Cross Channel Phase

There are numerous methods of determining phase relationship between two components
and/or signals. Remember there must be a common denominator "Time". If there is a
common time base like that illustrated in figure below the relationships may be drawn.

Waveform Comparisons As we see below the two signals representing the outputs of X
and Y displacement probes appear to be approximately 160 degrees out of phase.
Utilizing a single channel instrument, phase is measured by using the once per revolution
pulse as a reference point. However, the necessity for a once per revolution pulse is no
longer required with the presence of a multi-channel FFT Analyzer.

Depending on the machine fault present, a machine's structure will either be moving as
one unit, in phase, or not as one unit, out of phase. When analyzing machinery
conditions, there typically is a suspected problem. With this suspected problem, the
necessity to acquire phase data is present, yet, in many cases it is virtually impossible to
gather with a single channel instrument. With the aid of a multi-channel analyzer the
ability to acquire phase data becomes less difficult.

TWO CHANNEL PHASE Expanding on the definition previously stated, cross channel
phase measurements only simplifies, and expedites phase data acquisition. Of all cross
channel measurements, cross channel phase is the most sensitive vibration parameter.

As both the vibration sensors and corresponding channels are measuring data
simultaneously, each discrete frequency component (actually waveforms) are compared
and Phase data is calculated (Just like Physics Lab Oscilloscope).
Advantages of Cross Channel Phase are:
1. External Tacho signal is not required, so, no requirement of stopping the machine
only for Phase Measurement! (Whereas Turbine monitoring is absolutely
incomplete without Phase measurement. Common Machinery Problems like
Unbalance / Bent Shaft / Eccentricity / Misalignment / Misaligned Bearing /
Resonance / Locked Coupling etc. are best diagnosed by Phase Analysis)

2. Cross channel Phase can be measured of any vibration frequency (In case of
Single Channel Data collector only 1XRPM phase can be measured).

E.g. For Flexible Shaft Rotor monitoring Phase of 2X and 3X gives valuable
information related with rigidity.
Phase of Vane Pass frequency indicates problems related with Flow / Cut Water
Diameter.
For Belt / Pully / Gear Box etc (i.e. where more than one shaft RPM is involved)
phase analysis for each RPM can be easily done. (In case of Single channel data
Collector Reflective tape is required on all the shafts).

3. An accelerometer is the only 'true phase" transducer. The multi-channel FFT

analyzers have no internal phase shift between channels as both the data are taken
simultaneously. (Phase lag in case of Single Channel Data Collectors varies,
because of internal Phase Shift)
4. Byproduct of Cross Channel Phase is “COHERENCE”. This tool is very much
useful for identifying Transmitted / Background Vibration Source & Structural
Crack etc.
5. Apart from these, Cross Channel Phase and Coherence can be used for
performing Advanced analysis like Mode Shape Analysis, Transfer Function and
Operational Deflection Shape (ODS) Analysis. CSI 2120 & 2130 Dual Channel
Data Collectors can be Upgraded any time for performing these advanced analysis
by downloading a simple “Downloadable Program (DLP)”
Crest Factor
The ratio of peak to RMS levels of a signal. A single-frequency signal has a crest factor of 1.414;
random noise has a crest factor of approximately 3; signals with impulsive content have higher
crest factor values. The crest factor can be used to check for impacting, such as caused by rolling
bearing defects.

Even if an analyst is not looking at the Time Wave Form Patten, a Crest Factor trend will really
indicates the trend of impact level and subsequently provides reliable information on impending
rolling Element Bearing and Gear problems.

CSI hardware and software trends and monitor the crest factor automatically.

Cascade
A very powerful tool to an analyst, which identifies resonance and other transient phenomena
that no other tool can indicate. Cascade is a short duration waterfall plot by which series of
spectra can be captured and displayed during machines Running up or coasting down conditions
(0 RPM -RPM max or RPM max –0 RPM). Spectra at different RPM conditions can be seen and
effect of different frequency peaks on system can be understood.

Run up and Coast Down can only detect resonance conditions related with Shaft RPM.
Resonance conditions other than shaft RPM frequencies cannot be detected by Run up or Coast
Down data. In that case cascade is very useful ( e.g. it may happen instead of 1XRPM, 3XRPM
is exciting some resonance condition. In this case Cascade is the only tool to identify the
problem.

Oil whirl / Oil whip is a problem related with Journal Bearing / Fluid Film Bearing mounted
machines. This problem can only be identified by Cascade and Orbit data (BOTH ARE
POSSIBLE WITH CSI 2130 ANALYSER!). CSI 2130 can capture simultaneous dual channel
Cascades and it can be transferred to the software. Two measurement points can be seen and
compared simultaneously.

A technical paper for the above problem is also attached with this doc.
Run up –Coast Down

In case of Run Up coast down again the Machine is monitored while speeding up or coasting
down. Normally 1X RPM peak amplitude and corresponding phases are measured at different
RPMs. Output can be Bodes Plot (Two Graphs Amp Vs. RPM and Phase Vs. RPM are stacked
one upon another) and Nyquist Plot (Polar graph Amp Vs. Phase with corresponding RPM tags).

This tool is used for identifying resonance condition (Related with 1X RPM) and Critical Speed
of any shaft ( in case of Flexible Shaft Rotor) and structural / bearing pedestal resonance. This
tool is important for Turbo Machinery Balancing as well (In order to Know at which Speeds the
Balancing is to be carried out).

CSI 2130 performs these tests simultaneously with 2 channels, so that 2 measurements points
(may be two bearing Points or Horizontal & Vertical) can be adjudged simultaneously! (Who
knows the system may be in Resonance in Vertical but in case of Single Channel you are
measuring Horizontal only – I’ve a similar case study with me).

CSI 2130 has Cascade, Run up – Coast Down (Peak/Phase and Peak Hold) and
Online / Offline Bump Test facilities to Pinpoint resonance conditions in a very
efficient way.

Moreover you can store and upload the above data for future
reference and analysis! No of our competitor can match this.
Minimum Fmax for CSI 2130 is 1Hz (60 CPM) & Max. Lines of
resolution 12800: No competitor can match this!
In order to resolve any periodic feature (frequency) in the spectral data where Hanning
Windowing has been used, the total time block of data must contain a minimum of 5 (five)
periods of that specific frequency. The lowest fault frequency for a bearing is the cage, which is
approximately 0.4 times the machine turning speed. Thus the block of data must be [5/(0.4)] or
12.5 revolutions. The number of revolutions contained in a block of data is [(# lines)/(Fmax in
orders)]. Finally, the Fmax should be chosen based on the highest fault frequency (BPFI).
Generally would like to have three or four harmonics of BPFI. For slow speed machines, we
are further constrained by the minimum Fmax the hardware will accommodate. This
minimum Fmax for the 2130 is 1 Hz (60 CPM).

Independent of the hardware being used, the length of the time block must include 12.5
revolutions of the equipment being monitored. Assuming the minimum Fmax is being used in
each piece of hardware, the # of lines required for each are (e.g. for a 0.7 RPM machine):

2130 # of lines=12.5*(60/.7)=1,071
Others # of lines=12.5*(600/.7)=10,714 > 6,400

Any data collector, whose min. Fmax is more than 600 CPM would not be a good choice for this
application if Lines of Resolution measurement capability is less than 12,800. The 2130 would
work well (use 1600 lines). Other data Collector would marginally work using 12,800 lines. The
difficulty is the spectral data would not show the fault in the early stages.

Check with our Competitor what is their Minimum Fmax?

Apart from Low RPM Application Higher Lines of Resolution is used for Bearing and Gear
Fault Detection, Motor Current Spectrum Analysis (Low Lines give erratic results), Complex
machinery problem analysis, Electrical Fault Diagnosis thru’ Vibration (in order to rule out
whether the problem is from Mechanical or Electrical) and many more…..

CSI 2130 doesn’t have any limitation in storing High Resolution Spectra as Internal
Memory size is almost 8 times of our competitor ( and same can be extended to anywhere
with the help of Flash RAM cards!)