June 13, 2005. A petroleum storage depot in Essex providing essential fuel supplies across East Anglia has had its condition monitoring system updated by Sensonics, who also retrofitted an improved vibration detection system.
When it was commissioned in 1991, the plant's main line pump and motor station was provided with just one channel of vibration on the pump allowing only limited fault detection capability.
With throughput on the pumps running at approximately 180m3/hour, any unforeseen breakdown whilst never representing a danger, could have resulted in a long shut down of the plant, a complete cut-off of fuel and a very expensive bill.
The station, situated on a hill top site is exposed and open to the elements and so Sensonics fitted four PZS3 type industrial accelerometers to replace the existing single channel system.
Sensonics PZS3 accelerometers are of dual case stainless steel construction and, being fully welded, are sealed to IP.66/IP.67. and provide durability and ease of installation, said Sensonics.
The instruments fitted were also ATEX approved intrinsically safe, suitable for use in hazardous conditions and Classified Zone 1 applications.
To provide optimum machine protection, one accelerometer was mounted on each end of the pump and on each end of the motor and they are complemented by the existing motor winding temperature measurements.
The latest shear-mode accelerometers with a broader frequency band than before, now operate on the site on a 24-hour basis, often in harsh environmental conditions.
Sensonics additionally installed an Aegis Modular Machine Condition Monitoring System in the site's control room.
That comprised of MO9601 single channel vibration modules, together with MO9605 single channel temperature modules, both fitted with A1 (Danger), A2 (Alert) alarms - the system also incorporated a M09699 display module.
All the Sensonics instruments are said to have a high reliability factor and contain no moving parts, which makes them virtually maintenance free, said the company.
