Monitoring equipment operation

The use of appropriate instruments to monitor equipment operation and relevant process variables will detect, and provide warning of, undesirable excursions. Otherwise tliese can result in equipment failure or escape of chemicals, e.g. due to atmospheric venting, leakage or spillage. Instruments may facilitate automatic control, emergency action such as coolant or pressure relief or emergency shutdown, or the operation of water deluge systems. 

This system is put into use in a certain mine north wing of central substation and a central pump house, and achieved good effect and economic benefit of society. Practice shows that the system design is reasonable, stable and reliable operation, and the operation is simple and convenient. The system is able to achieve accurate monitoring, equipment operation data, provide the basis. 

If time and circumstances permit, data should be recorded when the compressor is run on process gas to establish a new base reference point. During operation, all monitoring equipment should be observed to establish a signature of vibration and temperature, and to be sure these data are all within permissible limits. 

Where process capability relies upon the competence of personnel, personnel operating such processes need to be appropriately educated and trained and undergo examination of their competency. Where there is less reliance on personnel but more on the consistency of materials, environment, and processing equipment, operations should be monitored continuously by inspection, observation, or other techniques. 

Monitoring the operating cycle and, where appropriate, seasonal shutdowns of plant, equipment (e.g. production process, 24-hour duty, etc.). 

However, the developments of microprocessor or computer-based instrumentation that can be used to monitor the operating condition of plant equipment, machinery and systems have provided the means to manage the maintenance operation. They have provided the means to reduce or eliminate unnecessary repairs, prevent catastrophic machine failures, and reduce the negative impact of the maintenance operation on the profitability of manufacturing and production plants. 

The labor-intensive part of predictive maintenance management is complete. A viable program has been established, the database is complete and you have begun to monitor the operating condition of your critical plant equipment. Now what ... 

The first method required to monitor the operating condition of plant equipment is to trend the relative condition over time. Most of the microprocessor-based systems will provide the means of automatically storing and recalling vibration and process parameters trend data for analysis or hard copies for reports. They will also automatically prepare and print numerous reports that quantify the operating condition at a specific point in time. A few will automatically print trend reports that quantify the change over a selected time frame. All of this is great, but what does it mean ... 

Procedures should be established to periodically monitor all operations that may have an environmental impact, and similar scheduled periodic checks should be made to ensure that procedures and operations are still in line with regulatory and other requirements. If equipment is involved in the monitoring process then procedures should also be in place to ensure correct calibration. Procedures are also needed to record any preventative or corrective actions identified and to ensure that they are completed to schedule. The whole EMS should be audited periodically to check that it is consistent with the planned policy and has been properly implemented. The details of audits should be discussed and reviewed by management at the highest level with a view to continuous improvement through the modification of both policy and procedures. 

Monitoring, See also Analytical techniques atmosphere, 144, 145, 314, 320 biological, 114, 115, 145, 393 environmental pollution, 535, 541 equipment operation, 135 flammable gases, 319 gases and vapours, 308 health (surveillance), 145, 146... 

Building 5—A motor control center (MCC) constructed of unreinforced masonry. An electrician spends 1 hour a day monitoring equipment in the MCC. The MCC provides power for process equipment critical to the continued operation of the facility. Critical power for safety shutdown equipment for both Process Units 1 and 2 is located in Building 5. 

Automation and control of processing equipment by highly sophisticated computer control systems is becoming the standard at most hydrocarbon facilities. Automatic control provides for closer control of the process operating conditions and therefore increased efficiencies. Increased efficiencies allow higher production outputs. Automation is also thought to reduce operator manpower requirements. However other personnel are still needed to inspect and maintain the automatic controlling system. All process control systems should be monitored by operators and have the capability for backup control or override commands by human operators. 

Improvement Item LEL (lower explosive limit) and standard 02 levels monitored by ACHMT, indicating crash scene impact only. Chlorine could have been indicated with proper monitoring equipment. ACHMT was not effectively integrated into Haz-Mat operations. Decontamination areas were not monitored due to lack of Haz-Mat support at decontamination locations. 

For effective LNAPL recovery, the suction-lift pumping system requires routine monitoring and operation and maintenance of the equipment. Since the pumps have a minimum of moving parts, and control is accomplished by valving of the air supply, the maintenance of the equipment is minimal. 

Control of site equipment is always important for safety and operational concerns. Many sites are remote or not staffed on a daily basis. Remediation equipment should be fitted with failsafe systems to shut down the system in the event of failure, fire, or unusual conditions (such as injection well plugging). Alarm systems should be included, which may be as simple as illuminating a warning hght, or as complex as a teleconnection to a remote computer station or telephone alert to the operator s residence. Many commercial companies offer remote monitoring equipment. 

Portable fire water monitors and foam monitors give the fire suppression team the flexibility to set up the equipment in a location that provides maximum coverage of the water or foam spray with limited exposure to the fire personnel. Portable monitors can be set in place, with the stream on the equipment being protected, and fire personnel do not have to constantly monitor the operation. 

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