What are the reasons for a compressor to stop operating due to a sudden increase in vibration levels?
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The compressor was operating stably, but remote monitoring revealed that the vibration level suddenly increased from 0.5 mm/s to 12 mm/s, triggering a sequential shutdown. However, when the equipment was started later, it operated normally, with no abnormalities in vibration levels or operating parameters. Upon investigation, no abnormal parameters were detected before the shutdown; employees who were about 5 meters away from the equipment at the time of shutdown also observed no abnormalities. I’m asking the experts on this forum – how should this be analyzed?
Each department checks the surveillance records separately. It’s impossible to have no abnormality records during operation; at the very least, there should be records of the vibration level changes. If not, this is a potential hazard.
This phenomenon can only be analyzed from the trend charts on the microcomputer. If the rise time is amplified and there is a sudden increase without any rising time, it indicates a problem with the instrumentation control, such as signal interference in the circuits or poor connections. If there is a change over time, it could be a mechanical issue with the rotor. If it starts up normally again, the likelihood of external signal interference is high. Are there any welding or similar construction work going on in the vicinity, which has resulted in the grounding wire being connected to the computer’s grounding wire? For reference only.
This compressor has only one remote real-time monitoring sensor； From the DCS display, there is no curve recording; only an alarm for excessive height is shown. The previous curves always showed a value of around 0.5. The DCS curve records a point every 5 seconds, so nothing is recorded on the curve. The shutdown occurred just after 1 a.m. at night; there were no construction activities in the vicinity, and only one operator was inspecting another piece of equipment. Upon checking the data of other operating curves, there are no records of sudden fluctuations in parameters such as the compressor’s inlet and outlet pressures, exhaust temperature, oil system pressure curves, and motor current.
This compressor has only one remote real-time monitoring sensor； From the DCS display, there is no curve recording; only an alarm for excessive height is shown. The previous curves always showed a value of around 0.5. The DCS curve records a point every 5 seconds, so nothing is recorded on the curve. The shutdown occurred just after 1 a.m. at night; there were no construction activities in the vicinity, and only one operator was inspecting another piece of equipment. Upon checking the data of other operating curves, there are no records of sudden fluctuations in parameters such as the compressor’s inlet and outlet pressures, exhaust temperature, oil system pressure curves, and motor current. No maintenance was performed; after restarting, it operated normally under no-load conditions. Since it was connected to the system during the day, it has been functioning properly ever since.
The issue is more likely to be related to instrumentation and control; our company has also encountered such problems at some vibration and temperature measurement points. But it’s not easy to find out the reason
Interference. Try to find the source of the interference
We conducted tests and found that the walkie-talkies do cause interference, but within a range of 0.5 meters, there is almost no impact beyond that distance； Therefore, there are requirements for the use of walkie-talkies. Also, when the machine was shut down that day, there were no people or walkie-talkies within a 5-meter radius.
It’s likely a false signal; there’s a problem with the instrumentation system. Check carefully to see if there are any loose connections or issues with the system’s components.