Monitran has supplied Mersey Tunnels (in the United Kingdom) with a multichannel vibration monitoring system for measuring the vibration levels of the fan ventilation system in the tunnels acting as a preventative maintenance aid by providing them with data to plan when service and repair work can be carried out.
The Kingsway Tunnel has two 2,2 km long tubes which connect Liverpool to Wallasey, providing an important traffic route for both commuter and heavy goods vehicles. The latest tunnel is now 30 years old and with its four traffic lanes it links Liverpool with the Wirral, giving it fast access to the M53 motorway and the freight ferry terminal to Ireland.
In the tunnel are eight sets of ventilation systems with both extract and blow, four of the sets being on standby. Each system has large fans with blade diameters of up to 3,5 m. The level of carbon monoxide and smoke density are both monitored manually and at excessive levels the operator can change the fan speed or, in the event of fan failure, bring a standby fan online.
Each fan is driven through a Radicon gearbox, the bearings of which are monitored for vibration levels. When these levels become excessive, maintenance engineers can switch over to the four standby fans and move in to carry out service or repair work.
Because the fan systems are in robust casings, the components cannot be seen or accessed easily, which eliminates manual monitoring with a portable vibration meter. Mersey Tunnels overcame this by fitting a permanent Monitran vibration sensor at each point on the eight fan systems, giving continuous simultaneous vibration readings for the whole tunnel.
All of the sensor signals are cabled into the multichannel MTN 6000 vibration monitoring system housed in an industrial enclosure, which provides sensor excitation, signal conditioning, level indication and pre-set alarm level triggering via relay units.
Protecting buildings’ embodied carbon with retrofitted systems Schneider Electric South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
The World Economic Forum has said that around 80% of the buildings in existence will still be around in 2050; it is therefore essential that in order to combat climate change we retrofit them for energy efficiency.
Read more...Listening for damage to wind turbines
Sensors & Transducers
The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, working in concert with the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems, has developed a solution that can be used to identify cracks and breakage inside wind turbine blades remotely at an early stage.
Read more...Enhancing gold leaching efficiency Endress+Hauser South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
Endress+Hauser offers a range of advanced technologies designed to enhance the stability and accuracy of pH and dissolved oxygen measurements on gold processing plants.
Read more...Powering safer mining with PDS
Sensors & Transducers
With the mining industry under increasing pressure to prioritise safety without compromising productivity, Booyco Electronics is pushing the boundaries of Proximity Detection System and Collision Avoidance System technology across both underground and surface operations.
Read more...The car of the future listens
Sensors & Transducers
The perception of external sounds in cars has been lacking, even in automated driving. That is why Fraunhofer IDMT-HSA is researching the integration of acoustic sensor technology in its KI4BoardNet project with the Hearing Car.
Read more...Telco Sensors for blocked or empty chute detection
Sensors & Transducers
In most industries there is a problem with photoelectric sensors as highly contaminated environments make it difficult to operate and sense reliably. Telco Sensors overcomes this through its powerful high-performance infrared sensors that ensure penetration of harsh pollution to guarantee reliable detection.
Read more...High-performance LineScan camera
Sensors & Transducers
Lynred, a global leader in infrared imaging technologies, has launched its next-generation SWIR LineScan camera and sensor, specifically designed for the inspection of silicon wafers, solar panels and waste management.
Read more...Online monitoring solution optimises asset performance across SKF South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
SKF’s sales, service and management teams has joined forces to deliver an advanced, integrated online monitoring solution for a key customer in Tunisia, operating nine mines, five plants and eleven production lines.
Read more...OMRON launches new non-contact
Sensors & Transducers
OMRON has unveiled its latest innovation in non-contact safety door switches, the D40A-2, which is designed to enhance workplace safety and streamline machinery operations.
Read more...Vibration monitoring in three axes ifm - South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
Machine vibrations are important indicators when it comes to assessing the current condition of a machine. ifm’s new and smart IO-Link vibration sensor helps to implement a simple and scalable condition monitoring approach using but a single device.
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