Hydraulic Pressure Data Logging 2

[HydroBuff]

Hi folks,
I am having a large amount of hydraulic pumps fail on a certain brand and model of equipment so I want to add a device to log and monitor pressure.
The machine has absolutely no HMI software or plc controls, so I am wondering if anyone would have any recommendations on some type of inexpensive pressure transducer that I could install on a a pressure line that would log data every time the machine spikes above a preset amount. Then later I could come back and view results. It would need to log for several weeks, or months at a time.

If any of you can suggest a device that meets the criteria above, I would appreciate it.
Thanks,

 

[PNachtwey]

The pump should not be exposed to spikes when coming down.

I have seen this when the over hauling load is traveling fast and the valve is shut quickly.

Good data will help find what is wrong but one should record much more than just the pressure. Other things that might be important should be recorded too so it is easy to see a correlation. Recording the pressure is not enough. You only would know that a pressure spike occurred but not why.

 

[danw2]

On the data logger end, maybe the multimeter market has something for you. (googled peak capture data logger)

Fluke 287 True RMS Electronics Data Logging Multimeter with TrendCapture @ $760 (Amazon has it for $655)

https://www.fluke-direct.com/product/fluke-287-trms-electronics-logging-multimeter

- TrendCapture quickly graphically displays logged data session to quickly determine whether anomalies may have occurred
- Using on-board TrendCapture users can graphically review logged readings without needing a PC stores up to 15,000 recorded events
- Adjustable recording and auto hold thresholds, specify a percentage change in the readings that begins a new event
- Real time clock for automatic time stamping of saved readings

The definition of 'event' is up to whoever wrote the spec and the firmware. I would think an event is a triggered excursion above a defined level with a data acquisition period of x seconds. But what is an 'event' to whoever wrote the Fluke software?

On the pressure transmitter end: (googled fast response pressure transmitter)

1. Wika, 0-5000 psi, settling time <1mS (pg 7)
https://www.wika.com/media/Data-sheets/Pressure/Pressure-sensors/ds_pe8160_en_co.pdf

2. Omega, 0-350 bar; fast response < 1mS
https://assets.omega.com/pdf/test-a...ressure/pressure-transducers/PX409_Series.pdf

 

[HydroBuff]

Good data will help find what is wrong but one should record much more than just the pressure. Other things that might be important should be recorded too so it is easy to see a correlation. Recording the pressure is not enough. You only would know that a pressure spike occurred but not why.

Thanks for bringing that up. There certainly must be more data. If you were in this scenario, what type of data would you be looking for?

 

[HydroBuff]

On the data logger end, maybe the multimeter market has something for you. (googled peak capture data logger)

Fluke 287 True RMS Electronics Data Logging Multimeter with TrendCapture @ $760 (Amazon has it for $655)

https://www.fluke-direct.com/product/fluke-287-trms-electronics-logging-multimeter

- TrendCapture quickly graphically displays logged data session to quickly determine whether anomalies may have occurred
- Using on-board TrendCapture users can graphically review logged readings without needing a PC stores up to 15,000 recorded events
- Adjustable recording and auto hold thresholds, specify a percentage change in the readings that begins a new event
- Real time clock for automatic time stamping of saved readings

The definition of 'event' is up to whoever wrote the spec and the firmware. I would think an event is a triggered excursion above a defined level with a data acquisition period of x seconds. But what is an 'event' to whoever wrote the Fluke software?

On the pressure transmitter end: (googled fast response pressure transmitter)

1. Wika, 0-5000 psi, settling time <1mS (pg 7)
https://www.wika.com/media/Data-sheets/Pressure/Pressure-sensors/ds_pe8160_en_co.pdf

2. Omega, 0-350 bar; fast response < 1mS
https://assets.omega.com/pdf/test-a...ressure/pressure-transducers/PX409_Series.pdf

Thanks @danw2 I will be sure to look into this.

 

[PNachtwey]

Thanks for bringing that up. There certainly must be more data. If you were in this scenario, what type of data would you be looking for?

Anything that would change the velocity. That requires acceleration and that requires force which requires pressure. Obstructions will cause this. Do you have an encoder on the motor, even a tachometer a would be good as long as it as be recorded. Instrumenting things can get expensive real fast.

 

[3DDave]

Also be open to damage by operators abusing the equipment. Twice I've seen damage done by such abuse where ordinary use would never have a problem.

We had one where a hydraulically operated mechanism that is ordinarily used in a single operation for a few seconds (1 or 2) was reported to have developed a shudder. Various theories were put forward as possible causes, but what was concerning was the sudden increase in the observations across a number of different units that previously had not had the problem. It turned out that the operators were running the mechanism back and forth until they had exhausted the lubricant film to see if the mechanism was prone to shuddering, dozens and dozens of times, whatever it took.

Rocking, oscillating, dropping of large amounts of material, slamming the equipment into fixed obstacles. Note that a single operator can start this and get copy-catted or is training others to do so as well.