Did you know that most compressors built in the past 5 years use vibration sensors that give a 4-20 mA output, just like a pressure transducer? The vibration data can be harvested by any Scada system just like pressure and temperature data and can sometimes be very helpful. In mid-March, a rental compressor in North Dakota with Encline’s Phase Transition Control system began having cooling fan vibration shutdowns. These fans typically run intermittently, and at speeds from 6 to 30 Hertz depending on multiple temperature variables. Encline pulled the vibration data and observed excessive vibration in the 12 to 14.5 Hertz range with a peak at 13.5 Hertz (see below graph). A slight program change was remotely loaded into the Phase Transition Control PLC that caused the VFD to skip the 11 to 15 Hertz range, and the compressor has not had a vibration shutdown since. Further investigation of the fan bearings will be done once winter weather is finished, and personnel were able to attend to other matters. Would you like to see your Scada system collect this information and other compressor Key Performance Indicators? We have great references from operators (meaning lease operators) and rental compressor company mechanics. Let us put you in touch with them. IDEAS FOR OPERATORS FROM OPERATORS
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