Senior Thesis - Condition Monitoring of Rotating Parts of Dredgers
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction Condition Monitoring is a technique of monitoring the operating characteristics of plants, equipment or systems in such a way that changes in the monitored characteristics can be used to predict the need for maintenance before a serious deterioration or breakdown occurs. It aims at detecting condition leading to catastrophic breakdown and loss of service, reducing maintenance overhauls, fine tuning of operating equipment, increasing production and operating efficiency, minimizing replacement parts, inventory. Condition Monitoring is very much essential for floating vessels like dredgers, where machinery like propulsion drive, dredge pump drive, jet pump drive etc. are subjected to high vibration levels during the process of dredging. The effective performance and the operational efficiency of a dredger depend upon the periodical maintenance of the dredging equipment and other components functioning in underwater and also the overboard fittings. The maintenance of a dredger and its dredging equipment is highly expensive. By deferring or neglecting the maintenance function, the dredging operations may lead to be ineffective and the breakdown costs become uncontrollable. In the present work, Condition Monitoring using vibration analysis has been taken up on two trailing suction hopper dredgers. These two dredgers differ in the power drive units for propulsion and dredging machinery. By implementing vibration monitoring to various key points of both the port and starboard sides on various systems like propeller shaft, propulsion gear box , engine shaft, shaft generator on propulsion drive; dredge pump shaft, dredge pump gear box, dredge pump motor shaft on dredge pump drive; jet pump shaft and jet pump motor shaft on jet pump drive; vibration parameters i.e. Root Mean Square (RMS) velocity and vibration echo levels are measured and probable faults are detected and suggestions to rectify the defects are made to improve the
1.1 Introduction Condition Monitoring is a technique of monitoring the operating characteristics of plants, equipment or systems in such a way that changes in the monitored characteristics can be used to predict the need for maintenance before a serious deterioration or breakdown occurs. It aims at detecting condition leading to catastrophic breakdown and loss of service, reducing maintenance overhauls, fine tuning of operating equipment, increasing production and operating efficiency, minimizing replacement parts, inventory. Condition Monitoring is very much essential for floating vessels like dredgers, where machinery like propulsion drive, dredge pump drive, jet pump drive etc. are subjected to high vibration levels during the process of dredging. The effective performance and the operational efficiency of a dredger depend upon the periodical maintenance of the dredging equipment and other components functioning in underwater and also the overboard fittings. The maintenance of a dredger and its dredging equipment is highly expensive. By deferring or neglecting the maintenance function, the dredging operations may lead to be ineffective and the breakdown costs become uncontrollable. In the present work, Condition Monitoring using vibration analysis has been taken up on two trailing suction hopper dredgers. These two dredgers differ in the power drive units for propulsion and dredging machinery. By implementing vibration monitoring to various key points of both the port and starboard sides on various systems like propeller shaft, propulsion gear box , engine shaft, shaft generator on propulsion drive; dredge pump shaft, dredge pump gear box, dredge pump motor shaft on dredge pump drive; jet pump shaft and jet pump motor shaft on jet pump drive; vibration parameters i.e. Root Mean Square (RMS) velocity and vibration echo levels are measured and probable faults are detected and suggestions to rectify the defects are made to improve the