At any power plant, the steam or gas turbine is not only critical with regard to production, but it is also the most expensive individual rotating machine. When the turbine condition is known, operators are able to predict its service needs and add efficiency to its maintenance. Repairs can be scheduled to take place during the next planned service shutdown so they cause no extra production downtime. Being predictive also brings cost savings as the needed spares, tools and resources can be reserved. In case of sudden equipment failure, getting all organised at a short notice can be challenging and the process will be down the whole time.
Adding turbine controller vibration monitoring and protection features
Traditionally, power plant automation has been composed of separate islands, whose systems and applications often come from different suppliers. Turbine availability and safety can be improved significantly when the turbine controller, mechanical protection and vibration monitoring are implemented as part of the automation system that controls the whole power plant process.
Metso has integrated its renewed turbine controller, turbine mechanical protection and turbine vibration diagnostics into the Metso DNA automation system where they operate seamlessly together. In addition to the more advanced turbine controller, mechanical and vibration measurements are also part of the automation results automation system. In this way, Metso’s strong condition monitoring know-how is fully utilised.
Integrated condition monitoring improves turbine generator diagnostics and removes the need for a separate condition monitoring system. The measurement results can be used for turbine protection and for everyday online condition monitoring as well as for more demanding diagnostics purposes.
Vibration based condition monitoring helps predictive maintenance
Machine protection monitors the most critical turbine parameters and activates interlockings to prevent machine failure. Vibration-based condition monitoring can be expanded to a more comprehensive diagnostics tool for predictive maintenance. It enables the plant to follow up the turbine condition online, gather diagnostics data from it and notice creeping faults before they have time to develop into problems.
Metso’s new solution for mechanical condition monitoring, Metso DNA Machine Monitoring, makes it possible to implement vibration measurements and analyses as part of the automation system. The operators and maintenance staff are able to monitor the machine condition data based on vibration measurements directly on the control system user interface at their own workstations. One common view of the machine condition data enables them to solve issues related to the condition of mechanical equipment together, fast and efficiently. The operators can follow how mechanical failure develops and, if there is a serious risk of damage, forward the information quickly to the maintenance staff. The maintenance staff gets the same information at their own workstations on the same displays and is able to analyse the vibration measurements in more detail to find out the cause for the disturbances and to plan remedial actions. Using the same data on the same display pages also improves cooperation and communication between the maintenance and operations staff.
Information directly to the maintenance system
The information produced by the condition monitoring applications can be better utilised when there are information transfer solutions between the automation system and the maintenance information system. For example, a fault notification entered in the electric shift diary, Metso DNA Report Diary, can be transferred to the maintenance information system just by pushing a button. Linking boosts the maintenance process and the flow of information in the organisation.
Condition monitoring services support predictive maintenance
Metso provides power plants with a wide range of services that support the staff in maintenance operations. There are support services for control loop tuning, field device monitoring and analysing vibration measurements of mechanical devices. If needed, the services can also include regular condition monitoring reports, which the customer can use directly in maintenance planning.
The vibration-based condition monitoring products and services offer an excellent way to improve process availability and boost maintenance at a power plant. Implementing condition monitoring as part of the automation system creates new opportunities for the cooperation between the operators and the maintenance staff. It is also a cost-efficient way to build and maintain condition monitoring system solutions.
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