Application of Cluster Analysis for Classification of Vibration Signals from Drilling Stand Aggregates

Abstract

Rotary drilling technology with diamond tools is still essential in progressively extracting the earth’s resources. Since investigating the disintegration mechanism in actual conditions is very difficult, the practice must start with laboratory research. Identifying and classifying the drilling stand and its aggregates as objects will contribute to the clarification of certain problems related to streamlining the process, optimizing the working regime, preventing emergencies, and reducing energy and economic demands. For these purposes, the cluster method was designed and applied. Applying the clustering method has a significant place in complex and dynamic processes. Eight vibration signals were measured and processed during the operation of the aggregates, such as the motor, pump, and hydrogenerator, with a sampling frequency of 18 kHz and a time interval of 30 s. Subsequently, 16 symptoms were designed and numerically calculated in the time and frequency domain, creating the symptom vector of the aggregate. The aim of the study and article was the classification of aggregates as objects into recognizable clusters. The results show that the strong symptoms include a measure of variability, variance in the signal, and kurtosis. The weak symptoms are skewness and the moment of the signal spectrum. Visualization in the symptom plane and space proved their influence on cluster formation. According to the cluster analysis results, six to seven clusters presenting the activity of the aggregates were classified. It was found that the boundaries between the clusters were not sharp. As part of the research, the centroids of clusters of aggregates and the distances between them were calculated. Classified clusters can rebuild reference clusters for objects with a similar character in a broader context.