Application Note

3 Fluke Corporation What’s shakin’ with your HVAC system?
A vibration tester even
an expert can love
One of my favorite sites to visit
is a large arena that is home to
an NBA team and both profes-
sional and college hockey teams.
The site also regularly hosts ice
skating shows and competi-
tions. Several large reciprocating
compressors are used to make
the ice for these events. (Inter-
estingly, the ice used for hockey
is kept at a different tempera-
ture than the ice used for figure
skating. The ice temperature for
both, however, is kept to tight
tolerances, and before an event
starts, compliance is verified by
officials using a Fluke infrared
thermometer.)
When we visited the rink,
its cooling system was being
checked in preparation for the
busy season ahead. As part of
the equipment overhaul and
checkout, we decided use the
Fluke 810 Vibration Tester to
perform a thorough vibration test
on the ice system reciprocating
compressors. Since I knew we
would want to check the equip-
ment again in the future, we
epoxied the provided mounting
pads onto the proper locations
on the compressors.
We decided to check the pump
first. On pump startup, we used
the 810’s laser tachometer to
measure the motor RPMs and
enter the other required data
with the keypad, and then took
our vibration measurements.
Next we did the same for the
reciprocating compressors.
Although the Fluke 810
Vibration Tester was developed
for people with no vibration
measurement experience, it
also has features that people
with vibration expertise will
appreciate. For example, the
810 generates a graph of the
vibration spectra that you
can examine right on its color
screen. (You can also download
the vibration data from the 810
to a computer and examine it
with the included Viewer PC
software.) This enables vibra-
tion consultants and others with
vibration expertise to evaluate
vibration data visually. Doing so,
we were able to see a truncated
waveform for the piston stroke
and top dead center timing at
the end of the stroke on one of
the compressors. Experience
indicated that this was caused
by some looseness in rod end
bearings. We repaired these and
then rechecked. All was well!
When we tested a second,
identical compressor, the 810
indicated some structural loose-
ness. When we re-torqued the
hold-down bolts and rechecked
with the 810, the vibration prob-
lem had disappeared.
By measuring and evaluat-
ing the vibration data for these
two machines with the Fluke
810, we were able to detect and
correct problems that could have
caused real problems.
Something for everyone
You don’t have to be a pro
to appreciate the Fluke 810
Vibration Tester, because the
expertise is built into the device.
We were able to read the
manual, attach the sensor, enter
the required information, and
get understandable and useful
diagnostic information within
minutes of opening the box. By
just following the prompts that
appear on the screen you can
start saving thousands of dollars
in reduced downtime and emer-
gency maintenance.
Fluke Corporation
PO Box 9090, Everett, WA 98206 U.S.A.
Fluke Europe B.V.
PO Box 1186, 5602 BD
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
For more information call:
In the U.S.A. [phone] or
Fax [phone]
In Europe/M-East/Africa [phone] or
Fax [phone]
In Canada (800)-36-FLUKE or
Fax [phone]
From other countries [phone] or
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Web access: http://www.fluke.com
©2010 Fluke Corporation.
Specifications subject to change without notice.
Printed in U.S.A. 10/2010 3941896B A-EN-N
Modification of this document is not permitted
without written permission from Fluke Corporation.
Fluke. Keeping your world
up and running.
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