Radar-Based Sensors - A New Technology For Real-Time, Direct Temperature Monitoring Of Crank And Crosshead Bearings Of Diesels And Hazardous Media Reciprocating Compressors.

Abstract

Surveys aiming to isolate the main causes of severe damage of large machines such as reciprocating compressors and diesel engines clearly indicate the need for a reliable method to perform real-time monitoring of the crosshead, crank pin/big end bearing temperatures. The main objective for installing such a system is to reduce the risk of high cost damage and, thus, increase the overall operational level of safety. However, both the hostile environment inside such large machines and the need for a highly flexible system that easily can be installed and adjusted to different mechanical tolerances have kept exiting solutions form being reliable methods of temperature monitoring on these rotating and orbiting bearings. As an introduction to the main topic of the paper, some selected information on engine damage and causes for such failures - in particular, damage following a detected crosshead and/or crank pin bearing failure situation - have been reviewed. Both indirect and direct methods of bearing temperature measurement are discussed. The main section of the paper describe the applied technical solution for real-time temperature monitoring. The principle of the applied radar technology is presented followed by installation examples and drawings. These are results from both test and permanent installations (refer to “ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS” at end of paper). The paper ends with a summary of the major issues discussed and the implications that have been achieved in terms of increased operation safety of large reciprocating machines.