Detection of Shaft Misalignment Using Machinery Fault Simulator (MFS)

Abstract

This paper aims to present a method of detecting deterioration on rotating machinery in the form of Machinery Fault Simulator (MFS) performed in the lab. The study enhances the knowledge of signal pattern of misalignment phenomenon as compared to baseline signal pattern obtained from normal condition of rotating shaft. The focus of this experiment was on misalignment problem. There are two types of misalignment which are parallel and angular misalignment. Input in frequency was selected for motor movement and the shaft start to rotate. The vibration signal from the shaft was acquired using in built tachometer in the MFS. In this experiment, data shows that the vibration occurs in different shape of the amplitude at different speed of the angular motion. In baseline test, the amplitude values are fluctuated at every accelerometer channels. Meanwhile, the amplitude on the angular test shows that the amplitude is higher at axial axes only compared to both axes. Meanwhile, for the second test, the angle of 15o was applied at inboard in the system caused to the misalignment of the shaft. In vibration analysis, the misalignment of the shaft was detected from the changes of the amplitude at three different axes.