BECKER COMPRESSOR VANE WEAR DETECTED
Diagnosed issue
In April 2026, Sonora detected increasing vibration levels on a Becker compressor at Vilpak, with clear harmonic activity around 350 Hz and a rising RMS trend over several weeks. The vibration pattern indicated possible bearing wear or impeller-related degradation.
Following the alert, Vilpak performed an inspection and identified significant wear of the compressor vanes, measuring approximately 6 mm. Despite bearings and the rotor appearing visually intact, all vanes showed uniform wear, confirming the source of the vibration. After replacing the worn components, vibration levels decreased immediately, validating the detected fault.
Results
Early detection of vane wear enabled timely maintenance before the issue escalated into more severe compressor damage. By identifying the defect at an early stage, Sonora helped prevent costly repairs, ensured continued operation, and reduced the risk of unplanned downtime.