Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1412702
ML www.machinerylubrication.com | September - October 2021 | 27 tion monitoring tools: our eyes, nose, ears, and hands. Spending every single day in the plant, you become very in tune with the performance of the machinery via your senses. You know what it normally smells like, the temperature in the area, and the way the machines sound because you hear them every day. When something is out of whack, it should be fairly noticeable. As far as condition monitoring hardware goes, the facility needs to consider a few different factors when setting up hardware modifications We can start by asking ourselves: Is sampling being done currently, or is it going to start being sampled in the future? Not sampling and don't plan to? A 3D bullseye would work fine and is cheaper than a CMP and hub. Why wouldn't we invest in hardware that brings us closer to our ultimate reliability goal? Is the equipment considered a "throw and go" or run-to-failure piece of equipment? Most facilities have these small gearboxes; they are lubricated, and they have ports for hardware, but they are just going to be replaced. We aren't necessarily trying to extend the life of this gearbox through condition monitoring practices; it simply isn't worth the trouble and cost of installing hardware. Inspections Condition monitoring stripped to its core is trending data of in-depth inspections on the machinery and lubrication. Yes, there is vibration and thermography, among other things, but this is Machinery Lubrication magazine, so we are going to stick with the lubrication side of condition monitoring. As mentioned before, we need to first utilize our senses, so we approach the equipment and methodically inspect the entire train. Remember to take notes, pictures and always record the findings of the inspection. A large part of why we inspect is to trend data over time to track the performance of our machine. With this trending data, we can often predict machine failure before it happens, and we may even be able to prevent it from happening. is is also an excellent way to track the progress of the lubrication program as a whole. A key performance indicator on how well the plant is operating is often found in proactive condition monitoring practices like frequent, thorough inspections. What to look out for Just like an emergency situation, as you approach the scene, pay atten- tion to ambient conditions to ensure safety and absolute awareness. • Is it a hotter day than normal? is can cause an obvious spike in operating temperature. • Is it more humid? Humidity can have an adverse effect on desiccant breathers. • Is there any fluid on the deck, skid or ground? • Has the equipment been exposed to direct water recently, such as rain, nearby steam or spray? • Are there any differences in smell? Can you detect sulfur, mildew, fuel, etc.? • Are there any odd noises or excessive vibrations coming from the equipment? Next, let's take a look at the foundation and mounting hardware for the train. • Is the foundation cracked? Are there obvious signs that something is wrong? • Is the mounting hardware firmly in place, not showing threads or signs of backing out or breaking? Finally, we will inspect the condition of the lubricant and the condition monitoring hardware already on the equipment. I like to inspect from the bottom up, utilizing a good flashlight. • Check the BS&W bowl, purge the water if necessary. Make sure it isn't leaking from the threads. Check the purge valve for bending or any leaking or cracking. • If the equipment has a constant level oiler, make sure that it is ¾ full and the oil within is clean. • Next, we will look at the sight glass. If it is a 2D, write a work order to replace it with a 3D bullseye; this will make inspecting and monitoring much easier. • Check the sight glass for proper oil level and lubricant condition. • If it is a columnar level gauge with a tube back to the headspace or breather, check that the oil is at the proper operating level. • en inspect the vent tube for drying, cracking or saturation. If the oil is climbing the vent tube, then the machine isn't breathing properly and further troubleshooting needs to be done. Report immediately. • Check for lubricant contaminants such as particles, wear debris, shiny flakes, etc. • Check the lubricant color and characteristics. Is it milky, watery, foamy or discolored? ML ML