BENTLY. soos Shaft CenterLINES Monitoring versus diagnostics Why do peak readings differ? Randy Chitwood systoms Bngmecring Manacer ‘Bently Nenada Corporation onitoring and diagnostic Mies st wll sometimes red efferent when measur ing the peak value of complex wave forms associated with machinery vibration. Knowing how the vibration signal's peak amplitude is measured can sive you a betier understanding of why there are differences and how they are apple for your benefit lux's first define the baste vibration measurement units we will he discussing Peak-to-peak, zero-to-peak and true peak When monitoring cidkal vibration swith proximity probes, peaketo-peak defined as the toual movement of the shalt in a single plane. When seismic transducers are used to measure acceleration or velocity, Bently Ney- ada strongly recommends use ofthe zero-to-peak measurement because it is more effective and easier to March 1994 interpret, Bently Nevada defines 20: topeak as the peak-to-peak value of vibration signal divided by two, At Berl Nevada, reroto-peak is synonymous with ewe peak (Figure 1 Derived peak Some instruments divide a measured [RMS value by 0.707 in order to peta peak Coc ulimately peak-to-peak) valve, The result, called “derived peak,” is misleading and is not recom. mended because itis omly accurate for a sine wave. There relationship between pe salves that applies wo all waveforms. For insane, dhe RMS vale ofa square wave 110, and of a tangle wave is 0.577 Typically a vibration signal is nota sine wave, bucrathera complex combination Cofseveral dtferent waveforms, Peak detectors, a closer look Allzeto-to peak (true peak and peal. torpeak detectors have fundan * Valid for sine ‘wave signals only performance factors that aflect their ity to respon to various input wave ms. These performance factors are the same whether the circuit isanalogor digital in nature and regardless of wwherher the circuit displays peaketo- peak or zeo-10peak, ently Nevada has developed ‘wo basic pes of peak-to-peak detectors during the 38 years i has measured vibration. One type of peak-ospeak tector is used in monitoring systems, such asthe 3300 System. A second type (of detector is used in diagnostic instru mens, such ashe Digital Vecwor Fikes 2 4, 108 Data Acquisition Instrument and the 208 Data Acquistion Inerface Unit. These diferent detectors are used because of the different uses of the “There ts nodiference inthe measure ment of peak-co peak between a Bently Nevada Monitor and a diagnostic ins ment (within the instrument's fre = orbit 11‘quency response) when the tn peso instruments are measuring waveforms, such as square, sine and triangle wave forms. In fat, this characteristic ean be used to determine whether an insieu iment displays a ue or a derived peak amplitude value. Input cach waveform with the same peak-torpeak value froma signal generator (check it with an oscilloscope.) Make sure the frequency content of the signal falls within the bandwidth of the instrument. IF the strument’s peak (oF peak-to-peak) value does not change as you switch waveforms, then iC mezsuring a true peak value (Gee Note 1. The ehiet ler: ences are exhibited when the two types Of instruments process waveforms with transient noise oF complex frequency ‘Monitor peak-to-peak detectors Bently Nevada monitors have evohed to provide extremely relkable machine monitoring. This has led to a design that minimizes susceptibility 1 noise, whi providing the peak-to-peak function. ‘Originally achieved by using dode-based analog circuits, these circuits now use ‘combination of analog and digital tech nology. Although the technology has ‘evolved, the ercut's response has been ‘maintained so itis consistent with older Bently Nevara monitors (Figure 2). Bently Nevada 7200 and 3300 Moni- tors continually process the incoming signal. The peakcco-peak circu output 1s constantly adjusted based on the instantaneous value ofthe incoming si nal and the circuit's memory of past peaks. When the input signal excceds Diode type peak to peak detector Waveform simulated from pump spectrum Velocity, 0.02 in/s/div 0.0 40 8.0 12.0 Milliseconds: Figure 2 Monitor type peakpeak detector the circul’s memory of past peaks, the peak-to-peak detector increases’ the peak-to-peak value. We describe this as Charging, When the input signal is less than the current memory of the past peaks, the peak value decreases, We call this discharging, Charging When the inpuc signal exceeds the prior peak value, the peak-to-peak detcetor charges the peak capacitor. arly analog circuits Limited the rate at which the peak eapacitor was charged. This rac allows the peak-to-peak detec: or 1 “respond” 10 the new peak at a rite of approximately 5% of the instru rment’s Fill scale value per millisecond This controlled charge rate has the added! benefit of redveing the peakto- peak cletector’s response to transient 16.0 Note 1 The response of instruments may vary with square and triangle waves when the entire sgnal conditioning path is consitered For example, bfgh ana lowpass ilters can disiont square and tangle waves, causing changes inthe peake-to- peas ‘waveform and readings 12 orbit ____ ‘March 1994and high frequency noise. Because of the design's success, we haven't changed the circuit's charging rate even though advancements in electronics make ic echniclly feasible A result of this controlled charging rate is that roquencies with petiods of Jess than J millisecond require multiple cycles to charge the detector 10 the Input peakecoupeak value. For example, the peak-to-peak detector would require approximately 20 cycles to Charge to within 1% of ts final value IF the inputwerea 1 ki sine wave Discharging If the input signal goes 10 zero, the 2 value wil discharge co zero after 2 cerain period of time. The time it takes ‘Sample & Hold peak to peak detector Waveform simulated from pump spectrum 0.020 in/s/div Velocity, 00 40 March 1994. the circuit to discharge to within 37% oF lis final value is described as the dis charge time constant. Monitoring cir: ‘cuts use two dliferent discharge ume ‘constants. The fst discharge time can. stant s the more common. Its used on all monitors optioned for use ith sei mic transducers and on radial vibration monitors with a low pass frequency response of 240 ¢pm, This ime constant Is approudmately 1 second. ‘Alonger time constant of# seconds is fnly used on radia vibration monitors swith alow frequency response of 6 cpm for very low speed machines. This time constant allows the peak to peak detec tor to remember past peaks fora longer time period. 8.0 12.0 Milliseconds Figure Diagnostic type peak-to-peak detector Diagnostic instrument peak-to- peak detector response Bently Nevada's diagnostic instew ‘ments calculate peak-to-peak with results ‘equal to what woukl be seen on an ‘oseiloscope. Ths ype of detectors per formance has evolved with technology, producing faster and more accurate Serectors. The goat sto trackall informa. tion ina transducer signal, egardlies of iwsorgin This «ype of instcument samples the Input for a specific time or for a set number of shaft rotations, It takes a ‘smapshor” ofthe signal during this ume pesod, in contrast to the monitor which {s constantly providing a valle propor ‘ional to the Current input based on the past inputs. The diagnostic instrument 16.0 onit 13works very diferent ch and discharge eyes. Duringitscharge-cycte, dhe dagnestc instrument's peak-to-peak detect ‘changes much faster than the monitor's detector. Typically, a diagnostic instru: _ment’s peak peak detector charges at arate of 5% of fullscale In 50 micro seconds, 20 times faster than a monitor's Lever. This makes the detector vee) responsive to-most signals. During the discharge cycle, the dis charge of is peakcorpeak detector hat set interval oF 5 tiggered by the Key phasor®. The peak-to-peak value dis charges ina few miceasceonds, prior 10 teh new snapshot of the input signal igure 3) ing ts charge Conclusion When reading complex waveforms, {te monitorand dagnostictnsteument’s peak-tospeak values will difler by sn Amounts. These readings vary because ‘ofthe different applications each inst ‘meats intended for. The monitor peak lorpeak detecor’s reduced response 10 higherorder frequency content and transient noise makes it very usefl for reliable machinery monigoring. Dagnos- tic instruments need a broadband high: speed response to capture as much information from the signal as possible, toprovidea machinery diagnostics eng ect with the data necessary todiagnose ‘machinery and instrumentation faults. 14 omit March 1994