Vibration monitoring

Vibration monitoring is the most reliable method of assessing the overall health, or changes in health, of a rotor system. It has in the past been used to avert some catastrophic failures. In order to benefit fully from a vibration monitoring system it is important to appreciate what vibration is, how it is measured, how vibration measurements are presented and what can be learned from each presentation format. Typical vibration characteristics of a generator rotor are described together with measurement techniques and transducers. Vibration data presentation in several typical formats are described showing how one format can complement another. International standards of evaluation used to determine the acceptability of vibration are presented. Finally, future trends in vibration monitoring are briefly discussed and the requirements for an automated system outlined