Compressor Vibration & Temperature Monitoring (Hydrogen & Biogas) — ATEX

Reduces failure risk

Vibration

Quick Overview

Problem

Compressors are mission-critical in biogas upgrading and hydrogen production. Bearing wear, imbalance, lubrication issues, or cooling failures can escalate quickly, causing unplanned shutdowns, safety exposure, and costly damage—especially in ATEX-classified gas environments.

Solution

Sensa.io’s ATEX-certified vibration and temperature sensors continuously monitor compressor health, enabling early detection of mechanical and thermal anomalies before failure occurs.

Value

Reduced unplanned downtime • Lower maintenance cost • Improved safety • Higher equipment availability

ATEX

Zones 0–2 • Ex ia IIC T4 Gb certified vibration & temperature sensors

The Operational Challenge

Compressors are used throughout renewable gas facilities for:

  • Biogas upgrading (membrane, PSA, water wash)
  • Hydrogen compression for storage and distribution
  • Gas boosting between process stages

They operate under demanding conditions:

  • Continuous duty cycles
  • High rotational speeds
  • Variable gas composition and pressure
  • Heat generation and vibration

Common failure modes include:

  • Bearing wear and lubrication degradation
  • Rotor imbalance or misalignment
  • Cooling system inefficiency
  • Excessive vibration leading to structural fatigue

Traditional monitoring methods often rely on:

  • Periodic manual vibration measurements
  • Temperature checks during inspections
  • Reactive maintenance after alarms or trips

This approach leaves long periods without visibility and increases failure risk.

Why Vibration & Temperature Monitoring Matters

Vibration and temperature are the earliest indicators of compressor degradation.

Continuous monitoring enables operators to:

  • Detect bearing wear weeks before failure
  • Identify imbalance or misalignment trends
  • Monitor overheating caused by cooling or lubrication issues
  • Correlate vibration patterns with operating regimes

Early detection prevents secondary damage and avoids sudden shutdowns in gas handling areas.

Sensa.io Solution

Sensa.io delivers a wireless, intrinsically safe compressor monitoring solution tailored to renewable gas applications.

Core Components

Vibration Sensor (ATEX Ex ia IIC T4 Gb)

Measures acceleration, velocity, and frequency signatures to identify mechanical anomalies.

Temperature Sensor (ATEX Ex ia IIC T4 Gb)

Monitors bearing housings, motor casings, or cooling circuits for overheating.

Wireless Communication

Supports LoRaWAN, Modbus, and MQTT for integration with SCADA, EMS, and predictive maintenance platforms.

Installation & Power

Battery-powered clamp-on or threaded installation — no cabling, no hot work, no downtime.

Operational Benefits

  • Early fault detection and trend-based maintenance
  • Reduced catastrophic compressor failures
  • Improved safety in ATEX gas zones
  • Optimised maintenance scheduling

Results and ROI

Metric Before After
Failure detection After damage Early trend-based
Downtime risk High Reduced
Maintenance cost Unpredictable Planned
Equipment lifetime Shortened Extended

ATEX Compliance and Safety

All sensors for compressor monitoring comply with:

  • ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU
  • Ex II 2 G Ex ia IIC T4 Gb (Zones 0–2)
  • IECEx certification

The intrinsically safe design allows installation on live compressors in hazardous gas areas.

Integration and compatibility

Protocols

LoRaWAN, Modbus RTU/TCP, MQTT, REST API

Systems

SCADA, EMS, CMMS, predictive maintenance tools

Vendors

Siemens Energy, ABB, Schneider Electric, Honeywell

Cybersecurity

AES-128 encrypted communication

FAQ - Common Questions

Are Sensa.io sensors compatible with any gateway or network?

Yes, they connect to any LoRaWAN or MQTT infrastructure (Kerlink, Cisco, Milesight, MultiTech, etc.) for flexible integration with existing SCADA systems.

What ATEX certifications apply to Sensa.io devices?

All hazardous-area models are certified Ex II 2 G Ex ia IIC T4 Gb and IECEx approved for Zones 0–2.

What is the typical battery life?

Up to 10 years at 15-minute intervals, depending on signal strength and environment.

How are the sensors integrated into existing systems?

Through standard protocols — LoRaWAN, Modbus, MQTT, REST API — no proprietary middleware needed.

How does predictive maintenance reduce OPEX?

Early anomaly detection reduces emergency interventions by 30–40 %, extends equipment life and lowers energy costs.

What does the Sensa.io Valve Position Sensor actually measure?

The device detects real-time valve position states—open, closed, or intermediate—with high accuracy. It continuously sends this information wirelessly to your monitoring dashboard.

Can this sensor detect partial valve movement or stuck valves?

Yes. The sensor identifies irregular patterns such as partial movement, delayed response, or stuck valves, enabling early maintenance before failure occurs.

Is this sensor suitable for manual, motorized, and actuated valves?

Yes. It supports a wide range of valve types including ball, gate, butterfly, actuator-driven, and manual valves.

How fast does it update the valve position?

You can configure the reporting interval—from seconds to minutes—depending on your operational and battery needs.

How long does installation take?

Most installations take under 10 minutes. The sensor mounts using brackets or clamps without modifying existing valves.

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