When Structure Becomes the Problem: Vib360 Reveals Hidden Instability in a Steam Turbine
Customer: Energy (Biomass Power Generation) Asset: 7.5 MW Steam Turbine and gearbox assembly (GTA) Location: Monthyon, France Initial Condition & Challenge No clear fault detected under standard operating conditions At higher loads, the machine exhibited increasing instability The issue was difficult to diagnose due to its load-dependent nature Traditional monitoring methods did not clearly explain the […]
Advanced Diagnostics in Action: Vib360 Identifies Critical Faults in 32MW Gas Turbine
Machine & Event Overview Two identical GE 5002 32MW Gas Turbines, IGC 15 and IGC 16, were operating under similar conditions. Operational concerns were raised for IGC 15, while IGC 16 continued to perform normally. Vib360 Detection & Diagnostic Insight Using Vib360 advanced torsional analysis of the 60-tooth speed sensor signal, the team identified: Cycle-to-cycle […]
Intermittent Trips Uncovered: Turbine Bearing Instability at Suez
Machine & Event Overview At a 12MW Groupe Turbo-Alternateur steam turbine installation in Suez, the equipment was experiencing occasional unexplained trips during operation. The issue appeared sporadic, with no consistent pattern, making it difficult to diagnose using conventional monitoring approaches. Initial Condition & Challenge The turbine would trip intermittently without clear root cause Traditional monitoring […]
From Early Warning to Catastrophic Failure: A Missed Opportunity
Customer: Industrial energy production facility, Toulouse Asset: 7 MW Siemens Turbine and gearbox assembly (GTA) Industry: Energy recovery / industrial turbine systems Installation & Monitoring Initiation Following a shaft replacement in October using a previously used component, the Siemens turbine was brought back into operation. At this stage, the Vib360 condition monitoring system was installed […]
Early Intervention: How VIB360 Prevented a Critical Bearing Failure in a Biomass Power Turbine
Customer: Energy Biomass Power Generation Asset: 7.5 MW MAN DIESEL and TURBO Steam Turbine and gearbox assembly (GTA) Location: Orleans, France The Situation Initial Observation: Fluctuations of up to 7 RPM were observed in the turbine’s rotational speed during operation. This deviation was significantly beyond normal control limits, indicating abnormal dynamic behavior rather than routine […]
Resolving Conflicting Diagnoses: Vib360 Identifies True Cause of Turbine Vibration
Customer: Industrial energy production facility Asset: 7 MW Turbine and gearbox assembly (GTA) Industry: Energy recovery / industrial turbine systems Initial Condition: Excessive vibration levels (>7 mm/s) detected by traditional accelerometers and displacement sensors after maintenance shutdown. Problem Statement Two separate vibration consultants delivered conflicting recommendations: Consultant A: Machine operating at tolerance limits Suspected misalignment […]
Eliminating Startup Trips: Vib360 Identifies Hidden Gearbox Instability in Waste-to-Energy Turbine
Customer: Global leader in waste management Location: France Turbine Make & Model: Thermodyne Rated Power: 10,000 rpm, 9.4 MW Driven Equipment: High-speed gearbox with alternator Operating Duty Cycle: Continuous operation Problem Statement The customer reported repeated turbine trips during startup around 2,000–3,000 rpm. Each attempt required multiple restarts before the turbine could be synchronised and […]
Beyond Conventional Monitoring: Vib360 Reveals Hidden Turbine Instability Before Shutdown
Customer: Large industrial energy recovery facilityAsset: Turbine train (GTA 1) 12 MWIndustry: Waste-to-energy / process industryContext: Monthly vibration checks and continuous displacement monitoring had not identified any anomalies. Problem Statement During a major shutdown on an adjacent turbine (GTA 2), the customer discovered significant mechanical damage even though traditional vibration techniques had reported normal behaviour. […]