analysis is based on the principle of recording deterministic vibrations – periodic vibrations that are repeated during the operation of the equipment.
After recording, all the vibrations are evaluated and the amplitude of each frequency is studied, allowing to understand its origin and thereafter the intervention to perform on the exact component.
By acquiring the time signal and transforming it into a frequency spectrum, it is possible to analyze it based on the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). Each fault related to an equipment has its own frequency. The experience allows us to know them.
Figure 1 – Vibration Measurements
How do you know if the equipment is damaged?
On condition monitoring, it is the time signal that allows the visualization of the vibration and it is the overall RMS vibration level that indicates the vibration level of an equipment.
The values are compared to reference values given by manufacturers and/or standard values. Save time, resources and reduce costs with vibration analysis.
How do you analyze each equipment?
Being an electric motor, a turbine, a pump or a reciprocal engine, each equipment has its own specific measuring points. The measured points allow a more efficient measurement according to the experience of the one who defines them.
Figure 2 – Vibration Measurements on the field
A previous analysis to signal acquisition should be done, in order to know the type of the equipment, the type of structure where it is fixed and, most of all, its history.