Monitoring service for third-party systems using continuous online spectral analysis

Condition monitoring systems for mechanical drives require a monitoring service. This service receives alarm and other notifications that indicate irregularities. Typically, notifications are first verified and then result in recommendations for action, which are forwarded to the maintenance department. The monitoring service also detects failures of individual sensors, the condition monitoring system itself, or the communication connection.

But what happens if you want to or have to switch monitoring service providers? With GfM’s in-house online condition monitoring system, this is quite simple. The plant operator or a third party simply needs to install the software, which is included with every system sold anyway. After entering some data for the communication connection, you can handle everything yourself.

However, GfM’s software can also be used with third-party systems—that is, systems not manufactured by GfM but which generate usable vibration data. Typically, a storage location is agreed upon where the third-party system saves the measurement data. The GfM software detects new data and begins the analysis automatically.

With the Peakanalyzer, GfM’s in-house online condition monitoring system, data acquisition is virtually continuous. With third-party systems, however, data acquisition is controlled by the respective third-party system. Everything else works the same way: spectra are generated and automatically scanned for patterns typical of damage. Only if such a pattern can be reliably detected is an alarm generated, which is then verified by a human operator in the monitoring service. Because the search for damage patterns in spectra is automated, the personnel effort required for monitoring remains manageable. On average, this takes less than eight hours per year with the Peakanalyzer, and slightly more with third-party systems. This service is offered at a correspondingly low cost.