Equipment in the field, such as mining and construction, is subject to a variety of conditions, from rain to damaging winds; however, dust is another factor that can prove to be much more damaging than people think.
Limiting airflow
In the case of dust accumulation, surprisingly, airflow is one of the main problems. As filters and ventilation systems collect dust, airflow is reduced, which can cause overheating and malfunction or premature breakdown of the equipment. When you think about how many electrical systems and mechanical components require constant air movement, you can imagine the many risks of breakdown for each individual machine.
Preventing unplanned downtime and avoiding unnecessary replacement costs may be possible with predictive maintenance, such as changing air filters and cleaning exhaust and cooling air inlet ducts. Regularly scheduled inspections and maintenance are also a good practice, but the use of a more strategic maintenance program is far better.
The equipment temperature monitoring system notifies harmful changes in temperature and provides analytical information to identify temperature trends and target them as needed, reducing unnecessary maintenance routines.
Dust and water presence: the dynamic duo for downtime
Even when a piece of equipment is not directly affected by water, moisture is still present in the air and will be absorbed by dust, which causes it to adhere to surfaces.
When dust manages to enter the crevices and hidden corners of the equipment, as well as the cooling fans, the absorbed water corrodes components and internal circuitry, causing many problems that are difficult to diagnose. Dust and water can also cause:
– Inefficient operation and breakdowns
– Inaccurate or distorted readings of monitoring processes
– Loss of structural integrity due to corrosion
Just as with temperature, an advanced condition monitoring solution provides maintenance managers with analytical information to identify a steady or sudden increase in humidity that promotes dust/water accumulation within components.
Good news
Predictive maintenance does not require a specialist. Once the right solution is adopted, managers and maintenance staff can easily employ a condition monitoring strategy that reduces downtime and minimizes unnecessary maintenance costs. The Internet of Things (IoT) has further simplified this task by creating support for Internet-based solutions that track large amounts of data with ease.
Parker successfully launched this solution: the SensoNODE™ Blue sensors and Voice of the Machine™ mobile device software. When used in series, SensoNODE sensors track the temperature, pressure, vibration and humidity of a resource, and transmit the data via wireless technology to the Voice of the Machine mobile app. This provides users with real-time and historical trend information and easy-to-understand analyses of the condition of their resources that enable them to address problems caused by dust before they become severe.
For more information on condition monitoring click here.
This article was written with input from Westin Siemsglusz, IoT market sales manager, Parker Hannifin.
More information on condition monitoring:
Effective Predictive Maintenance of Rotary Machines
Effective Predictive Maintenance of Rotary Machines
Wireless Transmission of Performance Data Extends Equipment Life
Improve Solar Panel Maintenance and Condition Monitoring Efficiency
Streamline Your Condition Monitoring Process
IIoT Drives New Opportunities in Condition Monitoring
Equipment in the field, such as mining and construction, is subject to a variety of conditions, from rain to damaging winds; however, dust is another factor that can prove to be much more damaging than people think.
Limiting airflow
In the case of dust accumulation, surprisingly, airflow is one of the main problems. As filters and ventilation systems collect dust, airflow is reduced, which can cause overheating and malfunction or premature breakdown of the equipment. When you think about how many electrical systems and mechanical components require constant air movement, you can imagine the many risks of breakdown for each individual machine.
Preventing unexpected downtime and avoiding unnecessary replacement costs can be possible with predictive maintenance, such as changing air filters and cleaning exhaust and cooling air inlet ducts. Regularly scheduled inspections and maintenance are also a good practice, but the use of a more strategic maintenance program is far better.
The equipment temperature monitoring system notifies harmful changes in temperature and provides analytical information to identify temperature trends and target them as needed, reducing unnecessary maintenance routines.
Dust and water presence: the dynamic duo for downtime
Even when a piece of equipment is not directly affected by water, moisture is still present in the air and will be absorbed by dust, which causes it to adhere to surfaces.
When dust manages to enter the crevices and hidden corners of the equipment, as well as the cooling fans, the absorbed water corrodes components and internal circuitry, causing many problems that are difficult to diagnose. Dust and water can also cause:
– Inefficient operation and breakdowns
– Inaccurate or distorted readings of monitoring processes
– Loss of structural integrity due to corrosion
Just as with temperature, an advanced condition monitoring solution provides maintenance managers with analytical information to identify a steady or sudden increase in humidity that promotes dust/water accumulation within components.
Good news
Predictive maintenance does not require a specialist. Once the right solution is adopted, managers and maintenance staff can easily employ a condition monitoring strategy that reduces downtime and minimizes unnecessary maintenance costs. The Internet of Things (IoT) has further simplified this task by creating support for Internet-based solutions that track large amounts of data with ease.
Parker successfully launched this solution: the SensoNODE™ Blue sensors and Voice of the Machine™ mobile device software. When used in series, SensoNODE sensors track the temperature, pressure, vibration and humidity of a resource, and transmit the data via wireless technology to the Voice of the Machine mobile app. This provides users with real-time and historical trend information and easy-to-understand analyses of the condition of their resources that enable them to address problems caused by dust before they become severe.
For more information on condition monitoring click here.
This article was written with input from Westin Siemsglusz, IoT market sales manager, Parker Hannifin.
More information on condition monitoring:
Effective Predictive Maintenance of Rotary Machines
Effective Predictive Maintenance of Rotary Machines
Wireless Transmission of Performance Data Extends Equipment Life
Improve Solar Panel Maintenance and Condition Monitoring Efficiency
Streamline Your Condition Monitoring Process
IIoT Drives New Opportunities in Condition Monitoring
Parker Hannifin | Parker Hannifin