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In this article, I am having a look at two testing tools that are coming into use on processing plant that require no dismantling of the process equipment. Diagnostics to the process or the plant equipment need to be performed whilst the plant is in operation and taking it off-line to carry out checks is a definite no-no unless absolutely necessary.
First up is infrared imaging to take the temperature of various parts of the process. We’ve all seen the typical documentary TV programme where the police helicopter locates miscreants hiding in the undergrowth using their on-board thermal video equipment. Their body heat shows up black against the greys and whites of the thermal images on the screen in real time. Big brother is watching you it seems.
Fluke-ti29 thermal imager
For industrial and other sector usage, thermal imaging these days is very precise and modern imagers such as those produced by Fluke UK Ltd can be calibrated to measuring temperatures up to ≤ 0.05 °C . At this sort of accuracy, you can see fresh footprints on concrete. Their new Ti29Thermal Imager takes digital ir images from the sensor as well as a visible light coordinating image to show exactly the point of measurement from the same viewpoint. You can even use additional telephoto lenses for measuring temperatures in hard-to-reach places from the safety of the ground – brilliant and what a time saver!
You can see that such an thermal imager with it’s great accuracy is very useful to monitor process vessels, motors, gearboxes using before and after maintenance or repair. What is more, the rugged nature of this equipment means that it can be be thrown into the the back of the site engineer’s van without worry.
Thermal images are now in glorious colour palettes as well as greyscale. The one that I saw was procured for our community project where we were demonstrating heat loss from properties. Bright red as the worst heat loss is quite good at persuading otherwise skeptical home owners to do something (and save money of course).
Fluke 810 vibration meter in action
Next up is the hand-held vibration tester which also is a very handy tool in the armoury of the roving site technician. Monitoring sound and vibration is an early warning indication that there is a problem with mechanical equipment such as pumps, motors, gearboxes and transmission trains. We can all remember putting our ear to the back of our fist whilst holding a screwdriver to the recalcitrant car engine to try and hear and feel what might be wrong. Like a medical stethoscope user, the screwdriver test requires training and experience and even then the testing method has severe limitations.
Modern vibration testers (or vibro meter) like the new Fluke 810 vibration tester use a compact tri-axial accelerometer. This is attached to the machine being diagnosed using a magnetic clamp and the cable connecting it to the ruggedised analyser. This particular vibro meter monitors vibration in the range 2 Hz to 20 kHz and can provide a digital read out that is analysed into its various components. What is more, it provides a revolutionary instant analysis in the handheld device for accurate troubleshooting.
The modern maintenance engineer needs all the easy-to-use technology at his fingertips to ensure the least downtime by targeted maintenance and replacement that can be predicted with confidence. The modern financial environment demands ever more efficiency and the modern handheld devices can protect the plant process from unplanned interuptions with intelligent maintenance regimes. This is a particular hobby horse of mine and I will be returning to this subject another time – so keep visiting.
Au revoir until the next time.
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