Application Notes


Wireless Condition Monitoring pdf (217KB)
Wireless technology can significantly reduce the installation cost of asset management systems, permit fast system installation, and provide a long-lasting and reliable communication link. This application note covers wireless products that have been tested with selected Ethernet-ready Bently Nevada™ products. It provides guidelines to determine when and where a wireless link can be used, and it includes examples of plant layout scenarios for selecting a viable and cost-effective wireless solution, as well as a list of common off-the-shelf wireless products.

Hazardous Area Installations - The European ATEX Directive pdf (560KB)
The ATEX Directive (from the French "ATmospheres EXplosible") came into effect 1 July 2003.
The Directive covers equipment and protective systems which may be used in areas endangered by potentially explosive atmospheres created by the presence of flammable gases, vapors, mists, or dusts. It is now necessary for all products placed on the market or put into use to comply with the Directive, even if they are only intended for use in their country of origin. The ATEX Directive is applicable to all 15 Member States of the European Union (EU), and has also been adopted by the Czech Republic, Norway, and Switzerland.

Functional Safety & Safety Integrity Levels pdf (53KB)
This document defines and describes the key components of safety and reliability for instrumentation systems as well as draws contrasts between safety and reliability. It also briefly describes available methods for determining Safety Integrity levels and presents a brief depiction of the governing standards.

Where to Use Trendmaster® Pro pdf (122KB)
This document describes the categories typically used when classifying machinery assets with respect to the type of condition monitoring that is most appropriate. It focuses specifically on that category of assets (Tier 2) which the Bently Nevada Trendmaster Pro system has been designed to address. It also discusses the reasons why a Trendmaster Pro system's scanning architecture may be more appropriate for Tier 2 assets than either a manual data collection routine or a traditional rack-based continuous monitoring system.

Connecting a Two-Wire Bently Nevada Velomitor® with a Pepperl+Fuchs KFD2-VR4 pdf (323KB)
This document describes the hardware and software set up necessary to install and use a Pepperl+Fuchs KFD2-VR4-EX1.26 voltage isolator with the 3500/42M monitor and a 190501 Velomitor. Using a voltage isolator such as the Pepperl+Fuchs KFD2-VR4-EX1.26 provides isolation between a transducer which could be in a hazardous area (e.g., fuel silo) and the 3500 monitoring system which may be in a non-hazardous area (e.g., office or control room). Although this specific example shows a 3500/42M monitor and a Velomitor, the same basic principles apply and can be used with other measurement types.


Installation of Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas - This application note provides general information about hazardous areas and how to correctly apply Bently Nevada electrical equipment in those areas. Recommendations listed in this document are based on definitions and guidelines established by the National Electrical Code® and other agencies throughout the world. Diagrams of typical external safety barrier circuits, monitor-to-probe circuit with external Stahl-type safety barriers and Type X Division 1 and Type Y and Z purging systems for Division 1 and Division 2 areas are included.


Considerations when using Eddy Current Proximity Probes for Overspeed Protection Applications - Since overspeed is one of the most dangerous conditions that can occur in a turbine, it is essential that overspeed protection systems are properly installed. In this applications note are issues you should consider when applying eddy current proximity transducers in an overspeed protection system.


"GLITCH" Definition, Sources and Methods of Correcting - This article discusses the two categories of glitch, mechanical and electrical, and suggests measurement techniques. Various methods of reducing glitch are mentioned, as well as ways to protect probe areas after treatment.


Guidelines for Grounding (Earthing) Bently Nevada Rotating Machinery Systems - Connections between system common and earth ground must occur at earth ground points of equal voltage potential. Following this set of guidelines will help minimize ground loop generated noise problems. Diagrams for grounding the following Bently Nevada products: 3300, 7200 and 9000 Vibration Monitors with proximity, velocity, thermocouple or RTD inputs, are included.


Predictive Maintenance through the Monitoring and Diagnostics of Rolling Element Bearings - This applications note compares the techniques used for fluid film bearings to those used for rolling element bearings. A method called REBAM® is available from Bently Nevada Corporation which allows vibration measurements directly at the bearing outer ring, which contains the outer race. This direct measurement greatly enhances bearing vibration data, and in some cases, is the only measurement that can provide adequate vibration information.


REBAM® an effective way to monitor and analyze rolling element bearing condition - Monitoring and analysis of machinery using rolling element bearings with casing-mounted transducers (velocity transducer or accelerometers) require complicated and detailed analysis to determine rolling element bearing condition. The REBAM® system provides a simpler and more direct method for determining rolling element bearing condition with the added capability to also monitor the machine's condition. This applications note discusses field applications and how the REBAM® concept works.


Standardized Rules for Measurement on Rotating Machinery - To better understand the behavior of rotating machinery, it is important to standardize communication by establishing a set of recommended practices defining the polarity and phase referencing of transducers, data storage and data presentation techniques. This set of transducer orientation, polarity recommendations and diagrams has been informally developed by machinery engineers and gradually standardized by Bently Nevada for its customers' convenience.


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