Unlock Machinery Data With Torsional Vibration
Retrofit-Friendly Installation of Vib360 Led by Ship Crew During Operation
Customer Profile
- Customer: Commercial vessel operator managing an in-service fleet
- Asset: Main Engine (1No) and Auxiliary engine (2Nos)
- Main Engine: HYUNDAI – MAN B&W 5S 60MC -C [ 11,900 kW @ 105 RPM ]
- Auxiliary DGs – D/G #1 HYUNDAI HIMSEN 7H 21/32 [1440 KW @ 900 RPM] and D/G #2 – 5H 21/32 [ 800 KW @ 720 RPM]
- Engine Type: Two-stroke main propulsion engine and Four Stroke Aux DGs
- Operating context: Vessel in routine charter operation
Context
Vib360 was evaluated as a Proof of Concept (PoC) on an in-service vessel to assess both diagnostic capability and practical deployability.
The installation was intentionally planned to be executed by ship staff during normal vessel operation, without OEM presence or yard support.
Problem Statement
Advanced monitoring systems often face adoption barriers due to installation complexity, off-hire requirements, and reliance on specialists.
The owner required confirmation that Vib360 could be retrofitted safely, quickly, and consistently across an operating fleet.
Objective of Vib360 Assessment
- Validate retrofit installation during vessel operation
- Confirm crew-led installation feasibility
- Verify that signal quality and diagnostic integrity are preserved
- Assess suitability for scalable fleet-wide deployment
Installation and Measurement Setup
- Flywheel-mounted Magnetic Pickup Unit (MPU)
- Non-intrusive mounting with no engine disassembly
- Sensor mounting, cable routing, and commissioning performed by ship crew
Physics-Based Validation Findings
- Post-installation data confirmed clean and stable torsional signals.
- Angular speed and angular acceleration measurements were consistent, with no excessive noise or signal dropout.
- Combustion-related torsional signatures were clearly resolved.
Mechanical / Operational Interpretation
- The results demonstrated that Vib360’s sensing approach is tolerant to real-world installation conditions.
- Diagnostic integrity does not depend on precision fixtures or complex alignment.
Action Taken
- Vib360 was retained onboard for continued operational monitoring.
- Ship staff incorporated routine system checks into daily operation.
Outcome and Value
- Installation completed without off-hire or yard support
- Immediate availability of condition-monitoring data
- Reduced installation cost and deployment risk
CBM and Class Relevance
Demonstrates that Vib360 installations are repeatable and auditable, supporting CBM frameworks.
Technical Significance
Confirms Vib360 as a practically deployable fleet solution suitable for retrofit and scale-up.