In the name of Allah the most beneficent the most merciful

MID COUNTRY REFINERY

INSTRUMENTATION

VIBRATION
MONITROING

What is Vibration?

A machine or part of machine is said to vibrate if it moves back and forth with respect to its position of rest. There are many ways to illustrate vibration. One example is the Guitar string.

One of the best examples to explain vibration is a simple spring-mass system as shown.

Vibration Sensing By hand

Vibration Sensing By Stethoscope

Common sources of machine Vibration

Looseness Unbalance Shaft Misalignment Bearing instability Rubbing Oil whip Cavitations

Units of Vibration

Eddy current probe / proximity probe

It is measured in peak to peak and usually it is written as p-p . Its units are mils or microns.

1mil = 1/1000 inch = 0.001 inch

1 micron = 1/1000 mm = 0.001 mm

Velocity probe. Velocity measure how much the displacement is changing over a period of time. The units of measure are inch per second or millimeter per second. It is measure in peak only. For example 40 micron/sec peak

Acceleration probe.

Acceleration is defined as rate of change of the velocity and is measured in gs of acceleration relative to the acceleration of gravity.

Two Types of Methods we use for Vibration.

1. Non Contact Method

Proximity probe

2. Contact Method

Velocity probe Accelerometer

PROXIMITY PROB

Non contact method.

Different companies use different types of transducer such as

Eddy current Laser Capacitance Radar

Shape of proximity probe

Working principle
The eddy current probe basically consists of a coil embedded in a tip of Ryton. Ryton is a thermoplastic material with outstanding Thermal stability, Mechanical strength and Chemical resistance. The coil of the probe is supplied with an RF signal, generated by an oscillator operating at 2 MHZ.

Basic Transducer + Probe Working

If a conductive material is brought with in the electromagnetic field of the probe, eddy currents will be generated in the material. Since the coil inductance will change with variations in distance between coil and observed surface. The oscillator, detector, linearization and amplifier electronics are all built into one housing called the driver. this driver receives a DC supply voltage of -18 to -24 volts and gives an output signal.

For vibration measurement the AC component of the driver out put signal is measured, for position measurements the DC component is measured.

Proximitor + Probe + Extension cable

Total length will be written at the proximitor or it can be noted from the model no. of the proximitor.
Suppose 5 miter = 0.5m + 4.5m = 5 m or 1.0m + 4.0m = 5m Same for 9 miter = 0.5m + 8.5m = 9m or 1.0m + 8.0m = 9m

Eddy current probe Advantages

Low frequency response. Can measure relative displacement. Useful as a key phasor for dynamic balancing & analysis. Reliable if properly installed and maintained.

Eddy current probe Disadvantages

Difficult to install. Practical limits of high frequency displacement measurement. Calibration dependent on shaft material. Shaft run out produces false signals.

Proximitor Name Plate

5 mm Proximitor VT (-18 to -24 VDC) Probe Dia. 5 mm (0.200 in) Cable length 5 M (16.4 FT) COM Scale Factor 200 Mv / Mil (8 volt / mm) Temperature Range -55 to 100 C OUT PUT OBS. MATL. AISI 4140 Catalog No. 18745-03

Mounting of Probes for Radial Vibration

Mounting of Probes for Axial Thrust Position

Distance between sensor & bearing

Radial vibration = max 6 inch

B earing

S ensor

S haft 6 inch

Thrust = max 12 inch

B earing

S ensor

S haft 12 inch

Checking of vibration instrument

Looseness Rust Physical condition Oil / moisture Grounding Resistance Sensor resistance = 4 to 5 ohm Extension cable 4 & 4.5m = 3 to 4 ohm Extension cable 8 & 8.5 m = 6 to 7 ohm

Velocity probe

The velocity probe is the commonly used pick up for measuring bearing housing vibration . This is contact method.

It consists of a magnet, suspended by spring, that can move with in a coil.

Above a certain frequency the magnet remains at rest while the coil vibrates along with the pick-up housing that is mounted on the vibrating subject.

Since the coil moves with respect to the magnet, a voltage is induced in the coil and this voltage is proportional to the vibration velocity.
The frequency range of a velocity probe depends on the springs and the mass of the seismic element (magnet)

For most industrial types the range is some where between 20 Hz to 1500 Hz.

Acceleration

Acceleration

is defined as rate of change of the velocity . Acceleration is greatest velocity is at a minimum. where

Piezoelectric Accelerometer

Piezoelectric material (sensing element) is placed under load using a mass. As machine vibrates, crystal is squeezed or released. Charge out put is proportional to the force.

Electronics convert charge output into voltage out put.

Rod Drop

Rod Drop is used to measure the down ward trends of a connecting rod of Reciprocating compressors.

But actually, indirectly we are monitoring wear and tare of Rider Rings or Rider Bands of reciprocating compressors' piston.
A proximity probe is installed vertically above or below of Connecting Rod.