Continuous predictive maintenance for critical risk management

Citation

(2006), "Continuous predictive maintenance for critical risk management", Sensor Review, Vol. 26 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2006.08726aad.002

Continuous predictive maintenance for critical risk management

Continuous predictive maintenance for critical risk management

Keywords: Image sensors

Temperature is one of the best indicators of a fault or malfunction in virtually all electrical or mechanical equipment. However, key electrical switchgear has proved very difficult to monitor, being inaccessible within metal enclosures. Over the last decade, the accepted preventative method of reducing the risk of key electrical switchgear failure has been periodic thermal imaging, but it is not the ideal solution.

Firstly, thermal imaging inspections are normally only periodic (typically once or twice per year), due to the high costs/time involved. Secondly, thermal imaging is carried out externally to the switchgear enclosure, thus only components immediately adjacent to the external panel can be inspected. Thermal “windows” improve the situation, but still require direct line of sight to the target.

The answer is to have a predictive system, actually inside, directly and continuously monitoring all key components.

ExerTherm is a unique system, based on patented, small, low cost, plastic bodied, non-contact, infrared sensors, which required no external power source, so allowing the sensor to be placed inside the enclosure, to continuously monitor any component, irrespective of location (Plate 2).

Because the non contact infrared sensors require no power (just like a normal contact thermocouple), they do not require an amplifier. As a result they have lifetime calibration. All other IR sensors require power, requiring panels to be opened regularly and sensors accessed for re-calibration.

Plate 2 The ExerTherm system is unique

ExerTherm sensors also have unsurpassed reliability, with over 1,000 year MTBF, and require no maintenance. Put all these features together, and it means a true “fit and forget” product.

Though originally designed to monitor electrical switchgear, virtually all key plant (anything which increases or decreases in heat as a symptom of fault or malfunction), can also be continually monitored.

Sensors are linked back via data acquisition cards to a PC or server, to provide on-going trend analysis, graphs and reports. Further protection is provided via two separate alarm levels per sensor (warning and alarm), which automatically activate in the event of pre-set temperature levels being exceeded.

Other key features of the ExerTherm system include: suitable for new, retro- fit/expansion, easy and inexpensive integration with over 400 BMS/bus protocols, available via LAN, WAN, internet, intranet, etc.

This new technology which provides the next significant step forward in reducing the risk of major failures in critical power or plant equipment, has already been successfully installed with many major blue chip organisations in, financial services, media, telecommunications, computer data centres, shipping, and large-scale manufacturing.

For more information, visit the web site: www.exertherm.com