Vibration program

Most vibration programs that use microprocessor-based analyzers are limited to steady-state data. Steady-state vibration data assumes the machine-train or process system operates in a constant, or steady-state, condition. In other words, the machine is free of dynamic variables such as load, flow, etc. This approach further assumes that all vibration frequencies are repeatable and maintain a constant relationship to the rotating speed of the machine s shaft. 

Important mechanical integrity concerns, such as the manufacturers recommendations and lubrication programs, need very specific treatment depending upon the equipment and the service. Although this subject is beyond the scope of this chapter and will not be addressed, we will examine an in-house vibration program and briefly review the use of thermography. 

Verifying the quality of a machine overhaul. The vibration program can provide assurances that the rotating equipment has been repaired correctly and that there are no residual problems. 

The Vibration Inspectors at PPG-Lake Charles collect data on 27,000 data points from 2,100 equipment sets. The vast amount of data requires a Pentium computer with a 2-gigabyte hard disk to manage it. R. W. LeBlanc described the benefits of a proactive vibration program by citing a number of case histories (1985). His list of success stories [10] of a vibration surveillance and analysis includes ... 

---