Abstract:
A monitoring system for rotating equipment includes detection of temperature conditions in various areas of the system including motor and pump bearings, mechanical seal environment including seal flush, seal cooler and seal reservoir and process fluid temperature. The monitoring system allows for the prediction of component failures and a proactive repair schedule which minimizes if not eliminates component damage.

Description:
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/414 779, filed Sep. 30, 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a condition monitoring system for rotating equipment and, more particularly, to a system for detecting operating conditions of such rotating equipment in an effort to prevent equipment failures. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Manufacturing and production facilities include rotating equipment therein such as motors and pumps. These motors and pumps include various components which may undergo wear or have equipment defects which cause failure of the components. Such components include bearings on the motor and pump, and mechanical seals which prevent leakage of the process fluid being pumped into the pump components along the shaft. Any failures of the components of the rotating equipment may cause significant expense both in the repair of the rotating equipment as well as down time during the manufacturing or processing of product. 
   In an effort to identify equipment damage prior to complete failure thereof, it is known to collect vibration data on the bearings of rotating equipment. Vibration data typically is collected on two locations on each of the motor and pump which locations correspond to the bearings therein. More particularly as to each bearing location, vibration data is collected for both the horizontal and vertical directions. It is important that the horizontal and vertical directions be at right angles and aligned with each other. In addition, to the horizontal and vertical data, axial data is collected for each of the motor and pump. 
   Vibration data can indicate equipment problems such as unbalance, bearing defects, gear defects, blade/impeller faults, structural resonance problems, rubbing, loss of lubrication, oil whirl, cavitation/recirculation problems, equipment distress and seal distress. As the equipment components begin to fail, vibration levels typically increase and if left undetected, catastrophic damage may occur to the equipment and result in extensive repair costs as well as lost production. 
   When increases in vibration levels lead to an indication of failure, repairs are required to the equipment although these repairs are less than when catastrophic failure is reached. Once the vibration levels increase, a window of time is provided between the start of excessive vibration and a catastrophic failure point such that it is critical to identify and correct and problems during this failure window. However, an undesirable feature associated with vibration analysis is that vibration is indicative of the presence of some damage such that this damage still must be repaired. 
   Furthermore, vibration analysis requires that the horizontal, vertical and axial vibration measurements be at precise orientations. This may be difficult, however, for measurements taken with handheld vibration detectors, particularly where the equipment material is non-metallic. For example, if a horizontal measurement is not taken perpendicular to the vertical measurement, results would be affected. Accordingly, use of manual vibration detectors is more likely to introduce human error into the process, although the use of handheld measurement devices remains desirable since this is more cost effective than using a fully automated sensing system comprising permanent sensors and monitoring equipment. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a system of monitoring rotating equipment which proactively or predictively identifies component problems prior to the occurrence of damage in the rotating equipment. 
   The invention relates to a monitoring system which collects temperature data of critical areas on the rotating equipment. This temperature monitoring system is capable of detecting problems before damage occurs and may be used in combination with vibration analysis and other sampling techniques to provide a comprehensive monitoring system for the rotating equipment. 
   Generally, the temperature monitoring system of the invention monitors bearing temperatures in the motor and pump, the process fluid temperature and various areas of the mechanical seal environment including seal flush, seal cooler and seal reservoir. Typically, unusual fluid flow in the equipment components generates undesirable and out of the ordinary heat which causes temperature increases that may be detected before actual failure and damage of the components. This may significantly reduce repair costs and down time of the rotating equipment. 
   The condition monitoring system furthermore provides more reliable results with bearings since only a single temperature reading is made on each bearing wherein the temperature reading does not require that the temperature detector be oriented at a precise angle. Still further, the temperature monitoring system allows other equipment environments to be monitored, particularly, the seal environment wherein conditions leading to failure cause little if any vibration. 
   Other objects and purposes of the invention, and variations thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic plan view of a processing facility having a plurality of machines and an on-site computer terminal for analyzing data. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged side elevational view of one machine comprising rotating equipment which includes a pump and motor therefor. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view of vibration detection locations and temperature collection locations on the rotating equipment. 
       FIG. 4  is a side cross sectional view of the pump. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of temperature data being collected from a machine. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic end view of a machine with a vibration detector illustrated in precise horizontal and vertical orientations and a temperature detector illustrated in multiple unrestricted locations. 
       FIG. 7  is a graph of a sample temperature plot for collected temperature data. 
       FIG. 8  is a partial side view of an API Plan  11  piping configuration for the pump. 
       FIG. 9  is a partial cross sectional side view of the seal arrangement for the pump of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a more detailed partial cross sectional side view of the pump and seal. 
       FIG. 11  is a partial side view of an API Plan  21  piping configuration for the pump. 
       FIG. 12  is a partial cross sectional side view of the seal arrangement for the pump of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 13  is a more detailed partial cross sectional side view of the pump and seal. 
       FIG. 14  is a partial side view of an API Plan  23  piping configuration for the pump. 
       FIG. 15  is a partial cross sectional side view of the seal arrangement for the pump of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 16  is a more detailed partial cross sectional side view of the pump and seal. 
       FIG. 17  is a partial side view of an API Plan  53  piping configuration for the pump. 
       FIG. 18  is a partial cross sectional side view of the seal arrangement for the pump of  FIG. 17 . 
       FIG. 19  is a more detailed partial cross sectional side view of the pump and seal. 
   

   Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “rightwardly” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the arrangement and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the invention relates to a condition monitoring system for rotating equipment, wherein temperature data is periodically collected for the equipment and analyzed to identify abnormal operating conditions. Such abnormal operating conditions, if left uncorrected, would eventually lead to failure of the rotating equipment. However, the monitoring system of the invention is capable of providing early warning of abnormal conditions before significant damage occurs to the rotating equipment. This temperature monitoring may be conducted by itself but preferably is conducted in combination with vibration monitoring. 
   Generally, a manufacturing or processing facility or plant  10  includes multiple machines  12  therein.  FIG. 1  diagrammatically illustrates a layout of rotating equipment type machines  12  although the physical location and construction of the machines  12  varies widely from facility to facility. It will be understood that the layout of  FIG. 1  is for illustrative purposes and that the system of the invention as described herein may be readily adapted to any facility. 
   Each machine  12  typically includes a drive component  14 , such as a motor  15 , and a driven component  16 , such as a pump  17 . The drive and driven components  14  and  16  are mounted on a base frame  18 . It will be understood that the driven component  16  may also be a compressor, fan, gearbox or the like and the term “fluid” herein may refer to a liquid or a gas. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the electric motor  15  is mounted on a pedestal  19  and has a housing  20  which includes an outboard end  21  and an inboard end  22 . A pair of motor bearings are enclosed within the motor housing  20  proximate the opposite ends  21  and  22  respectively. These bearings support a rotatable drive shaft  24  which extends axially from the inboard end  22  and rotates about axis  26 . The terminal end of the drive shaft  24  includes a shaft coupling  27 . 
   The pump  17  includes a bearing housing  30  which is supported vertically on a pedestal  31  by a housing mount  32 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the bearing housing  30  is generally cylindrical and includes a pump shaft  33  extending axially therethrough. The pump shaft  33  is rotatably supported by an outboard thrust bearing  34  and an inboard radial bearing  35 . The thrust bearing  34  is supported within the housing  30  within an annular flange  38  of an end cap  36 . 
   The bearing  35  directly contacts a housing wall  37  while the bearing  34  is supported on the wall  37  by the annular flange  38  on the end cap  36 . The annular flange  38  mutually contacts the bearing  34  and the housing wall  37 . In view of the foregoing, heat generated in the bearings  34  and  35  is conducted radially to the exterior housing surface  39 . 
   The outboard end  40  of the pump shaft  33  projects axially from the bearing housing  30  and is connected to the coupling  27  in coaxial alignment with the motor shaft  24  so as to rotate in unison therewith. The inboard end  41  of the pump shaft  33  projects from the bearing housing  30 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the pump  17  further includes a pump casing  45  and a seal housing  46  disposed intermediate the pump casing  45  and bearing housing  30 . The pump casing  45  includes an inlet  47  that defines the suction eye  48  thereof which opens axially into an impeller chamber  49 . The impeller chamber  49  opens radially into an outlet or discharge port  50  and includes a rotary impeller  51  therein. The pump shaft  33  projects axially into the impeller chamber  49  and is affixed to the impeller  51  so as to effect rotation thereof. 
   The pump  17  further includes a stuffing box  52  which opens axially into a seal chamber  53 . The stuffing box  52  has an inboard end  54  which is spaced radially outwardly of the shaft  30  and an outboard end  55  which is constricted radially to define a throat  56  that communicates with the impeller chamber  49 . 
   When the pump shaft  33  is driven by the motor  15 , the impeller  51  rotates within the impeller chamber  49  in a conventional manner. The inlet  47  allows a process fluid  58  to flow into the impeller chamber  49  as seen in  FIG. 10  whereby the impeller  51  discharges the process fluid  58  through the outlet  50  under pressure. 
   To prevent leakage of the process fluid  58  axially along the shaft  33  through the stuffing box  52 , a mechanical seal is mounted to the stuffing box  52  such as the single mechanical seal  59  illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The mechanical seal  59  includes a pair of relatively rotatable annular seal rings  60  and  61 . A seal gland  62  is fastened to the stuffing box  52  and supports the seal ring  61  non-rotatably thereon. The other seal ring  60  is rotatably supported on the shaft  33  by a shaft sleeve  63 . A more detailed discussion of the mechanical seal environment will be provided herein. 
   During operation of the machine  12 , the various bearings in the motor  14  and the pump  17  may begin to wear, which could cause vibrations, or may be subject to vibrations due to abnormal conditions associated with the rotatable components of the machine  12  such as in the impeller  51  or due to cavitation or recirculation problems in the process fluid  58 . 
   To identify such vibrations, it is known to collect vibration data on the machine  12 . In particular, it is known to measure vibration levels occurring in the motor  15  and pump  17  in an effort to identify abnormal operating conditions. Such vibration measurements are taken adjacent the bearings of the pump  17  and motor  15 . 
     FIG. 3  diagrammatically illustrates a drive component  14 , such as a motor, and a driven component  16 , wherein the components  14  and  16  have respective shafts  24  and  33  that are interconnected by a coupling  27 . To monitor vibrations, handheld data collection units have been used to collect vibration data through a magnetic vibration sensor  64  which attaches to the metal housings of the drive component  14  and the driven component  16  as diagrammatically illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
   For each bearing location, a horizontal vibration reading  65  and a vertical vibration reading  66  are taken. Additionally, axial vibration readings  67  are taken. As seen in  FIG. 6 , the horizontal reading  65  is taken by the sensor  64  which is magnetically affixed to the housing  30  or  20  to avoid inadvertent sensor movement during a test. Thereafter, the vertical reading  66  is taken by the same sensor  64  wherein the phantom lines in  FIG. 6  indicate a second sensor position. It is important, however, that the horizontal and vertical orientations of the sensor  64  be perpendicular to each other otherwise vibration readings would be affected. Further, solid contact of the sensor  64  with the housing  30  or  20  should be maintained to avoid movements which would introduce human error. Maintaining secure contact, however, may prove difficult for non-metallic housings. 
   While vibration analysis is useful in avoiding catastrophic failure of rotating equipment, such analysis also has drawbacks. In particular, each pair of bearings on a machine component requires five (5) total readings and precise positioning and orientation of the tip of the sensor  64 . Further, such testing identifies problems caused by vibrations associated with rotating components although such testing does not detect problems which may cause damage but do not result in vibrations, for example, as occurs in the mechanical seal. 
   Still further, vibrations typically result from damage existing within the machine  12 . Therefore, by the time excessive vibrations are detected, repairs may already be required for the machine  12  which will require that the machine  12  be taken out of service at least temporarily. 
   The temperature monitoring system of the invention, however, supplements vibration testing and improves upon the detection of problems in operating conditions before damage occurs. 
   More particularly as to how damage occurs, the earliest detection method is bearing oil analysis. Machine problems typically result in contaminants being found in the bearing oil. These contaminants provide the earliest warning of a problem and may be uncovered by oil analysis. However, oil analysis requires that oil samples be obtained and is a more complex testing process. 
   Next, heat levels begin to rise, and thereafter, vibration begins to occur once component damage occurs. Eventually, one or more machine components may fail resulting in costly repairs and downtime. 
   The system of the invention relates to a condition monitoring system which monitors the operating temperatures of selected components to identify abnormal operating conditions which may ultimately result in damage or failure of machine components. The monitoring system not only collects data and monitors rotating components such as bearings, but also allows for monitoring of the seal environment and fluids within the machine. This data is collected and compared to historical data from the same group of machines or to data obtained contemporaneously from different areas of the machine to provide early warning of potential problems. 
   The system generally involves first determining multiple temperature sensing locations on the machines, periodically collecting temperature data from such locations, and analyzing such data to identify and diagnose problems. 
   The temperature sensing locations are determined beforehand and physically marked on the machines. For a drive component  14  such as the motor  15 , at least one and preferably two temperature sensing locations  70  are defined thereon so as to indicate the operating temperature of the motor bearings. Often, the motor near the outboard bearing has a cover which does not facilitate conduction of heat from the bearing to the cover such that a temperature measurement on the outboard motor bearing may not be feasible. As such, only one temperature reading on the drive component  14  would be taken. 
   As to the driven component  16  such as the pump  17 , the pair of bearings  34  and  35  are typically located so as to conduct heat to the outer housing surface  39 . As such, two temperature readings are usually taken from sensor locations  71  on the driven component  17 . 
   As a result, possibly four but more likely three temperature readings associated with the bearings are taken for the motor  15  and pump  17 . These readings can provide an early indication of bearing problems. Furthermore, only one temperature reading is required for each bearing thereby reducing the number of readings as compared to those required for vibration testing. 
   Temperature readings also are easier to obtain since the temperature reading is not dependent upon the physical orientation of a temperature sensor  72 . As seen in  FIG. 72 , equivalent temperature readings may be taken from any of the locations identified by reference numeral  72  therein. In the first position indicated by P 1 , the sensor  72  is approximately one inch away from the outer housing surface, while the sensor  72  is closely adjacent to or in contact in the positions P 2  and P 3  respectively. 
   The preferred data collector  75  for taking and storing temperature readings is a hand held manual data collector sold by Rockwell Automation of Milwaukee, Wis. under the model name Enpac 1200A. The Enpac 1200A is designed to download and store a predefined list of machines and to collect and store specific temperature readings for each machine  12  through a temperature sensor unit  77  attached by a cable  77 A. This data collector  75  is illustrated in  FIG. 5  being held by a test person or tester  76 . The sensor unit  77  has a hand piece  78  that is pointed at a surface to be tested and triggered to collect a temperature reading which is stored electronically within internal storage on the data collector  75 . 
   The primary requirement for the sensor unit  77  is that the surface being detected must be a dark surface. As seen in  FIG. 6 , if a dark surface is not provided, a separate plate  80  may be mounted to the housing surface being tested. 
   Alternatively, the plate  80  could be a bar code attached to the housing surface to provide a suitable color surface and also identify the location being tested. The sensor unit  77  of the data collector  75  reads this bar code  80  simultaneously with detection of the temperature to input both location and temperature data into the internal storage of the data collector  75 . 
   Not only is the data collector  75  capable of detecting the operating temperatures associated with the bearings, the data collector  75  also is used to detect the operating temperature of other machine components such as the process fluid  58  and the environment of the mechanical seal. As described herein, the sensing locations associated with the process fluid  58  and mechanical seal  59  will vary depending upon the specific configuration of the machine  12  and the specific piping plan being used thereon. 
   When initially setting up a data collection program, a survey or audit is conducted of the machines  12  in the facility  10 . The specific sensing locations are assigned for each machine  12 . Further, the physical location of the machines  12  is evaluated to determine or map out the most efficient route which the human collector  76  will walk to collect the temperature data. One route  80  is diagrammatically illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with data collection stops  81  provided at each machine  12 . 
   Once the sequence of machines  12  is mapped, this information is loaded into a main computer processing unit  82 . In the preferred method of the invention, this processing unit  82  is located offsite and accessed through a secure internet connection  83  via an on-site computer terminal  84 . The data collector  75  is plugged into a cable port on the on-site terminal  84  and the data collection route is downloaded thereto. The collector person  76  walks this route and enters temperature data at each machine  12  by aiming the sensor unit  75  at temperature sensing locations such as those associated with the bearings and mechanical seal. Each individual reading is stored in the data collector  75 . 
   At the end of the route or data collection procedure, the collector person  76  replugs the data collector  75  into the terminal  84  and electronically uploads the data to the processing unit  82 , which analyzes the data and returns a report to a facility engineer for evaluation and repair of any machines  12  having abnormal operating conditions. 
   It will be understood that the processing unit  82  may be eliminated and that all computer analysis may be conducted by the on-site terminal  84  through software. Furthermore, the system may be fully automated to ultimately eliminate manual collection of the temperature data. 
   As to the collected data, this data may be analyzed in a number of ways. Preferably such data is collected periodically, such as daily, weekly, monthly or annually. The frequency of this period will vary, for example, depending upon the critical nature of the equipment and the cost of the equipment. Upon the completion of each data collection procedure, such data is preferably compared to the historical data previously collected and stored. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary plot of data for a single sensor location as collected over ten (10) different time periods identified T 1  through T 10 . The temperature plot includes two parallel horizontal lines which are vertically spaced apart and generally indicate upper and lower temperature levels  88  and  89 . These levels indicate basic levels which set off an alarm. However, when these levels are reached, serious component damage may already be present. 
   The following discusses monitoring of a temperature trend to provide an earlier indication of abnormal operating conditions. During the initial five test periods, the component temperature remained relatively steady. At the data collection period T 6 , an initial temperature increase was detected. At period T 7 , the rate of increase increased noticeably. This actual increase exceeds a predefined percentage of increase, preferably 10%, and accordingly, a warning of a 10% change is generated to prompt inspection of the component being tested. The percent change may trigger the alert either by exceeding a predefined rate or when the rate of increase is greater than the rate of increase of a previous test period which would likely indicate a worsening problem. 
   Therefore, at time T 7 , preemptive correction of a problem could be done before the temperature exceeded upper temperature limit  88 . With temperature analysis, such a temperature increase, for example as in a bearing, would occur when the rotating components had suffered little if any damage. In the seal environment, the temperature increase would be detected before seal damage occurred. 
   If the problem is not corrected immediately, a further notice would be generated when the temperature exceeds an alarm point for the temperature. If the component temperature continues to increase, a warning level would be reached when the temperature exceeds the upper level  88  indicating the component temperature was in a danger zone where component damage or failure was emminant. This three-tiered system of monitoring temperature trends is particularly applicable for bearings. For bearings, the alert temperature would be set at 180° F. which is the temperature that the bearing oil would begin to oxidize. The final warning level would be set at 200° F. 
   When analyzing the temperature data, several different approaches could be taken. At a basic level, the temperature data could be used only to determine if the current temperature levels were within upper and lower limits  88  and  89 . However, this might not take into account a machine that normally runs hot, unusually hot or cold environmental conditions which could elevate or decrease the component temperature, or running varying process fluids at different temperatures which also could affect the component temperature. 
   In view of the foregoing, it is more preferable that the last temperature data collected be compared against historical data for the same component or against contemporaneous data for different locations to diagnose a problem. 
   More particularly, the last temperature data can be compared against historical reference data for the same component. In one example, the reference data preferably is from the previous data collection time period as described above. In this case, T 10  data would be compared against T 9  data. 
   Alternatively, the reference data may be defined by a benchmark calculated from an average of temperature data collected over time, for example, the data collected at the beginning of the data collection program such as the data for periods T 1  through T 5 . This benchmark would assume that the machines were in optimum operating condition wherein increases exceeding the predefined increase percentage would indicate abnormal operating conditions. 
   Additionally, the collected data may be analyzed for temperature trends caused by climate changes during different seasons, differences in temperatures of different process fluids, and differences in the environmental temperature of the facility  10 . 
   In addition to this ability to compare trends in historical temperature data, the temperature data at one location may also be compared against contemporaneous temperature data and other test data at other locations. 
   For example,  FIGS. 8–10  illustrate an API Plan  11  piping arrangement for the mechanical seal  59 . This piping plan includes a bypass flush  95  which provides a flow of process fluid  58  from the pump discharge  50  to the stuffing box  52 . 
   In particular, the seal gland  62  includes a flush inlet  96  which opens radially into a seal chamber  97  adjacent the seal rings  60  and  61 . A bypass pipe  98  is connected to the discharge  50  and the inlet  96  to permit process fluid  58  to flow therethrough to flush the seal rings  60  and  61  and then flows back to the impeller chamber  49  through the throat  56 . The bypass pipe  98  includes an orifice  99  to control fluid flow therethrough. 
   In this piping arrangement, the pump  17  and motor  15  preferably are each provided with five vibration sensing locations as described relative to  FIG. 3 . Further, the motor  15  has one temperature sensing location associated with the inboard bearing, while the pump  17  has two sensing locations disposed radially adjacent the bearings  34  and  35 . These temperature sensing locations identify heat buildup in the bearings and preferably would be analyzed based upon a comparison of the latest temperature data with the historical temperature data for the same sensing location to identify a percentage of increase which is excessive. 
   Also, a sensing location  100  is defined on the bypass pipe  95  to indicate the flush temperature and a sensing location  101  is provided on the pump casing  45  to indicate the process fluid temperature in the discharge  50 . Based upon contemporaneous measurements, the flush and process fluid temperatures should be proximate to each other. After a plug begins to form such as in the orifice  99 , however, a drop in flush temperature relative to the process fluid temperature would occur indicating the plugged orifice  99  in the bypass pipe  95 . Eventually, the temperature plot would increase due to heat generated in the seal  59  in the absence of flush caused by a plugged orifice  99 . This arrangement therefore shows the method of taking a temperature reading at a single location along a flow path to identify an abnormal flow condition. 
     FIGS. 11–13  illustrate the pump  17  with an API  21  piping plan. The pump  17  includes the seal  59  in the same arrangement as  FIGS. 8–10 . 
   In this piping plan, a seal flush arrangement  105  is provided with an upstream pipe  106  and a heat exchanger  107 . The upstream pipe  106  is connected to the pump discharge  50  and includes a flow control orifice  108 . Hot process fluid is supplied therethrough to the heat exchanger  107 . The heat exchanger  107  includes an inlet  109  connected to the pipe  106  and an outlet pipe  110  connected to a downstream pipe  111 . The downstream pipe connects to the seal inlet  96 . 
   The heat exchanger  107  also includes a cooling water inlet  112  and a cooling water outlet  113 . For temperature data collecting, the motor  15  includes one sensing location and the pump  17  includes two sensing locations for the bearings as described above. Also, a sensing location  114  is defined on the pump case  45  and another location  115  is defined on the pipe  115  to warn of plugging of the orifice  108  similar to an API Plan  11  arrangement. 
   Still further, sensing locations are defined on the cooling water inlet  112  and outlet  113  and the temperature readings are compared with each other based upon contemporaneous data to warn if the heat exchanger  107  is not working properly. This therefore shows an alternate data collection method of monitoring operation of a component by collecting and comparing data from upstream and downstream sensing locations. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 14–16 , the pump  17  has an API plan  23  piping arrangement. In this arrangement, a circulating ring  120  is provided on the shaft  33  and an outlet flush pipe  121  is connected to an outlet bore  122 . Further, a heat exchanger  123  is connected to the pipe  121  as well as an inlet flush pipe  124  which pipes the flush fluid back in to the seal  59  through inlet  96 . The heat exchanger  123  includes a cooling water inlet  125  and a cooling water outlet  126 . 
   For temperature data collection, one sensing location is provided on the motor  15  and two sensing locations are provided on the pump  17  for the bearings. Further, sensing locations  130  and  131  are provided on the flush lines  121  and  124  respectively. Still further, a sensing location  132  is provided on the pump case  45  and further sensing locations are provided on the cooling water inlet  125  and outlet  125 . These sensor locations indicate proper functioning of the heat exchanger  123 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 17–19 , the pump  17  has an API plan  53  piping arrangement. In this arrangement, a double seal arrangement is provide comprising an outboard seal  140  and an inboard seal  141  wherein a seal chamber  142  is defined therebetween. A pressurized barrier fluid  143  is supplied to the seal chamber  142  through a barrier fluid inlet  144  and a barrier fluid outlet  145 . The inlet  144  and outlet  145  are connected respectively to inlet and outlet pipes  146  and  147  which are further connected to a barrier fluid supply tank  148  to define a closed loop fluid supply system. 
   Further, a pressure source  150  is connected to the supply tank  148  and a block valve  151  may be provided thereon as seen in  FIGS. 17 and 18  and a pressure gauge  152  provided as seen in  FIG. 19 . A pressure switch, pressure gauge and flow indicator also may be installed on the inlet pipe  146 . 
   For temperature data collection, one sensing location is provided on the motor  15  and two sensing locations are provided on the pump  17  as described above. Further, temperature sensing locations may be defined on the barrier fluid in and barrier fluid out lines  146  and  147  to confirm proper flow of barrier fluid based upon a comparison of contemporaneous data from the different sensing locations. Further, data collection also includes the barrier fluid level and barrier fluid pressure to confirm proper operation thereof since low fluid levels and low pressure levels may be the cause of high temperature readings elsewhere in the seal system. 
   These plans are examples of data collection methods for the seal environment. These piping plans also may be combined. For example, a bypass flush of API Plan  11  could be added to the Plan  53  seal of  FIGS. 17–19  at which time temperature data would be taken for the pump case  45  and a bypass flush line as in  FIG. 8 . 
   In operation, the method for monitoring operating conditions is performed on rotating equipment which rotating equipment comprises the drive component  14  having the rotating drive shaft  24  in the driven component  16  having the shaft  33  and a rotating part connected to the shaft  33 . The rotating part may be a pump impeller  51  or the like. The rotating equipment further includes bearings therein which rotatably support the shafts  24  and  33  and the rotating part thereon. The rotating equipment also includes a process fluid and a primary mechanical seal preventing leakage of the process fluid along the shaft  33 . The mechanical seal includes passages therein containing a seal fluid such as a gland flush, barrier fluid or cooling water. 
   The method comprises the steps of providing the temperature data collector  75  having the temperature source  77 , and defining temperature sensing locations on the rotating equipment. The sensing locations are defined on the bearings and/or on the seal passages. Each temperature sensing location  70  or  71  associated with a bearing indicates an operating temperature of the associated bearing, and each sensing location associated with a seal passage indicates a temperature of a seal fluid such as the flush, barrier fluid or cooling water. 
   The method further includes the steps of performing a temperature data collection procedure on the rotating equipment which comprises the steps of manually positioning the temperature sensor  77  adjacent the rotating equipment, detecting surface temperatures on the rotating equipment by temperature readings of the sensing locations through the temperature sensor  77 , and storing temperature data from each said temperature reading in the data collector  75 . This data collection procedure is repeated periodically over time to develop historical data for each sensing location. Thereafter, the temperature data is analyzed by comparing each temperature data from a last data collection procedure with reference temperature data to identify temperature increases in the rotating equipment that indicate abnormal operating conditions of the bearings and/or the seal arrangement. 
   The reference temperature data may be defined by the temperature data of at least one prior data collection procedure wherein a plurality of prior data collection procedures may be performed and the results averaged to generate the reference temperature data. Alternatively, the prior data collection procedure may be defined by one data collection procedure performed immediately prior to the last collection procedure. 
   Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.