The use of a distributed vibration monitoring system for on-line mechanical fault diagnosis

Modern day paper making machines are high speed, high volume manufacturing units that incorporate advanced computer monitoring and control systems. New Thames Paper company manufactures high quality fine paper on a single machine. Emphasis has been placed on the importance of predictive maintenance within such continuous process industries. The company has installed condition monitoring which requires a measurement to be taken from a machine and used to indicate the current working condition of that machine. The system uses vibration analysis as a tool that can indicate faults at an early stage and thus reduce downtime. The authors outline the condition monitoring system installed at New Thames Mill and the reasons for its selection