Sensonics - Machine Condition Monitoring Solutions for the Power Industry

For over thirty years Sensonics has played a leading role in the supply of turbine and auxiliary plant condition monitoring solutions. Focused on providing vibration, expansion and speed measurement / protection systems, we can offer a wide range of sensors and signal processing equipment to suit most applications.

With extensive R&D facilities in combination with an experienced site project team - Sensonics can provide turnkey solutions - specialising in turbine supervisory applications.

Licensed to manufacture intrinsically safe accelerometers and proximity probes, our ISO9001-2000 quality system complies with EN13980:2002 (ATEX) as well as IEC61508 for the supply of SIL rated equipment for high integrity protection applications.

PROTECTING CRITICAL ROTATING PLANT

The Sensonics API670 compliant Sentry range of equipment has been developed to provide a one-stop shop for all your measurement requirements. Designed to give maximum warning of impending machine failure without producing costly spurious alarms, the independent module microprocessor and power supply functionality provides flexibility with reliability. Voted channel arrangements can be configured to provide extremely robust solutions; for example pump and turbine overspeed protection. Sentry offers the following measurement modes.

• Absolute bearing vibration
• Shaft vibration / eccentricity
• Shaft position / thrust
• Case expansion (LVDT)
• Differential expansion (Mark-Space technique)
• Speed and phase marker
• Reverse rotation
• Rod drop
• Temperature
• Modbus communications module

VIBRATION SENSORS

The quality and depth of our piezo electric accelerometer range has been forged from an approach to design and development, which is application based. In addition to industry standard instruments, Sensonics can provide customized solutions or variations to existing products. Detailed below is a summary of the product highlights.

• Acceleration sensitivity options 10mV/g to 500mV/g
• Velocity sensitivity options 4mV to 50mV/mm/s
• Direct 4mA to 20mA velocity and acceleration outputs
• Broadband performance 0.4Hz to 11kHz
• Maximum operating tempearatures of 90°C, 140°C and 240°C
• Shock pulse response for low RPM applications
• Ex intrinsic safety across the range
• Top and side exit
• Various cable and connector options

We also offer a range of self-generating moving coil velocity vibration sensors specifically for turbine monitoring applications.

PROXIMITY PROBES

Our range of non-contact proximity probes offers both displacement and vibration measurements through eddy currents set up in the surface of the target material - shaft, collar, etc. Compliant with the API670 standard, the systems are supplied tuned to a fixed length consisting of probe (diameter determines range), extension cable (if required) and driver. Detailed below is a summary of the product highlights.

• Probe tip diameter options - 5mm to 50mm
• Measurement range options - 2mm to 25mm
• Sensitivity of up to 8mV/um
• Ex intrinsic safety across the range
• System lengths 2m, 5m, 9m and 14m as standard
• Linearity better than 1%
• Maximum operating temperature 180°C

LVDT SENSORS

For larger displacement measurements applicable to valve position feedback (governor systems), casing expansion or for pedestal movement the Linear Voltage Displacement Transducer (LVDT) plays an important role.

Sensonics offers a full range of LVDT devices with measurement ranges from 50mm to beyond 600mm. These devices offer frictionless movement and can be sprung loaded. Supplied with ball, rod or bearing ends.

MULTICHANNEL TRENDING

To provide cost-effective trending of vibration and other plant parameters we have introduced the SpyderNet eight-channel monitor. With an in-built webserver and TCP/IP Ethernet interface, the low integration and installation costs of this device are particularly attractive where offline regimes may be the only alternative.

You can connect to the network, access using standard web browser tools and capture 24/7 the vibration trends of critical plant.

INFRASTRUCTURE MONITORING

In addition to machine condition monitoring, we offer a range of infrastructure monitoring and protection systems specifically for nuclear installations. Solutions range from a single seismic triaxial switch through to multichannel voted alarm, event record and replay systems.