Machinery performance

Part sizes are limited by the mould size and the machinery performances. 

To this point retrospective validation has been discussed in the context of dosage form manufacture. Some of the same concepts may be applied to validating a packaging operation. Consider the following. Packaging lines are typically controlled by making spot observations to confirm machinery performance and... 

Balling drums represent the most simple type of equipment for growth agglomeration by tumbling. They are typically used in industries processing large amounts of bulk solids where in the relatively crude and rough environment unsophisticated machinery performs best. 

Biomass yield variables—those that affect the mass per acre delivered to the biorefinery—are particularly important since they reside at the front end of the feedstock supply chain and thus have broad impacts that extend through the entire supply chain. In fact, biomass yield affects many of the other variable categories identified in the analysis, including machinery performance and system variables (harvest window and transportation distance). Accordingly, uncertainties of biomass yield variables—particularly collection efficiency and storage dry matter losses—are the focus of the discussion that follows. 

Artana, K. B., and K. Ishida. Determination of Ship Machinery Performance and Its Maintenance Management Scheme Using Markov Process Analysis. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Marine Technology, 2001, 379-389. 

Squeeze film dampers have long been used to combat rotor dynamic and stability problems that conventional bearings cannot solve on turbomachinery rotor systems. The use of squeeze film dampers in problem process machinery has tainted it as a treat-the-symptom solution, and many users shy away from using squeeze film dampers for this reason. Also, their limited use is explained by the difficulty in accurately predicting performance, particularly with o-ring supported dampers. 

Rotating machinery usually performs efficiently if it works under design point conditions. However, off-design conditions require a predictive model of the machine s performance. In a FCC power train system, mass flow deviation is quite common for adjusting production capacity to meet the requirements of petrochemical product markets. 

Arcoumanis, C., Martinez-Botas, R.F., Nouri, J.M., and Su, C.C., 1997. Performance and Exit Flow Characteristics of Mixed Flow Turbines, International Journal of Rotating Machinery, 3(4) 277-293. 

Improvement of equipment effectiveness. This should start with a detailed design review of the plant machinery. A performance analysis of the plant could point to a specific area known to have problems (i.e., section of plant) must be selected and focused on, project teams should be formed and assigned to each train. An analysis should be conducted that address the following ... 

The old maxim if it ain t broke don t fix it is very applicable in today s machinery. A study conducted at a major nuclear power facility found that 35% of the failures occurred after a major turnaround. This is why total condition monitoring is necessary in any performance based total productive maintenance system and leads to overhauls being planned on proper data evaluation of the machinery rather than on a fixed interval. 

Active equipment Denotes physical motion or activity in the performance of the equipment s function, as with rotating machinery. 

Pumps, compressors, turbines, drivers, and auxiliary machinery should be designed to provide reliable, rugged performance. Pump selection and performance depend on the capacity required and tlie nature of Uie fluids involved. Remotely controlled power switches and shutoff valves are necessary to control fluid flow during an emergency. The inlets for air compressors should be strategically located to prevent the intake of hazardous materials. 

Even when the time comes to make a purchasing decision, an energy-efficient motor purchase is not a certainty. Sometimes an energy-efficient motor will be the economically efficient choice at other times, not. The capital investment decision is based on the cost in relation to performance, efficiency and reliability. Moreover, the decision depends on the application and the amount of time the motor is in operation. It can be the major component of a product (drill or mixer), or a minor component (computer disk drive) it can be the major component cost of a product (fan), or it can be a minor component cost (stereo tape deck) it can run almost constantly (fan, pump, and machinery), or only a few minutes a day (vacuums and power tools). For example, contractors purchase circular saws almost solely based on performance and reliability. Time is money, and since the saw is operating only a few minutes a day and the contractor is often not responsible for the electricity costs to run the motor, energy efficiency is not a consideration performance and reliability are what matter most. On the other hand, an industrial user, who runs huge electric motors twenty-four hours a day to work pumps, machinery, and ventilation equipment, is very concerned tvitli energy efficiency as well as performance and reliability. 

Figure 13-1E. A computer facility performs dynamic simulation and analysis of reciprocating compressor installations such as this two-cylinder compressor. Interactive pulsation and mechanical analysis ensures trouble-free operation. (Used by permission Southern Gas Association s Gas Machinery Research Council.)...

The baseline data set must be updated each time the machine is repaired, rebuilt, or when major maintenance is performed. Even when best practices are used, machinery cannot be restored to as-new condition when major maintenance is performed. Therefore, a new baseline or reference data set must be established following these events. 

Knowing the serial number allows detailed information on a machine or component to be obtained. This is possible because machinery manufacturers must maintain records for their products. These records, which are usually identified by serial number, contain complete design and performance data for that specific unit. For example, it is possible to obtain a performance curve or complete bill of materials for each pump found in a plant. 

Soft-foot is the condition when all four of a machine s feet do not support the weight of the machine. It is important to determine if this condition is present prior to performing shaft alignment on a piece of machinery. Not correcting soft-foot prior to alignment is a major cause of frustration and lost time during the aligning procedure. 

A hot alignment check is performed exactly like an ambient alignment check with the added safety precautions required for hot machinery. The accuracy of a hot alignment check depends on how soon after shutdown dial indicator readings can be taken. Readings may be taken within a few minutes with the use of shaft-mounted brackets that span a flexible coupling. To speed up the process, assemble the brackets to the fullest extent possible prior to shutdown so that they need only be bolted to the shafts once the machine stops rotating. 

---