Monitoring Vibration - Sentinel^® - VM

The Sentinel^®-VM module allows a user to customize what critical reciprocating machinery vibration and Green House Gas (GHG) Emission  parameters they want to monitor and alarm on. Whether it is crosshead vibration/impacts, frame or bearing vibration, frame/cylinder movement, rod drop\runout or packing leaks, MMS has the sensors and monitoring methodology to identify the common failure modes of reciprocating engines and compressors. It is the perfect complement to our Sentinel^®–CPM (compressor performance monitor). 

The crosshead of any reciprocating compressor is always a critical location, and it has been difficult to monitor. The new Sentinel-VM incorporates a proven methodology for detecting a crosshead fault, measuring vibration peaks over a fixed, albeit very short, time period. It counts the peaks that exceed a (user defined) high level threshold. The methodology searches for significant recurring occurrences above a threshold to avoid false alarms. A technician dropping a wrench near a probe would be a singular event, would not repeat on the next revolution and would not be counted. For more information regarding the Sentinel-VM system visit our website or contact us.

MMS is now incorporating a packing vent flow sensor

into the Sentinel-VM. 

Gone are the days of feeling each of the packing vent tubing lines, looking for the hot one! This is very exciting news given the current environmental focus on GHG emissions and leaks. Our new sensor is available as simply a “Leak Sensor”, indicating a leak or no leak, or as an instrument calibrated specifically for the gas in your process, to indicate leakage rates. You can install one sensor per machine or one sensor per cylinder, depending on your needs.

The sensors themselves have no moving parts and are Class 1, Division 2, Groups A, B, C, D rated. They operate with no internal parts to foul, and simply fit into the packing vent tubing as a “Tee”, measuring heat transfer of the flowing gas, if there is any.  

This is not new technology, but like many of our other products, new to the pipeline and gathering industries, and it ties very nicely into our Sentinel-VM and especially our Sentinel Diagnostic Algorithms. As you know, a Suction Valve Leakage on the outer end is readily apparent on the P-T / P-V curves. Unfortunately, on the frame end, what appears as a suction valve leak, may indeed be a packing leak, so the flow sensor is an invaluable tool for diagnoses of these issues. 

Gear Head Blog

Have you visited the blog yet? You will find some great images of what our friends in the industry are doing in their spare time with their own "Rides". 

We invite you to participate in the Gear Head Blog found at https://www.mmsysllc.com/blog/ “Tell Us About Your Ride” Take a look at what great projects are posted there and provide comments to keep our conversation going. 

We look forward to hearing from you!