Our website uses cookies. By continuing to browse our site you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy.
Back To Top
RELIABILITY

Making an Informed Decision About CBM Solutions

November 12, 2024
   BY DEREK PINTO, SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER, RELIABILITY

In the evolving landscape of Condition-Based Monitoring (CBM), selecting the right vibration monitoring solution is crucial for achieving optimal maintenance and operational efficiency. Emerson’s AMS Wireless Vibration Monitors are well-regarded in the industry, but how do they stack up against the competition? In this article, we will delve into the key features of the Emerson solution and provide a comparative summary of alternative options.

AMS Wireless Vibration Monitors: Key Features

High Sensitivity and Accuracy: Emerson’s monitors are equipped with advanced sensors that provide high-resolution vibration measurements, which are essential for detecting subtle changes in equipment health. The 20K Hz FMAX sensor can detect faults like microscopic stress cracks in bearings within a 6-month horizon. That’s half a year that you and your maintenance and operations team will have to plan a safe and cost-effective response to known and inevitable functional failures.

PeakVue™ Plus: Emerson’s patented prescriptive analytics focus on providing machine health insights primarily for the two most common failure modes of rotating assets—lubrication and bearing defects. These two failures comprise roughly 80% of all rotating asset failures. That’s detailed insight and detection horizons on 4 out of 5 of your asset failures.

User-Friendly Interface: The AMS Machine Works software provides an intuitive user interface for analyzing vibration data, generating reports, and setting up alerts. Even without having a background in vibration analysis, machine health insights can be easily determined through the simplistic graphs and trending visualizations provided.

Robust Wireless Technology: Emerson’s wireless technology ensures reliable data transmission even in challenging environments. The system supports long-range communication and can handle multiple data points simultaneously. Furthermore, these wireless vibration monitors utilize a mesh network—that is to say, each sensor is also a repeater. If an asset does not have a direct line of sight back to the gateway, it can bounce the data from one sensor to another that does.

Scalability: Designed to scale with the needs of your organization, Emerson’s monitors can be deployed across any asset with rotating components at the site level and can be reviewed at the enterprise level within the same dashboard.

Hazardous Ratings: With a Class 1, Div 1 rating, Emerson’s monitors can be installed and operated in almost any hazardous environment, keeping you and your team safe from spending unnecessary time maintaining assets in less-than-safe conditions.

Battery Life: Using a replaceable, non-proprietary battery, you can expect each sensor to last between 3-5 years before replacements are required, depending on the data collection interval set on each sensor.

Comparative Summary

Data Accuracy and Sensitivity:
Emerson’s AMS Wireless Vibration Monitors are known for their high sensitivity and accuracy, essential for detailed fault detection. The next best alternative options are known to have an FMAX of 10K, or half of the detection horizon capacity Emerson can provide.

Cost and Value: While some alternative options may prove to be more cost effective on the surface, you may end up paying more in the long run. Some options don’t come with replaceable batteries, meaning the entire sensor assembly must be removed and replaced to continue monitoring. Furthermore, with significantly decreased measurement capacity, you run the risk of a sensor missing a functional failure that may give way to unplanned downtime.

Continued, Local Support: By working with us, you’re not only choosing the best solution on the market, you’re also choosing the best support model. You’ll have access to a global network of SMEs available 24/7 and local support with the flexibility to respond to your site needs that same day. Alternative options may have limited teams or require a few weeks of scheduling and travel costs to fly an expert out to your site.

Conclusion

Selecting the right vibration monitoring solution depends on your organization’s specific needs, budget, and desired features. Emerson’s AMS Wireless Vibration Monitors are a strong choice for those seeking high accuracy and value from their machine health insights. Alternative options exist, but it’s important to understand the risks of choosing a less effective solution. By evaluating these options against your requirements, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your maintenance and operational goals.
 
Schedule a call with me to learn more.

Image

Related Stories

RELIABILITY

Condition-Based Monitoring: Components and ROI Unveiled

October 21, 2024
Learn about the essential components of a comprehensive CBM solution and explore how to calculate its ROI.
Read More
RELIABILITY

The Reliability Ecosystem, Where Everyone Can Benefit

October 1, 2024
Understand the needs of each stakeholder group—from front line technician to executive—to better identify their challenges, and help them understand the benefits.
Read More
RELIABILITY

The Culture Shift: TIM to CBM

September 6, 2024
The “Reliability Movement” is a culture shift from Time-Interval Maintenance to Condition-Based Monitoring, which relies on real-time data to gain insights into the condition of an asset and advanced notice of potential failures.
Read More