Participating in:PowerGen, Düsseldorf6-8 May 2003Stand L30 The demands are increasing on small-scale gas turbines in terms of efficiency rating, emissions, safety and compact design. The increasingly higher demands also mean it is becoming ever more important to monitor operation and measure vibration. A Swedish company, Nira Automotive AB, now presents a new cost-effective safety solution.

The Nira Automotive solution consists of a modular control unit developed primarily for gas turbines with power outputs between 0.1 and 10 MW. The module, known as the VMS or Vibration Monitoring Satellite, is compact and can be installed close to sensors and turbines since it withstands tough operating conditions and temperatures of up to +70 degrees C.

The VMS module can be supplemented with a control system that is marketed under the NICS (Nira Industrial Control System) name. The NICS system consists of one or more Main Control Units (MCU) depending on the type of application, along with a number of satellite units for I/O expansions or special functions. The MCU communicates with the satellites via a CAN or Ethernet interface.

This Nira vibration monitoring solution is specially developed for small industrial gas turbines. The VMS module can be placed as a free-standing unit or together with Nira's MCU unit, in both cases as part of a complete solution for vibration analysis.

The VMS module can be linked to various types of accelerometer sensor and a range of transmitters. VMS can be configured to use different kinds of filtering. One is so-called "tracking filtration", whereby vibration levels on a certain frequency, for instance a rotational speed, are closely monitored, allowing the user to take the necessary action if a gas turbine shows undesirable vibration patterns. VMS can also be used for advanced FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) analysis to show a complete vibration spectrum. The user can easily select which kind of filter should be used to detect the source of the different types of vibration.

From the very earliest development of the VMS, the aim was to be able to offer a general and flexible solution that could be easily tailored to suit individual customer needs. During the course of the development process, the VMS system was also adapted for large-scale production so as to offer greater cost-effectiveness. Nira is prepared to develop customer-specific, yet still attractively priced, solutions for other applications where vibration is a major consideration.



One major benefit of the Vibration Monitoring Satellite is that its performance per price rating is considerably higher than that of its competitors on the market. This means that the Nira safety solution can be used for advanced vibration analysis in the operational field, and not just in test equipment as has usually been the case so far.

"An independent stand-alone solution and a complete system from Nira Automotive both represent an important price/performance breakthrough. With our solutions, even small-scale gas turbines out in the operational field can be equipped with an advanced and cost-effective vibration analysis system which reduces the risk of breakdowns and extends the machine's economical lifetime," explains Peter Lagerkvist, Technical Manager Control Systems at Nira Automotive.

VMS and NICS have been developed in close cooperation with Volvo Aero's Land and Marine gas turbine division in Malmö.

Use of the VMS module does not require any special knowledge, since monitoring of the gas turbines takes place entirely automatically. In the event of imbalance or abnormal vibration, the operator is alerted or the turbine is automatically switched off. This reduces the risk of serious and expensive breakdowns.


Specifications:
Ambient temperature
-40 - 70 ºC
Supply voltage input range
9-36 V
Max total inaccuracy (charge amp)
1.6 % of full range
Max total inaccuracy (ICP)
1.2 % of full range
Max total inaccuracy (voltage input)
1.0 % of full range
Input frequency range
10 - 2000 Hz
Max filter centre frequency instability
± 1.5 % of f0
Tracking filter width
configurable
Tracking filter slopes
48 dB / octave
Low pass filter slopes
48 dB / octave
ADC resolution
10 bits
Hardwired speed input frequency range
10 Hz - 40 kHz
Hardwired speed input frequency resolution ±0.01% or 1Hz


· Three independent, high-accuracy vibration sensor inputs. Configurable for piezoelectric accelerometer sensors or different kinds of vibration transmitter
· Can be used as part of a system or in a stand-alone configuration
· Tracking filter and online tuneable low-pass filter functions
· Prepared for FFT
· Buffered voltage signal outputs for conditioned but unfiltered signals
· Configuration of VMS is made from application on a parameter basis over CAN or from NIRA's application tool WinNAP if used in a stand-alone configuration
· Aluminium casing
· Removable screw or spring pressure connectors

Brief information about Nira Automotive AB
Nira Automotive AB is a Swedish company owned mainly by the Volvo Technology Transfer Group, an investment company within Volvo AB. Nira Automotive develops, designs and markets electronic monitoring and control equipment for demanding industrial environments in automotive, marine and other industrial settings. Both hardware and software are supplied.

Nira Automotive AB was founded in 1985. During the early 1990s, Nira was the main supplier of an overall vehicle management and gas turbine control system for a 40-100W micro turbine engine for Volvo's Environmental Concept Car, Environmental Concept Truck and Environmental Concept Bus. The company's operations expanded with gas turbine applications and since 1995, Nira has also served as the main supplier of control systems for the Volvo Aero Land and Marine gas turbine division. Nira Automotive AB is currently expanding its activities internationally.

Since starting up, Nira has also developed a variety of other automotive control systems such as spin control, turbo charge control and complete engine control units (ECU), working closely with companies such as Volvo, Audi and BMW.

For additional information about VMS, NICS and Nira Automotive, please visit: http://www.nira.se/automotive

Or contact:
Mrs Katarina Edgren-Marsh
Business Development Manager
E-mail: katarina.edgren-marsh@nira.se
Telephone (direct): +46 31 734 21 10

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