Alignment software process management
A predictive alignment process for aligning coupled rotating shafts extending from a pair of adjacently located rotating machines. The process includes a step of monitoring the rotating machines to obtain physical characteristics that change during operation and could cause variance in alignment between a non-operating state and an operating state. The process would monitor changes in alignment and correlate the changes in physical characteristics and the operational alignment. The process can monitor and record environmental conditions proximate the rotating machinery and correlate the operational alignment and the environmental changes to provide predictive alignment directions used to guide an alignment engineer to align coupled shafts where the alignment is optimized when in operation.
1. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process, the predictive alignment process comprising the steps of:
obtaining initial alignment data respective to alignment between a pair of coupled shafts of adjacently located rotating machines using alignment tooling during a non-operational period;
monitoring, collecting and recording equipment condition during operation of the adjacently located rotating machines, wherein the equipment condition data is stored in a digital memory storage device;
analyzing the recorded equipment condition data taken during operation and the initial alignment data through a microprocessor in conjunction with directions of respective programming to determine optimal alignment characteristics of the adjacently located rotating machines during an operational condition;
applying the determined optimal alignment characteristics to establish predictive alignment values, wherein the predictive alignment values may result in misalignment of the pair of coupled shafts during the non-operational period, and;
aligning and adjusting each of the adjacently located rotating machines in accordance with the predictive optimal alignment characteristics during the non-operational period, such that the pair of coupled shafts approach an optimal alignment during operation.
2. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 1 , the predictive alignment process further comprising the steps of:
monitoring, collecting and recording alignment between the pair of coupled shafts during operation of the adjacently located rotating machines; and
correlating the recorded equipment condition data and the recorded alignment data to determine optimal alignment characteristics of the adjacently located rotating machines during the operational condition.
3. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 2 , the step of monitoring, collecting and recording equipment condition further comprises the step of:
monitoring, collecting and recording mechanical strain values of at least one component of the adjacently located rotating machines during the operational condition.
4. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 2 , the step of monitoring, collecting and recording equipment condition further comprises the step of:
monitoring, collecting and recording soft foot values of the pair of coupled shafts during operation.
5. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 2 , the step of monitoring, collecting and recording equipment condition further comprises the step of:
monitoring, collecting and recording vibrational values of at least one component of the adjacently located rotating machines during the operational condition.
6. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 1 , the step of monitoring, collecting and recording equipment condition further comprises the step of:
monitoring, collecting and recording mechanical strain values of at least one component of the adjacently located rotating machines during the operational condition.
7. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 1 , the step of monitoring, collecting and recording equipment condition further comprises the step of:
monitoring, collecting and recording soft foot values of the pair of coupled shafts during operation.
8. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 1 , the step of monitoring, collecting and recording equipment condition further comprises the step of:
monitoring, collecting and recording vibrational values of at least one component of the adjacently located rotating machines during the operational condition.
9. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process, the predictive alignment process comprising the steps of:
obtaining initial alignment data respective to alignment between a pair of coupled shafts of adjacently located rotating machines during a non-operational period;
monitoring, collecting and recording conditions of an environment surrounding the adjacently located rotating machines during operation of the adjacently located rotating machines, wherein the environmental condition data is stored in a digital memory storage device;
analyzing the recorded operating environmental condition data through a microprocessor in conjunction with directions of respective programming to determine optimal alignment characteristics of the adjacently located rotating machines during an operational condition;
applying the determined optimal alignment characteristics to establish predictive alignment values, wherein the predictive alignment values may result in misalignment of the pair of coupled shafts during the non-operational period, and;
aligning and adjusting each of the adjacently located rotating machines in accordance with the predictive optimal alignment characteristics during the non-operational period, such that the pair of coupled shafts approach an optimal alignment during operation.
10. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 9 , the predictive alignment process further comprising the steps of:
monitoring, collecting and recording alignment between the pair of coupled shafts during operation of the adjacently located rotating machines; and
correlating the recorded operating environmental condition data and the recorded alignment data to determine optimal alignment characteristics of the adjacently located rotating machines during the operational condition.
11. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 10 , the predictive alignment process further comprising the step of:
monitoring, collecting and recording equipment condition during operation of the adjacently located rotating machines;
correlating the recorded equipment condition data with the recorded alignment data to determine optimal alignment characteristics of the adjacently located rotating machines during an operational condition.
12. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 10 , the step of monitoring, collecting and recording equipment condition further comprises the step of:
monitoring, collecting and recording mechanical strain values of at least one component of the adjacently located rotating machines during the operational condition.
13. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 9 , the step of monitoring, collecting and recording environmental conditions further comprises monitoring, collecting and recording environmental temperatures surrounding the adjacently located rotating machines.
14. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 13 , the predictive alignment process further comprising the steps of:
monitoring, collecting and recording alignment between the pair of coupled shafts during operation of the adjacently located rotating machines; and
correlating the recorded operating environmental condition data and the recorded alignment data to determine optimal alignment characteristics of the adjacently located rotating machines during the operational condition.
15. A rotating machinery predictive alignment process as recited in claim 14 , the predictive alignment process further comprising the step of:
monitoring, collecting and recording equipment condition during operation of the adjacently located rotating machines;
correlating the recorded equipment condition data with the recorded alignment data to determine optimal alignment characteristics of the adjacently located rotating machines during an operational condition.