One of the most commonly asked questions that come from those who deal with production plants concerns the increase in the maintenance value and quality, and the reduction of the costs relative to extraordinary maintenance interventions.
Programmed maintenance methodology that aims at preventing the most common malfunctions was introduced in the ’70s.
How can this 40-year old concept evolve today?
The answer is PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE that is the analysis of the emerging and possible malfunctions through instant or continuous measures.
There are four causes that, if monitored, can prevent from malfunctions in the long-term:
- Temperature
- Noise
- Vibrations
- Power quality
In the first case, temperature measures by the infrared technique (thermography) constitutes the most efficient tool in PREDICTIVE DIAGNOSIS. Over the last years, the technology coming from the military sector has made the thermal image cameras available also for cell phones users.
These high resolution instruments for industrial applications that we are talking about here, apart from their acceptable price, allow an efficient and instant control of the hydraulic lines (water, steam, diathermic oil, etc.) and of the electrical panels.
Any time the temperature differences are discontinuous or reach values that are above the allowed range, we face a malfunction, or in any case, a waste from the energy consumption point of view.
Other tools, such as a phonometer, an accelerometer and the power quality measuring tool allow to analyse the rise in malfunctions thoroughly, to the point that also the preventive maintenance is calibrated according to the problems observed in case of single machines.
by Michela Viganego
My name is Michele Viganego. The company I represent is a cooperative from Genoa (AMBIENTE LAVORO ENERGIA Scrl – cover story published in the January issue of Detergo magazine). I study and apply new technologies for industrial maintenance and energy saving. I have been working in this field for over 30 years. In the next Detergo magazine issues, I will be happy to answer all your questions that can be sent to Detergo magazine editorial staff: detergo@expodetergo.com
DETERGO MAGAZINE
MARCH 2017
