MACHINERY LUBRICATION- INDIA NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2019 | Page 8

AS I SEE IT Tribology Data IIoT Condition Monitoring • Lube Data • Online Sensors • Portable Data Collectors • Inspection Data Other Condition Monitoring Data • Vibration • Acoustics • Thermography • Motor Current • Etc. Condition Control Condition Response obsolete, but it is a powerful enabler. Data and information can reach the internet in a variety of different ways that don’t involve imbedded sensors. This data can pass through modems or industrial gateways for analysis and storage. As mentioned previously, the response to this data can be autonomous (i.e., machine executed) and human executed. See Figure 6. The Dawn of IIoT-enabled Condition Control The foundational pieces of IIoT-enabled condition monitoring have been advancing rapidly for years. Recently, enough of the pieces have fallen into place Condition that working systems are beginning to Analysis show solid results. Many companies are Figure 6. The expanded condition control model shows the IIoT as the primary source of waiting as others are taking the lead. data. Condition Control Means Machine Agility Agility is fundamentally important. The ground is always shifting (figuratively), and the machine must be agile and shift in response. It’s like climate control. When it’s hot outside, the air conditioner responds. When it’s cold outside, the heater responds. Sustained machine reliability depends on agile responses to operating conditions and exposures to all things that present risk and impair reliability. Each machine is unique from the standpoint of what might be changing and how agility (human or machine induced) must respond. Below are some basic examples: What’s Changing Machine age (changing vibration, heat, acoustic emissions, displacement, alignment, balance, etc.) • • Oil age • • Filter age • • Climate, weather, seasons 6 | November - December 2019 | • • Duty cycle (load, pressure, speed, flow, etc.) • • Operator handling • • Exposures (heat, ingression, moisture, etc.) • • Oil level, leakage • • Grease charge • • Looseness What’s Adjusting to Change Bleed-in-feed rate of new oil introduction • • Oil flow rate • • Sump make-up rate • • Grease dosage rate and frequency • • Filter use (flow, performance, auxiliary filter, etc.) • • Oil temperature control • • Viscosity correction • • Additive replenishment • • Base oil replenishment • • Machine operation (derating, speed, load, cycle rate, pressure, flow, temperature, etc.) • • Maintenance requisitions • • Inspection requisitions www.machinerylubricationindia.com The full potential of IIoT-enabled condition control will evolve over the ensuing decades. While it is in its infancy when viewed in contrast to this full potential, some readers are young enough to see this potential transition to reality. Promising careers will exploit this potential, as will new and emerging companies. The field of machine reliability has an exciting, technology-rich future. It should be a great ride. ML About the Author Jim Fitch has a wealth of “in the trenches” experience in lubrication, oil analysis, tribology and machinery failure investigations. Over the past two decades, he has presented hundreds of courses on these subjects. Jim has also published more than 200 technical articles, papers and publications. He serves as a U.S. delegate to the ISO tribology and oil analysis working group. Since 2002, he has been the director and a board member of the International Council for Machinery Lubrication. He is the CEO and a co-founder of Noria Corporation. Contact Jim at [email protected].