Condition monitoring of major turbomachinery cuts costs over 4-year period

Journal Article · Mon Mar 12 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6733723

Dodd, V R

Using a turbomachinery protection system, Chevron, U.S.A. has cut its machinery maintenance costs by 34% in 4 years. This article describes Chevron U.S.A.'s philosophy on condition and protection monitoring of critical turbomachinery trains. It presents background and present status of approximately 200 major machines. Additionally, the justification for instrumenting this type of equipment with machinery protection systems is reviewed. Chevron U.S.A.'s six major refineries operate approximately 26,000 machines with a total of 1.7 million hp. Approximately 200 of these are single-train (unspared) machines vital to plant operation. We have never experienced a catastrophic failure on a machine instrumented with an API 670 Vibration, Axial Position, and Bearing Temperature Monitoring System and armed in the shutdown mode. However, in the last decade we have experienced 16 catastrophic failures on unprotected critical machines, resulting in repair costs ranging from $100,000 to over $3 million. In early 1981, Chevron U.S.A. developed a plan to protect all of the major machines with an API 670 system, with a goal of completion in 3 years. At this writing, 80% are instrumented and operating in the shutdown mode. The remaining 20% are in operating plants scheduled to be shutdown after June 1984. These machines will be instrumented with protection systems as they become available during the scheduled shutdowns.

• Research Organization: Chevron USA Pascagoula, MS
• OSTI ID: 6733723
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 82:12; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400* -- Petroleum-- Processing
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
EQUIPMENT PROTECTION DEVICES
FAILURES
IN-SERVICE INSPECTION
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INSPECTION
MACHINERY
MAINTENANCE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
MONITORS
ON-LINE CONTROL SYSTEMS
ON-LINE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
ON-LINE SYSTEMS
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
SHUTDOWNS
TURBOMACHINERY