The purpose of condition monitoring is to maximize the lifetime profit of the plant by avoiding production losses and secondary damage incurred through the failure of vital parts, primarily the generator bearings, the gearbox, and the main bearings.
The SPM system is very sensitive and provides an early warning of a component’s deteriorating operating condition. This allows planned maintenance and replacements with the shortest possible downtime. Monitored parameters are shock pulses and vibration, the most reliable and specific condition indicators, at preset intervals. The system measures signal amplitudes, provides shock and vibration spectra, and, most importantly, individual values on specific fault symptoms showing the state of a bearing inner ring, a gearwheel, etc. The primary message that reaches the wind plant operator is an easy-to-understand condition value, coded green – good condition, yellow – alert, and red – bad condition, and a description of its most probable cause.
SPM provides reliable and easy-to-handle condition information, technically and economically adjusted to the requirements of each individual plant.
Generator
Recommended methods: SPM HD® and EVAM measurement of both shock pulses and vibrations.
Reason: Reduced bearing condition is the most common failure cause, together with misalignment.
Remark: Reliable, ample pre-warning time.
Gearbox
Recommended method: SPM HD® and EVAM
Reason: Coupling and gear-related problems on the high-speed side of the gearbox, shock pulse measurements for bearing condition on the slow rotating side of the gearbox.
Remark: Gearboxes are complex units requiring different measuring techniques to cover all faults. RPM is calculated from the rotor speed.
Main bearings
Recommended methods: SPM HD®, spectrum, and time signal analysis.
Reason: The proper method for slow-rotating bearings.
Remark: The RPM measurement is very important for slow-rotating parts.
