Advanced Diagnostics

Advanced Diagnostics is a broad term used by Acuren Reliability Engineering Services to define a series of tests, including visual assessments, vibration, linear displacement, dynamic pressure, and process data to obtain a baseline or ‘as is’ dynamic assessment of an asset.   It is completed by a team of Reliability Engineers and Technologists who have been doing this type of work since the early 1990s. We service clients all across North America. It is typically used when a client has 1 of 2 circumstances:

• A repeat or ongoing issue is present with an asset where internal resources/traditional methods have been unable to properly address or correct the route problem (band-aids have been applied but are not sufficient).
• A client is looking to increase/change its process and any dynamic limitations/issues need to be addressed to avoid unforeseen costs or obstacles.

How can the Acuren Reliability Engineering Services team help me?

Advanced diagnostics is a broad approach and looks at an entire system and not the single component that is exhibiting symptoms/issues. It identifies the cause or cause(s) and not just the indications.  Our Reliability Engineers and Technologists identify long term reliability/runability issues that may not be on the radar otherwise. We can give projected data for what potential issues/concerns will be at increased speed/different operating parameters than in the current state. We can give the client a prioritized action list, which includes several options to correct, where possible (timeline, investment, lifespan, etc) with most corrections designed using Acuren Reliability Engineering Services and implemented as a joint project with the client.

Advanced Diagnostics is a service offered by Acuren to customers that have equipment which is not functioning the way it is supposed to and you have no idea why.  You want to make sure you fix the right thing, first.  You want to ensure you have maximum return on investment.  You want the most accurate diagnosis possible in order to ensure the capital or resources assigned to fix the issues related to improperly functioning equipment is focused on the actual root cause and not just the aggravating factors.  A series of tests, that help eliminate as many root causes as possible, are carried out in order to ensure financial and other resources are applied to the most likely cause of the non-conformance.

In our experience, customers are continually facing a lack of internal experienced reliability personnel due to resource constraints, or attrition. This makes it extremely difficult to do anything more than to react to issues as they arise. Our team can bring a proactive approach with the expertise and equipment needed to address root cause conditions so that issues don’t continually resurface.

Here are some of our areas of expertise:

Pulp & Paper

• Paper Machine Vibration – General
• Issues with runability at elevated machine speeds
• Sheet Breaks
• Repeat Bearing Failures
• Winder ‘whining’ and sheet breaks
• Paper quality and machine ‘beating’
• Forced Draft (FD) and Induced Draft (ID) Fan Vibration

Power Generation

• Generator vibration/bearing issues
• Forced Draft (FD) and Induced Draft (ID) Fan Vibration
• Support Structure Vibration

Oil and Gas

• Pipe movement/vibration
• Pipe strain concerns
• Pump/Motor repeated failure

Mining

• Fan Vibration
• Motor/Pump Base Failures
• Support Structure Vibration

Manufacturing

• Fan Vibration
• Repeat system failure
• Support Structure Vibration

A sample of the types of tests and evaluations include:

Vibration Analysis

• Transient Data
• Forced Response Testing (resonance)
• Peak Phase and Amplitude
• Gear Analysis
• Machine speed trials – Typically multiple channels of vibration are installed on a piece of equipment.  The vibration signatures are monitored over period of time as the machine is operated throughout its speed range.  Analysis of these signatures can provide details on machine operating speeds and conditions that could potential induce a vibration problem.
• Modal Analysis – Impact testing can be used in conjunction with machine speed trials to determine areas of resonance which can in turn increase vibration amplitudes to damaging levels.  Analysis of this data can also provide insight into methods to either stiffen or dampen the system to reduce vibration amplitudes and increase machine reliability.
• Operating Deflection Shape Analysis – Data acquired during normal operation can be applied to a computer model to provide a visual representation of how a machine is vibrating.

Process Data

• Machine speed(s)
• Temperatures
• Chemistry
• Pressure, etc

Others

• Dynamic and Static pressure
• Shaft torque
• Strain
• Linear Displacement (LVDT)
• Visual Structural Assessment
• Historical Data/Design Review
• Impact testing (load cells)
• Infrared
• Airborne Ultrasound
• GasFind

To connect directly with our reliability engineering team, please contact us at reliabilityservices@acuren.com or 1-800-218-7450.