Overview
ISO 13373-7:2017 - "Condition monitoring and diagnostics of machines - Vibration condition monitoring - Part 7" provides practical guidance for vibration-based diagnostics of machine sets in hydraulic power generating and pump‑storage plants (hydropower units). The standard is a field-oriented, step‑by‑step guide for vibration condition monitoring and diagnostic techniques, including process tables, fault tables and real examples to support root‑cause identification of vibration faults.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose: Guidelines for vibration diagnostics of hydropower units (turbines, generators and pump‑storage sets) aimed at condition monitoring practitioners, engineers and technicians.
- Measurement strategy:
- Emphasis on simultaneous measurement at all bearing planes because hydropower units act as a single dynamic unit.
- Use both shaft‑relative vibration (non‑contacting proximity probes) and bearing housing vibration (accelerometers/velocity transducers) for complementary information.
- Install two radial transducers orthogonally per bearing and an axial transducer for thrust bearings where appropriate.
- Add a phase mark transducer for synchronization and phase reference.
- Instrumentation and frequency considerations:
- Guidance on suitable transducer types (proximity probes, seismic transducers, accelerometers, velocity sensors) and measurement outputs.
- Minimum frequency guidance: systems should capture low frequencies relevant to slow‑speed hydropower units (recommendations tied to turbine type: reaction vs impulse).
- Ensure measurement duration is sufficient to characterize low‑frequency phenomena.
- Diagnostic methodology:
- Use of diagnostic process tables and fault tables to identify and correlate fault symptoms in vibration signatures.
- Trending and condition‑based monitoring recommendations, including both periodic (temporary) and continuous (permanent) monitoring approaches.
- Operational parameter correlation:
- Simultaneous recording of rotational speed, load, head, gate opening, bearing oil temperature and other operational data for reliable diagnosis.
Practical applications and who uses it
- Target users: vibration analysts, condition monitoring practitioners, reliability engineers, maintenance technicians, and plant operators in hydropower and pump‑storage facilities.
- Practical uses:
- Systematic fault diagnosis after anomaly detection.
- Planning preventive and predictive maintenance based on trending and fault identification.
- Commissioning and verification of vibration monitoring installations.
- Correlating vibration symptoms with hydraulic and mechanical operating parameters to find root causes.
- Improving protection schemes through permanent online monitoring to prevent catastrophic failures.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 13373-7:2017, vibration condition monitoring, hydropower units, diagnostic techniques, pump‑storage plants, vibration diagnostics, proximity probes, accelerometers, fault tables.