Digital Process Monitoring of Stationary Processing Equipment—A Step Toward an Optimized Digital Processing Plant

Abstract

In response to the current trends of digital transformation in the raw materials extraction and processing industry, IFE Aufbereitungstechnik GmbH has set itself the challenging goal of developing robust and versatile sensor systems for monitoring the condition of their predominantly vibrating stationary processing units. It shall be used as a basis for establishing a predictive maintenance scheme and ultimately facilitate the reduction of equipment downtime. In the course of the research project, research activities will be directed in particular toward a better understanding of the operating state of vibrating machines, especially based on their vibration patterns. Namely, a range of experiments with various vibrating screens and vibratory conveyors as well as an already ongoing extended case study on a linear vibrating screen currently operating in a waste treatment plant will be conducted. Furthermore, DEM simulations of vibrating screens as well as a specifically engineered “Laboratory Vibrating Machine” will be part of the research process. The sensors in use to identify and measure the required vibration patterns will be newly developed vibration sensors called “Sapient Edge Sensors”, which, later on, will be combined with other sensors for measuring different parameters.