Vibration Analysis Equipment

A condition monitoring system is concerned with the early detection of failure. Vibration Monitoring systems, whether traditional techniques based on displacement, or acoustic emissions techniques, form part of your CM Maintenance tool chest. Machinery vibration analysis equipment is part of a machine monitoring system that aims to provide months of warning of developing problems and there is the potential for both on- and off-line implementation subject to capability and level of available technology for the techniques applied.

                              

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Acoustic Emissions - Machine Vibration Analysis

Vibration monitoring equipment uses techniques based on the use of accelerometers, which are well known in the field of CM. Vibration analysis can be classified in to three categories that are explained in the sub sections below:

• VM - Vibration Monitoring (ISO 10816) - is it evidently shaking itself - monitor by operator or transducer
• VA - Vibration Analysis (ISO 13373) - what is internally causing the vibration - monitor by transducer, analyse and interpret by operator
• AE - Acoustic Emissions (ISO 22096) - monitoring the energy from impact and stress - monitor by transducer with direct interpretation
• CM - Condition Monitoring, for completeness, there is a series of ISO documents providing guidance around CM competencies for maintenance personnel (ISO 18436)

Acoustic Emission Machinery

There are many approaches which fall under the umbrella term CM, including acoustic emission monitoring systems and machinery vibration analysis.  Each has its features and areas of excellence as illustrated in the table below:
 

Relative Inputs in to CM Assessment
Human Senses	Human Senses
Temperature	Airbourne Noise
Energy Consumption	Lubricant Condition
Process Quality	Wear Debris
Vibration VA	Corrosion & Crackin
Process Perameters (CEMS)	Leak Detection
	Available from Kittiwake

Techniques in BLUE = Technologies available from Kittiwake

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Kittiwake focuses on techniques like an acoustic emission system that provide for the greatest protection or longest period of warning for potential damage and eventual failure. Machine monitoring systems can help prevent the worst!  When problems are identified, the use of two (or more) appropriate technologies may provide a more complete picture of the likely failure mechanism.

Comparison of the main machinery CM techniques
	AE	VA	IRT	OA	WDA
Sensor Position	Not Critical	Critical	Not Critical	Not Critical	Critical
Expertise	Low	High	Medium	Medium	High*
Applicability	Wide	Wide	Wide	Wide	Medium
Damage Detection	Early	Early	Low-Med	Early	Medium
Low Speed Sensitivity	High	Low	Low	High	High
	Available from Kittiwake
AE - Acoustic Emissions		Kittiwake Holroyd Technology
VA - Vibration Analysis
IRT - Infra Red Thermography
OA - Oil Analysis		Kittiwake Analex Technology
WDA - Wear Degree Analysis		Kittiwake Developments technology, built-in data processing and require low level of expertise for accurate data interpretation.