Skyler Brings Vibration Monitoring Back—After 20 Years of Silence

SKYLER

The Challenge

At a remote peaker plant running four GE 7E gas turbines, starter motors had been operating sporadically and unpredictably for over 20 years. These powerful 800-horsepower motors rely on a Voith turbo torque converter to kickstart each turbine individually. Depending on demand, thestarters might run just once a month or multiple times a week, at any time, day or night.

Because of this irregular use and the quick cold-start to full-power ramp-up (in under 30 minutes), traditional route-based vibration checks simply weren‘t practical. No sensors meant no data and no way to detect early signs of failure.

The Solution

Skyler deployed wireless vibration sensors with auto-detect intermittent triggering, designed to activate only when the machines start. This innovation allowed for:

Continuous readiness, no wasted data collection

Dense, structured vibration data during every startup sequence

Real-time insights without requiring manual scheduling

Sensors were installed on both the motors and torque converters. From the very first start-up, the system began capturing high-quality vibration data—something the plant hadn’t seen in 20 years.

Irregular & intermittent turbine startup schedule reflected in vibration data collected.

The Result?

Sensors were installed on both the motors and torque converters.
From the very first start-up, the system began capturing
high-quality data—something the plant hadn’t seen in decades.

These critical systems are now monitored with precision.
Skyler delivered actionable vibration data from day one,
detecting a major issue within a month. What was once invisible
is now fully monitored with Skyler.

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