October 2020Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Volatile global economic conditions and ever tougher regulation is making it increasingly difficult for pulp and paper producers to protect their operating margins. The situation is aggravated by rising energy and raw material costs, as well as the challenges of meeting health, safety and environmental legislation. As a result, mills are looking for methods of reducing operating costs, one of which is to minimise maintenance activities, while optimising plant availability and uptime.
Equipment malfunctions in pulp and paper mills can, in most instances, be traced back to poor maintenance. As with any other industry sector, preventing a problem is much more cost effective than fixing it afterwards.
Historically, processes were shut down on a routine basis for visual inspection of the machinery, whether or not an inspection was required. Shutdowns, even scheduled shutdowns, have become more and more expensive in today’s continuous processes. By installing vibration monitoring equipment, the running time between shutdowns can be extended.
Condition monitoring
The thinking around machine condition monitoring has changed over the years and it is now stated that vibration is the better measurement over temperature, since it gives an earlier warning and more information as the vibration signal contains many frequencies and many amplitudes, each pertaining to some moving part of the machine.
RC Sensors supplies a full range of vibration sensors to help meet the challenges of monitoring and maintaining a wide range of production machinery, including forming, pressing, drying and finishing systems.
The RC range of accelerometers or vibration transmitters are designed to suit the many different and challenging conditions found on pulp and paper production machines, with solutions for both online and offline monitoring and industrial accelerometers designed for use in the toughest environments, including hazardous areas.
In wet areas, the standard AC sensors (RC-100 series) fitted with integrated silicon cables that are sealed to IP68 provide a reliable and highly effective method of data monitoring. These sensors can be supplied in top or side entry and are fully submersible.
For the press and dryer sections the AC sensors are available with integrated 2-pin MS connectors, also with top or side entry options depending on the headroom. These accelerometers require a separate mating cable assembly, which can be supplied in different versions, including silicon that is flexible, easy to install in a conduit and, when fitted to the accelerometer, provides IP66 sealing.
Junction, switch and connection boxes are available in a range of different materials including stainless steel, painted mild steel and polycarbonate housings. These boxes are available with a number of different channels to suit different paper machine applications.
R&C; Instrumentation supplies and supports the RC range of vibration measurement products. These instruments are manufactured in Europe and conform to European standards as far as manufacture, quality and reliability are concerned. Apart from the standard range of RC vibration sensors, ATEX certified intrinsically safe units are also available, as well as a sensor with 4-20 mA vibration and 10 mV/°C temperature output. Portable instruments, raw data converters, and programmable vibration switches complete the range of RC products.
Infrared thermometers for electrical, industrial and HVAC applications Comtest
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
: Comtest, distributor of Fluke test and measurement equipment, explains how handheld infrared thermometers are transforming maintenance in electrical, industrial and HVAC environments, with three measurement strategies and a wide range of practical applications.
Read more...Reverse-engineering legacy industrial gearbox parts
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
WEG Africa’s turbine workshop uses 3D scanning technology to reverse-engineer components for legacy gearboxes, turbines and compressors, enabling equipment to run for decades after OEM support and spare parts have dried up.
Read more...Unlocking ICCP remote monitoring Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Cathodic protection keeps buried and submerged pipelines safe from corrosion, but verifying it traditionally means costly, hazardous manual site visits. Omniflex explains how a retrofit module brings remote monitoring to ageing transformer rectifiers without replacing functional infrastructure.
Read more...Microdieseling – the explosions you never hear
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Microdieseling is a pressure-induced thermal degradation mechanism in which entrained air bubbles are compressed so rapidly that the surrounding oil ignites, producing soot, varnish and sludge. WearCheck explains how it happens, why the damage varies, and how oil analysis detects it.
Read more...Electrostatic spark discharge – when static strikes back Wearcheck
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
WearCheck technical manager, Steven Lumley explains how static electricity accumulates in modern low-conductivity lubricants, why compact system designs and fine filtration make ESD more likely, and how to recognise the degradation it leaves behind.
Read more...High-speed cameras for crash testing Horne Technologies
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Vision Research has expanded its Phantom C-series with two cameras optimised for crash and safety testing, offering 4 and 8 megapixel sensors rated to 170G, up to 1180 frames per second, and Phantom Academy application training planned for South Africa next year.
Read more...SKF extends remanufacturing expertise to bearing clearance modification SKF South Africa
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Using its clearance modification expertise, SKF helped a mining equipment OEM salvage spherical roller bearing inventory that would otherwise have been scrapped, confirming a new capability within its remanufacturing services and avoiding redundant procurement.
Read more...When maintenance-system compliance starts replacing plant reliability Wearcheck
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
WearCheck ARC division manager, Annemie Willer argues that the greatest threat to effective maintenance is no longer a lack of technology, but the gradual replacement of technical judgement by CMMS compliance, leaving no one owning the machine.
Read more...Nitration: the acid you didn’t see coming Wearcheck
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Nitration is as destructive as oxidation in many engines but far less understood. WearCheck technical manager, Steven Lumley explains how nitrogen oxide gases degrade lubricants, why the process is difficult to detect, and what oil analysis can reveal before damage occurs.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version