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| Test & Inspection |
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PE is well-known for the quality and precision of its measuring instruments and techniques. PE can perform or supervise just about any dimensional measurement. In fact, PE has developed practical techniques to solve "insolvable" problems!
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PE has vast experience designing and utilizing gear inspection instrumentation and our work in this area is world renowned. Per our Client's request, we are able to develop a series comprehensive - yet realistic - quality and inspection programs empowering them to select the best method to meet their specific needs. Additionally, we also have experience serving as a third party auditor and/or inspector. For example, if components have fallen short of their specified accuracy limits, PE can correlate inspection data to machine performance so that our Clients are informed to make better technical and economic decisions regarding potential manufacturing variances.
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PE also has the capability to evaluate and appraise lubricant suitability for a given application, recommend additives packages, and discuss new and unique formulations and applications. Over the years, we have developed close working relationships with several laboratories that enables us to perform the necessary analytical work to diagnose and evaluate lubricants, additives and wear products. Lubricant evaluation is often an integral part of a system's analysis and/or troubleshooting program, and we have the experience to correlate lubricant phenomena and data to machinery condition and diagnostics.
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PE has in-house high magnification tri-ocular optical microscopes, which makes it possible for us to perform detailed inspections of component surfaces. Similarly, we use high resolution digital cameras to capture salient information. If necessary, we can supplement optical inspections with scanning electron microscopy.
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PE specializes in the use of optical instruments to measure and align all types of rotating machinery. In many cases, we have pushed the envelope in developing new techniques and applications to increase the precision and accuracy of machinery alignment and appraisal measurements. Some of these techniques have been documented in technical papers and articles. See also Optical Alignment.
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PE is one of the very few North American engineering service companies with the experience and equipment necessary to perform full scale performance and acceptance tests for generators, hydraulic turbines and pumps, and voltage regulators in accordance with all required standards.
Generators
PE is certified and calibrated to NIST standards. In the case of acceptance tests, final reports are prepared in accordance with all contract or warranty requirements, while in the case of performance tests, report emphasis is to optimize Clients' operating regime or to recommend areas where improvements could be achieved.
Hydraulic Turbines & Pumps
PE conducts hydraulic turbine and pump performance and acceptance testing in accordance with IEC 41. All test instrumentation is certified and calibrated to NIST standards. In the case of acceptance tests, final reports are prepared in accordance with all contract or warranty requirements, while in the case of performance tests, report emphasis is to optimize Clients' operating regime or to recommend areas where improvements could be achieved.
Voltage Regulators
PE has developed specialized techniques and methods to test and evaluate the performance of generator voltage regulators, with special emphasis on older, more difficult to service models, such as Amplidynes, Magastats, Regulex, etc. Performance is measured principally in terms of stability and dynamic response. In most cases, performance testing is followed by realignment and optimization. Complete dynamic response characteristics are measured.
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PE employs high precision, field transportable, surface profilometry to measure surface roughness and to fully characterize surface characteristics. These measurements are invaluable for calculating specific film thicknesses, bearing load areas, and the extent of damaged surfaces. In the case of super polished components, we also have access to non-contact, laboratory grade, profilometers to measure roughness and topography at the sub-micron level.
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PE has a host of temperature measuring instrumentation including RTD's, thermocouples, non contact infra red probes, connected to computer data acquisition systems that log and process the data. PE routinely performs measurements to establish machinery class according to ANSI C50. In many cases, we correlate thermal data to process fluid temperatures, velocities and flow rates to determine heat transfer coefficients and efficiency. As required, we also use finite element analysis tools to model thermal heat flow and temperature distribution through entire machines and then recommend changes to improve thermal performance.
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PE has developed several extremely efficient (time saving) and accurate techniques for measuring verticality of large rotating machines. We also have laser alignment equipment for precise alignment and coupling of horizontal rotating equipment.
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