KSB Sonolyzer®

1. My measurement has failed despite having repeated the process several times. What can I do?

• Was the measurement taken on a variable speed machine? KSB Sonolyzer® can only take measurements on machines without frequency inverters.
• KSB Sonolyzer® provides the best results when you hold the microphone of your mobile device as close to the motor fan as possible.
• KSB Sonolyzer® requires the exact rated speed of the motor (on the motor name plate), not the speed of the pump (on the pump name plate).
• Was the measurement taken on a motor whose drive rating is too high? KSB Sonolyzer® is only compatible with machines that have a drive rating of up to 200 kW.

A failed measurement generally means that KSB Sonolyzer® could not produce a reliable measurement result. To avoid incorrect information from being communicated in this scenario, an error message is displayed instead of a measurement result. Failed measurements can also have other causes:

• Excessive wear of the pump set such as bearing damage or damage caused by cavitation can prevent KSB Sonolyzer® from reaching an accurate measurement result.
• KSB Sonolyzer® is only compatible with fan-cooled motors.
• Mains fluctuations can have a negative impact on the quality of the analysis.
• The measurement period must be at least 20 seconds. If you turn the smartphone around in order to look at the display while the measurement is underway, the measurement will be interrupted.

2. How exactly does KSB Sonolyzer® work?

• KSB Sonolyzer® starts out by analysing the audio signal of the motor fan to determine the current rotational speed of the asynchronous motor. This parameter is correlated with a suitable motor data model to derive the current input power of the machine. KSB Sonolyzer® then uses matching pump characteristic curves to determine the load range of the pump set.

3. How reliable and accurate is the KSB Sonolyzer® analysis?

• Thousands of successful measurements prove the excellent capabilities of KSB Sonolyzer® in day-to-day activities. KSB Sonolyzer® provides an indication of the operating point for machines that have an asynchronous motor and helps identify potential savings in energy consumed by machines. Whether these can be realised and how exactly this can be achieved, however, depends on a number of factors that must be quantified for the specific application – a task that goes beyond the scope of KSB Sonolyzer®. To obtain qualified, binding results, an on-site analysis will need to be conducted by an expert. Please contact your KSB sales partner by sending a message directly from within the app.
• See also http://www.elektrotechnik.vogel.de/einfach-betriebsdaten-von-antrieben-per-app-und-sensor-kaestchen-messen-a-550179/

4. Can interfering noise compromise the measurement taken by KSB Sonolyzer®?

• KSB Sonolyzer® is well equipped for filtering out the interfering noise typically generated by neighbouring machinery, for example. The most important thing to remember in this context is that you hold the microphone of the mobile device as close to the motor fan of the machine train you want to measure as possible. Doing so will ensure a satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio so that a correct measurement can be taken.

5. Can KSB Sonolyzer® also be used for machines from other manufacturers?

• Yes, KSB Sonolyzer® is suitable for analysing many other manufacturers’ pumps driven by an asynchronous motor at a constant mains frequency. A selection of compatible machines can be found in the corresponding list of the app under the Audio Analysis menu item.

6. My pump is not included in the app’s selection list. Can I still use the KSB Sonolyzer®?

• If your pump is comparable to a machine that is included in the selection list, particularly with respect to its power curve, KSB Sonolyzer®  will in all likelihood provide a correct measurement result.

7. What does the app cost?

• KSB Sonolyzer® can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and used free of charge.

8. I have some ideas on how KSB Sonolyzer® can be improved. What can I do?

• We welcome any feedback you have to offer. Please submit your ideas in an e-mail addressed to sonolyzer@ksb.com. We will make every attempt to implement your improvements in future versions.