Periodic and Continuous Vibration Monitoring for Preventive/Predictive Maintenance of Rotating Machinery

The application of vibration monitoring as part of Preventive/Predictive Maintenance programs is discussed. Several alternative methods, including periodic and continuous monitoring techniques, are described. Emphasis is given to the importance of selecting vibration transducers with due regard for the specific machinery type. The equally important need to install monitoring systems which are cost effective and provide genuinely useful information for maintenance engineers and vibration analysts is also highlighted. It is argued that critical machinery should be monitored continuously, and in cases when more detailed investigation is required that high-quality Predictive Maintenance vibration analysis techniques be applied. The need is also emphasized for specialist interpretation of vibration data in order to identify specific machinery malfunctions, of which several examples are given.