Emerson Exchange 365

Activity

Avoiding Rotating Machinery Downtime with PeakVue Diagnostics

Jim Cahill

We all appreciate the diagnostics in our cars that provide early warning to get a problem fixed before a breakdown occurs. We’ve chronicled how rotating machinery diagnostics, such as PeakVue Analysis diagnostics , can provide early warning to avoid unplanned shutdowns. Emerson’s Jacob Swafford shared several PeakVue examples with me. A North American cogeneration power company was alerted to a high 2x peak with harmonics…
- 25 Aug 2015
Rotating Machinery Protection and API Standard 670

Jim Cahill

For those managing the reliability for large complexes such as refineries and petrochemical plants, protecting the rotating machinery that can number in the hundreds can be a daunting task. Recently a refinery manager asked Emerson’s Gary Hawkins about options for protecting their 400+ rotating machines and the application of the API Standard 670 [ $195 USD purchase price ] in this effort. Gary checked with Emerson…
- 20 Aug 2015
Saving Instrumentation Configuration and Commissioning Time

Jim Cahill

A human-centered design (HCD) approach means taking a close look at a task or set of tasks and seeing how the design can simplify and streamline it. As this HCD approach continues to unfold through the Emerson Process Management organization, products and technologies continue to take time out of tasks for process manufacturers and producers. A good example is the v13 release of the AMS Device Manager . A major improvement…
- 13 Aug 2015
Multi-parameter Condition Monitoring for Plant Asset Reliability

Jim Cahill

Across many process manufacturing and producing industries, falling prices are driving the need for increased efficiency and reliability, as well as reduced costs. While optimizing process control can yield gains, so can applying technology to the condition of the equipment involved in process operations. In a Control Engineering Asia article, Multi-parameter Condition Monitoring , Emerson’s Jonas Berge describes how…
- 11 Aug 2015
Demonstrating Laser Shaft Alignment in Action

Jim Cahill

Last week we highlighted a rotating machinery laser shaft alignment system. Here is Emerson’s Robert Skeirik in a series of YouTube videos that shows the components and how it works. The videos are designed for experts to show how to demonstrate the components. Since they also succinctly show how it how operates, I’ll highlight a few of the ones most beneficial for end users. CSI 2140 Alignment Solution (1:50) …
- 10 Aug 2015
Rotating Machinery Laser Shaft Alignment

Jim Cahill

Improving the reliability of your production assets requires a combination of people, processes and tools. For maintenance technician to diagnose issues during rounds portal machinery health analyzers play an important. We’ve shared how in posts such as Running Bump Test Helps Spot Machinery Resonance , Diagnostics to Detect Rotating Machinery Misalignment and Detecting and Analyzing Impact Energy on Rotating Equipment…
- 4 Aug 2015
Integrating Reliability Practices for Top-Quartile Performance

Jim Cahill

The reliability of your plant assets affects safety, unscheduled downtime, maintenance costs, quality and the overall efficiency of your operations. Solomon Associates in their Reliability and Maintenance Study quantify the significance of top quartile performance versus lower performers. In this 2:07 video, Achieving Top-Quartile Reliability Returns , Emerson’s Robert DiStefano describes some of the challenges process…
- 19 Jun 2015
Continuous Monitoring Recommendations in Pump Seal Global Standard

Jim Cahill

Last year around this time, the fourth edition of API Standard 682 – Pumps—Shaft Sealing Systems for Centrifugal and Rotary Pumps was released. This standard: …specifies requirements and gives recommendations for sealing systems for centrifugal and rotary pumps used in the petroleum, natural gas, and chemical industries. This standard has evolved alongside technology advancements since it was first introduced…
- 18 Jun 2015
Ways to Improve Pump Reliability

Jim Cahill

A U.S. Department of Energy study on pump life cycle costs notes that maintenance and energy costs make up the vast majority of lifecycle costs. Pumps that are critical to the operation of the process typically are installed with online condition-based monitoring (CBM) systems to help prevent failures and provide early warning to allow repairs to be made before slowdowns or shutdowns occur. In complex processes such as…
- 2 Jun 2015
Reliability Programs and the Cloud

Jim Cahill

The technology advancement of computer virtualization is having a tremendous impact on companies across the globe. And the consolidation of these servers into data centers “in the Cloud ” is fundamentally changing how IT, operations and maintenance organizations within these companies operate. In a Plant Services article, What impact is the cloud having on asset management and condition-based maintenance? , Emerson…
- 29 May 2015
Instrumenting for Increased Performance

Jim Cahill

Yesteryear, energy and water were relatively inexpensive, waste disposal carried little cost, emissions did not incur fines and people willing to work in harsh manufacturing plant and production facility environments were abundant. Today, energy and water costs are high, waste disposal is expensive, emission fines are high, and people with the right skills to work in these facilities are more difficult to find and keep…
- 21 May 2015
Improving Pump Reliability and Availability

Jim Cahill

Centrifugal and rotary pumps are used extensively in applications involving hydrocarbons. The American Petroleum Institute has an API Standard 682: Pumps—Shaft Sealing Systems for Centrifugal and Rotary Pumps . It: …specifies requirements and gives recommendations for sealing systems for centrifugal and rotary pumps used in the petroleum, natural gas, and chemical industries… It is the responsibility of the purchaser…
- 11 May 2015
Reliability–A Strategy for Power Generators

Jim Cahill

Author: Douglas Morris Where it is installed, renewable generation is altering the operating landscape for power producers. Wind and solar assets are typically placed into the power grid whenever they are available, but since they are intermittent, formerly base loaded power plants are cycled in order to balance the grid. Unfortunately, many plants were not designed to operate like this and the increased amount…
- 8 May 2015
Avoiding Cooling Tower Unplanned Downtime

Jim Cahill

Cooling tower technology used in many industrial processes dates its history back to the 19 th century : Cooling towers originated out of the development in the 19th century of condensers for use with the steam engine . [2] Condensers use relatively cool water, via various means, to condense the steam coming out of the pistons or turbines. This reduces the back pressure , which in turn reduces the steam consumption…
- 1 May 2015
Improving Reliability via Remote Vibration Analysis Expertise

Jim Cahill

If you look through the annual reports of major process manufacturers and producers you don’t have to look very hard to find the word “reliability”. For example, on page 3 of the 2014 ExxonMobil annual report , Chairman and CEO Rex W. Tillerson wrote: Operational Excellence Ensuring the safety and reliability of our operations is fundamental to our business success and a critical challenge that ExxonMobil takes on…
- 2 Apr 2015
Formula 1 Racing and Remote Reliability and Performance Monitoring

Jim Cahill

The post Formula 1 Racing and Remote Reliability and Performance Monitoring appeared first on the Emerson Process Experts blog. So how exactly does Formula 1 (F1) racing compare with process manufacturing and production? Mike Boudreaux Director, Remote Asset Monitoring and Analytics It’s an interesting question that Emerson’s Mike Boudreaux explores in an Uptime magazine article, Chasing the Checkered Flag . In both…
- 6 Mar 2015
Align Predictive Maintenance where Work is Managed

Jim Cahill

The post Align Predictive Maintenance where Work is Managed appeared first on the Emerson Process Experts blog. If you’re responsible for reliability in your process manufacturing or production operations, you may have seen the ARC Advisory Group’s report, Proactive Asset Management with IIoT and Analytics . I’ll highlight a few points from the article and from reliability experts around Emerson Process Management…
- 5 Feb 2015
Early Detection of Impending Pump Failures

Jim Cahill

The post Early Detection of Impending Pump Failures appeared first on the Emerson Process Experts blog. Even non-critical pumps in your process can cause spills, vapor clouds, fires and worse. Most of these failure incidents provide warning well in time to solve the problem—if feedback mechanisms are in place for your operators and maintenance personnel. Cranford Johnstone Sales Manager – Reliability Solutions In…
- 20 Jan 2015
Reliability Advancements over a Generation

Jim Cahill

The editors of Maintenance Technology magazine asked me to write a column on technology advancements to improve reliability for process manufacturers and producers. I was excited to be asked and given the opportunity to share some thoughts! Maintenance Technology magazine – September 2014 The article, Viewpoint: Reliability Advancements Over a Generation , highlights some of these advancements. I’ll quote a few thoughts…
- 6 Nov 2014
Reducing Equipment Failure through Asset Monitoring

Jim Cahill

Equipment failure is the leading cause of unplanned loss of production for most process manufacturers and producers. Critical equipment is typically continuously monitored but often other equipment has been too difficult or cost prohibitive to monitor. Here is short 1:42 video, Emerson Essential Asset Monitoring, Reliability Solutions , which highlights how this second-tier equipment, also known as essential assets…
- 23 Oct 2014
Reliability and Its Bottom Line Impact

Jim Cahill

Reliability of your production process equipment impacts the bottom line by maintenance costs, related carrying costs, energy usage, and additional uptime related to equipment performance. Making improvements in reliability require people, processes, tools, and organizational support to move beyond current maintenance practices. In a Pipeline magazine article, Bringing Greater Reliability (pp. 44-48), the editors…
- 23 Oct 2014
Find out the Best Reliability Program at the Emerson Exchange Conference

Jim Cahill

One of the things we highlighted in the lead up to last year’s Emerson Exchange conference in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, was the Reliability Program of the Year . The program spotlights process manufacturers and producers’ effective reliability programs. Emerson Process Management and the University of Tennessee Reliability & Maintainability Center will recognize leaders who best demonstrated effective use of…
- 13 Oct 2014
Innovative Uses and Proven Results with HART Digital Communications Protocol

Jim Cahill

You may have seen the recent news of the HART Communications Foundation and the Fieldbus Foundation merging to form the FieldComm Group. Ted Masters , President and CEO of the FieldComm Group noted: …the creation of FieldComm Group is an unprecedented...
- 23 Sep 2014
Time-Synchronized Digital Closed Loop Control

Jim Cahill

The October 6-10 Emerson Exchange conference in Orlando, Florida is rapidly approaching. If you have, but are not taking full advantage of some of the digital field devices in your facility and will be joining us at the conference, you may want this session...
- 22 Sep 2014
Answers for Heat Exchanger Fouling Questions

Jim Cahill

One only has to do a Twitter search on the hashtag #Reliability to see how often the topic is discussed from a process manufacturing and production standpoint. The reliability of plant assets affects overall production levels, quality, safety, environmental...
- 5 Sep 2014