There are 3 alarm relays integrated in the Evaluator:
- 1st Alarm relay: always assigned to main alarm, additionally programmable as pre-alarm or over speed alarm
- 2nd Alarm relay: programmable as main alarm or pre-alarm or both and/or over- speed alarm
- 1 Ready relay: indicates the system status
The BeCOMS® has a self test function which is carried out in a certain cycle. If any one of the conditions for System Ready status is not detected the Evaluator switches off the GREEN READY LED and the Ready relay opens. Error code and text error message are shown on the LCD of the Evaluator and also in the event window of Data_Logger on the monitoring computer.
BeCOMS® enables to set different alarm sensitivity levels by defining different thermovoltage signal thresholds as alarm condition. Thermosignal alarm levels are encoded as numbers from 1 to 5 (the higher the number is the less sensitive is the system).
Over-speed alarm level is given in RPM.
Alarm sensitivity levels must be set at the Evaluator. If alarm conditions are fulfilled, the firmware of the Evaluator triggers the corresponding alarm.
The BeCOMS® monitoring software on the computer does only registering, recording, displaying and storing data!
For example, the following set of conditions should be met in BeCOMS® in order to trigger a Main Alarm:
1) The GREEN READY LED has to be on.
2) The measured thermovoltage signals should be higher than the pre-set alarm level over a certain period of time.
3) The increase of these measured signals over time should be higher than a certain value.
4) The engine rotation speed should be higher than pre-set minimal value.
If Evaluator triggers a Main Alarm it does not necessarily mean that the affected parts have been damaged irreparably.
Depending on the pre-set alarm level and on wiring to the engine site alarm devices, Main Alarm alerts the operator that the tolerated level has been exceeded, indicating that further investigation of BeCOMS® signals is needed, and may initiate an engine shutdown.
By selecting the appropriate sensitivity level, the operator defines up to which extend he would allow moving parts to be affected by friction.
With this information of fault on early stage, the operator is aware of the progressing problem and has enough time for making decisions on engine maintenance and repair.
In case of an alarm triggering, it is shown
- by the LED indicators on the Evaluator
- by the Data_Logger software on the monitoring computer
- by alarm indicators of the engine alarm devices, depending on wiring