Make alarms meaningful
Good practice:
- Define which alarms need action, and by whom
- Separate warnings from trips
- Avoid duplicate or nuisance alarms
- Keep a record of alarms and responses
Use trends
Useful trends:
- System pressure and the pressure band
- Power and specific power
- Differential pressure across filters and separators
- Running hours and number of starts
- Dew point and temperature where measured
Compare like with like
Trends must be compared at similar loads and conditions. A change in demand can look like a change in performance.
Review regularly
Decide who reviews alarms and trends, how often and what actions follow. A short regular review gives more value than occasional deep dives.
What to prepare
Information that helps us advise:
- Number, make, model and size of the compressors
- Current controllers and how they are connected
- Pressure settings and the lowest pressure the process needs
- Demand pattern across shifts and any known problems
Frequently asked questions
How many alarms is too many?
If operators ignore them, there are too many. Review the list and remove or adjust nuisance alarms.
How long should I keep trend data?
Long enough to compare seasons and to see gradual change. The right period depends on the site.
Can alarms be sent to a phone?
Often yes, depending on the monitoring setup. Decide who receives them and what they should do.
Field guide
Alarms and trends: fewer, clearer, acted upon
A controller that raises dozens of warnings a week trains everyone to ignore them. Good alarm management keeps alarms meaningful, so the important ones get a response.
Three kinds of message
| Type | Meaning | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Service reminder | Maintenance due by hours | Plan the service and order parts |
| Warning | A value is moving towards a limit | Investigate within the shift |
| Shutdown | Protection has stopped the machine | Find the cause before restarting |
Practical steps
- Read and record the event log before resetting a trip.
- Never repeatedly reset a high-temperature or overload trip without finding the cause.
- Review recurring warnings monthly and fix the root cause, for example a cooler that needs cleaning every summer.
- Trend key values such as discharge temperature and pressure so small changes are visible.
What to send for a quotation
- Make, model and serial number of every compressor and dryer in the station.
- Running hours and a typical week of operation (shifts, weekends).
- Current pressure settings and controller type on each machine.
- Any alarm or fault history you have.
Send it through find my part or the spare parts enquiry, or call +91 99590 60718 or +91 92468 88812.