Method and apparatus for automatic abnormal events monitor in operating plants
First Claim
1. In an operating plant having significant background noise in time dependent fluctuating signals derived from sensors placed at selected points for continually monitoring the operating conditions of system components, a method for scanning in real-time separate signal conditioning channels, one for each of said signals, to find potential malfunctions, draw conclusions as to their severity and indicating to an operator what action to take comprising the steps of:
- selecting each channel in sequence for spectral analysis;
processing the signal of each channel selected to produce power spectral density data at predetermined frequencies over a predetermined frequency range as a simple Fourier transform;
comparing said power spectral density data of each channel with predetermined sets of frequency dependent limits, each set consisting of at least two limits, one for a condition requiring caution, and another for an alarm condition requiring more direct action by the operator; and
indicating to the operator the condition of plant components associated with each channel and the action to be taken as a function of which set of limits and which limit of the set is exceeded by said power spectral data.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for automatically monitoring dynamic signals, such as from vibration sensors, in an operating industrial or other plant to identify abnormal events, draw conclusions as to their severity, and indicate action to be taken, utilizing a computer to control the scanning of one or two sensor channels at a time through a matrix of analog switches, and to process one or two channel signals through a signal processor for power spectral density (PSD) analysis (two channel signals for cross PSD analysis). The computer compares spectra with predetermined sets of frequency dependent limits and indicates the abnormal condition of apparatus in the plant associated with the spectra as a function of which set of limits is exceeded. The computer also indicates from a stored table the action to be taken for the abnormal condition found.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. In an operating plant having significant background noise in time dependent fluctuating signals derived from sensors placed at selected points for continually monitoring the operating conditions of system components, a method for scanning in real-time separate signal conditioning channels, one for each of said signals, to find potential malfunctions, draw conclusions as to their severity and indicating to an operator what action to take comprising the steps of:
-
selecting each channel in sequence for spectral analysis; processing the signal of each channel selected to produce power spectral density data at predetermined frequencies over a predetermined frequency range as a simple Fourier transform; comparing said power spectral density data of each channel with predetermined sets of frequency dependent limits, each set consisting of at least two limits, one for a condition requiring caution, and another for an alarm condition requiring more direct action by the operator; and indicating to the operator the condition of plant components associated with each channel and the action to be taken as a function of which set of limits and which limit of the set is exceeded by said power spectral data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. In an operating plant having significant background noise in time dependent fluctuating signals derived from sensors placed at selected points for continually monitoring the operating conditions of system components, apparatus for scanning in real-time separate signal conditioning channels, one for each of said signals, to find potential malfunctions, draw conclusions as to their severity and indicating to an operator what action to take comprising a computer and including:
-
computer controlled means for automatically selecting each channel in sequence for power spectrum density analysis; computer controlled means for automatically processing the signal of each channel selected to produce power spectral data at predetermined frequencies over a predetermined frequency range as a simple Fourier transform; means within said computer for automatically comparing said power spectral density data of each channel with predetermined sets of frequency dependent limits, each set consisting of at least two limits, one for a condition requiring caution, and another for an alarm condition requiring more direct action by the operator; and computer controlled means for automatically indicating to the operator the condition of plant components associated with each channel and the action to be taken as a function of which set of limits and which limit of the set is exceeded by said power spectral density data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification