ArcelorMittal to monitor low-speed machinery with HD technology

Following a successful pilot with the SPM HD technology on a critical gearbox, ArcelorMittal's steelworks in Avilés and Gijón, Spain, have decided to adopt the technology and extend condition monitoring to additional critical production assets.

When the Avilés works were experiencing issues with a gearbox driving a guillotine blade for cutting cold-cast steel plates, they approached SPM distributor CND to conduct a pilot using SPM HD on this challenging, low-speed application.

Over approximately five months, shock pulse levels were measured before and after replacement of the faulty component, a gear ring. The trial clearly showed that SPM HD detected bearing damage that traditional vibration analysis failed to reveal.

An Intellinova Compact online system was used for the test setup. Three transducers were installed on the gearbox’s different stages, along with a speed sensor, to ensure reliable data extraction under challenging operating conditions.

The application in question presented some complicating factors that needed to be taken into account when configuring measurements:
- Ultra-short operating cycles, allowing only a two-second maximum window for data collection,
- Continuously interrupted cycle; the shear remained stationary between cycles, causing the motor-gearbox drive to stop and start repeatedly, and
- Extremely low rotational speed.

Despite these constraints, careful analysis of the collected data showed a clear distinction between the condition of the gearbox before and after repair. No such difference could be identified in the vibration data, underscoring the capability of SPM HD in low-speed envi-ronments.

ArcelorMittal is now installing Intellinova Parallel EN units to monitor motors, gearboxes, and support bearings on the conveyor belts feeding the blast furnace. Several of these assets also operate at low speeds. Further projects are under development for shear com-ponents and the ladle rotation bearing, including its motor and gearbox. Future projects may also involve the handheld Leonova Diamond analyzer. Similar initiatives are underway at the company’s Sagunto works.

ArcelorMittal is one of the world’s five largest producers of iron ore and metallurgical coal, supplying quality steel to major global steel markets such as the automotive, construction, household appliances, and packaging industries.