| Monitors are
available in many varieties; some simply display the overall signal levels, some have
elaborate interface systems, some can automatically collect different types of
information. The end user must decide what is really necessary. Will the monitor be
required to provide some form of protection? Does the end user require that the monitor
provide some type of information? Must the monitoring system provide diagnostic
capabilities?
Protection
Protection is available in many forms. Nearly all monitor systems available today can
provide machinery protection. This means that should a sensor signal exceed a
predetermined set point the monitor can initiate a shutdown to prevent internal machinery
damage. This form of protection is tangible and can be quantified for accounting purposes.
Additional intangible protection provided by a basic monitoring system are personnel and
production protection. If a machine can be shutdown prior to catastrophic damage, which
could involve unexpected shrapnel from the machine, the personnel that are in the vicinity
of the machine are protected.
An orderly shutdown of a machine train can benefit the facility production and its
product. Certain production processes, such as paper and sheet steel, are sensitive to
excessive vibration. High vibration levels produce poor quality product. These facilities
will benefit from a monitoring system that can alert operation personnel when unacceptable
product is being produced.
Information
An information system will provide data that is useful for planning and scheduling. This
information can be used for a "Go No-Go" decision whether to continue operating
the machine train or produce goods. Basic monitoring systems are capable of providing this
type of information by alerting personnel to current conditions.
Maintenance planning
and outage scheduling requires additional information. Information systems will provide
data as trends which give advanced notice of elevating overall signals.
Diagnostics
Advanced monitoring systems will provide additional information about the condition of the
machine train connected to the monitor. This information can be collected automatically or
manually, and upon alarm activation or on a regular basis.
This information has many benefits which when properly used can produce cost savings
and downtime. By analyzing the collected information the root cause of the elevated
signals can lead to the cause of the machine problem. This type of information can lead to
reducing machine train downtime. After the maintenance has been conducted, this type of
monitor can be used for acceptance testing and machine commissioning. Many end users have
reported correction of design flaws and incorrect operating procedures using advanced
diagnostic information.
Monitoring Classification Checklist
- Protection
- Information
- Diagnostics
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