As industrial systems become more automated, the diagnostics have not kept up.
Most industrial plants rely primarily on reactive maintenance, visual inspection and scheduled tools for system servicing.
But did you know that…
It’s a fact that most of the time, machines will actually have internal failure long before there are any external indications of failure.
Let’s look at a few examples of hidden problems that can be diagnosed using acoustic signature analysis or the professional technique in which all traditional methods will fail to diagnose:
- MICRO-PITTING OF INTERNAL BEARINGS
Acoustic patterns of sound frequency that are uniquely produced by a bearing’s motion and not due to rotational velocity or load usually precede increases in vibration. Therefore, if acoustic patterns are detected early, you can avoid the following:
Damage to rotors
Wear to shafts
Imbalance events
2.** PUMP CAVITATION**
Before pressure indicators even show signs of cavitation, cavitation will produce sound waves. Using an Acoustic Diagnostic Test, we can identify the following:
Bubble collapse (the action that creates cavitation)
Flow disruption (the result of cavitation)
Impending pump failure
- STRUCTURAL FATIGUE IN HIGH LOAD COMPONENTS
Cracks create bursts of acoustic energy. An Acoustic Diagnostic Test will assist you in detecting:
Stress concentrations
Crack propagation
Yield surface changes
Where Does Acoustic Signature Analysis Matter?
According to Acoustic Testing Pro, some of the top industries that benefit from using acoustics include:
o Oil & gas pipeline systems
o Rotating machinery
o Heavy construction equipment
o Food/chemical processing plants
o Power generation turbines
With factories requiring maximum uptime, acoustic diagnostics are crucial to ensure predictive maintenance, prevent failure, and provide operational intelligence.
When we hear a machine before it fails …
We can then avoid that failure before it occurs.
Top comments (0)