Crystallizers are a type of process equipment which are used to perform a variety of solid/liquid separation or crystal size refinement processes in the chemical and petrochemical industries. Crystallizers, like other processing machines, must be accurately tuned and monitored to ensure optimal performance. Monitoring and adjusting the vibrational parameters of crystallizers involves a variety of techniques, such as acoustic emission, system response, ultrasonic, and more. Each of these techniques requires careful consideration before vibration tuning begins.
Acoustic emission is one of the more common methods of detecting changes in crystallizer vibration. By outfitting the crystallizer with an acoustic emission system, high frequency impulses can be detected, providing valuable information on the frequency, amplitude, and duration of the vibration being experienced. This acoustic data can be further analyzed and used to assess the structural integrity of a crystallizer, as well as enabling adjustments to the vibration frequency and amplitude in order to reduce unwanted vibration and improve the efficiency of the crystallization process.
System response testing is another tool used to achieve accuracy in vibrational tuning. System response testing provides an indication of how a crystallizer will respond when subjected to specific vibration frequencies and amplitudes. This information can be used to adjust the motors on a crystallizer, as well as to modify the crystallization process so that it operates optimally at the desired frequencies and amplitudes. Additionally, system response information is invaluable for troubleshooting any issues that may arise.
Ultrasonic testing is an invaluable tool for both the design and tuning of crystallizers since it provides a detailed evaluation of the exact frequencies that cause the crystallizer to vibrate. Additionally, the use of specific instruments and probes can allow for the identification of existing structural defects that could create excessive vibration. Ultrasonic testing can be employed to measure the frequency response of original crystallizer design, as well as the frequency response when changes are made to motor alignment, lubrication, and other factors.
In addition to acoustic emission, system response, and ultrasonic testing, there are also a variety of other techniques that can be employed to accurately measure and monitor the vibrational parameters of crystallizers. These include the use of accelerometers to measure acceleration, strain gauges for measuring force, eddy current probes for checking the balance of a system, and flowmeters to measure fluid flow. Each of these methods provides helpful information on the operation of a crystallizer and must be obtained for an accurate assessment of its performance.
Finally, it is important to remember that the vibration parameters of a crystallizer should be checked and adjusted regularly to ensure efficient operation. As discussed above, a variety of techniques should be used in order to obtain the most accurate measure of vibration and to adjust parameters accordingly. Additionally, regular maintenance and troubleshooting should be employed to ensure that all the components of a crystallizer are functioning properly and that any potential issues that arise can be addressed in a timely manner.
