SKF condition monitoring system to boost reliability at biomass electricity plant
November 2019Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
As a global bearing and rotating technology specialist, SKF South Africa is committed to assisting companies to achieve their productivity goals whilst remaining environmentally friendly. The Multilog On-line System IMx-M was the perfect solution for condition monitoring at a biomass electricity plant in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.
The plant produces electricity using the waste generated by the neighbouring paper plant, which is used to fire the boilers to generate steam to drive a turbine capable of generating 25 MW.
SKF received a proposal request for a condition monitoring system with 4-20 mA outputs and proposed the sophisticated IMx-8 condition monitoring device. Lourens Zeelie, online condition monitoring specialist at SKF South Africa, explains that this device however does not feature the requested 4-20 mA outputs: “So we revisited our extensive IMx product range and determined that the IMx-M protection system, which features 4-20 mA output capabilities would be the ideal fit for the biomass electricity plant.”
The Multilog On-line System IMx-M is a protection system designed to react to any deviations to protect the equipment it is monitoring. Utilised in conjunction with SKF’s @ptitude Observer software, the Multilog IMx-M offers a comprehensive system for machinery shutdown initiation, early fault detection and diagnosis on machines and bearings.
Lourens points out that of the two IMx-M condition monitoring and protection modules, supplied as a pair, the biomass plant project only requires condition monitoring. The protection module will therefore initially not be utilised, but SKF will work with the customer post commissioning to look into the possibilities of incorporating protection capabilities.
The IMx-M will be used in the biomass plant to monitor the general condition of the equipment, for example, machine balance and alignment, as well as detailed bearing condition. Additionally, the IMx-M system will provide automated advice for correcting existing or impending conditions that can affect machine reliability, availability, efficiency and performance. This proactive approach offers users adequate planning time to arrange the necessary maintenance equipment, parts and labour.
Next-gen battery-driven grease gun SKF South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
SKF’s innovative TLGB 21 battery-driven grease gun optimises lubrication efficiency and reduces costs, by seamlessly combining advanced technology with a smart, rugged design.
Read more...WearCheck leads the way in condition monitoring Wearcheck
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Minimising maintenance costs of mining and power-generating machinery and maximising its operational efficiency – these goals form the foundation of the proactive/preventive maintenance services provided by the expert technicians at condition monitoring specialist, WearCheck.
Read more...Collect data three times faster SKF South Africa
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
SKF has extended its renowned Microlog Analyzer family of data collection devices with the addition of the Microlog Analyzer dBX. Currently SKF’s most powerful diagnostic tool, this cutting-edge device redefines diagnostic capabilities, enabling users to take measurements three times faster than its predecessor.
Read more...Cogged raw edge belts SKF South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
SKF’s cogged raw edge belts are ideally suited for essentially any industrial application that runs on ISO wedge and classical V-belt pulleys.
Read more...Navigating the cosmos with precision SKF South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
As the next-generation Very Large Array navigates towards its key science goals, SKF’s technology is playing a pivotal role in charting the stars. SKF is providing key components for the next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), a $2 billion telescope system that aims to peer deeper into the universe than ever before.
Read more...Taking reliability to the trenches SKF South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
SKF’s maintenance-free Y Bearing Unit has significantly extended equipment uptime for key customer Gibela, a leading level 5CE CIBD-rated civils company with more than ten years of experience in the field.
Read more...Adjustable chocks support extremely large telescope SKF South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
Adjustable chocks from SKF will play an important role in the world’s largest visible/near-infrared telescope, the ELT, which is currently under construction in Chile.
Read more...Cost-effective machine health monitoring SKF South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
The easy to use SKF QuickCollect Bluetooth-enabled, handheld sensor monitors the health of rotating machinery via mobile iOS and Android apps, identifies developing issues, and mitigates potential failures by enabling customers to initiate predictive maintenance.
Read more...Advancing sustainable electric vehicle technology SKF South Africa
News
SKF has announced a new strategic partnership with Duracar, an innovative company specialising in light electric vehicles. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in both companies’ commitment to sustainability and the advancement of environmentally friendly transportation solutions.