Turbine Supervisory Instrumentation

Safety compliance is a critical priority for any facility operating turbines and rotating machinery. Internationally recognised standards, such as API 670, ISO 13849 and IEC 61508, and UK-specific benchmarks included in the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, create a framework for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of machinery in high-risk environments. Investing in an advanced turbine supervisory system (TSS) can help you meet these compliance standards while strengthening overall safety and operational integrity in your plant. Read on to find out more:

What are the main safety compliance standards to be aware of?

API 670: API 670 is the safety framework for machinery protection systems (MPS) established by the American Petroleum Institute, and is widely recognised in the petrochemical, power generation, and industrial sectors worldwide. API 670 is frequently used alongside international safety standards such as IEC 61508 or IEC 61511, to create a comprehensive functional safety framework for all electrical and industrial processes. As the ‘gold standard’ for machinery protection systems, API 670 has specific requirements for monitoring systems, protection mechanisms, and the sensors used to safeguard rotating equipment like turbines, covering vibration monitoring, temperature management, overspeed detection, and position feedback.

UK and international standards: Within the UK, critical rotating machinery safety is governed by several regulatory frameworks, including the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, along with British standards such as BS EN ISO 12100, which emphasises risk assessment and hazard reduction during the design stage. These standards focus on identifying potential mechanical risks early and implementing protective measures to minimise them.

Internationally, ISO and IEC standards are also relevant to turbine supervisory and condition monitoring systems. ISO 13849 sets out requirements for the safety of control systems, while IEC 61508 provides a broader framework for functional safety across electrical, electronic, and programmable systems. Although turbine supervisory systems are not inherently certified to IEC 61508, their data and alarm functions can play an important supporting role within a wider functional safety strategy.

How an advanced turbine supervisory system helps compliance?

An advanced TSS will help your operation to align with these strict international standards, while giving real-time insight into your turbine performance and health. Here’s how:

• Data collection and monitoring: our API 670 compliant turbine supervisory systems integrate multiple sensors to track the vibration, axial and radial position, speed/overspeed protection, and casing expansion of your turbine equipment. This aligns with the API 670 requirements, and the ISO 13849 focus on safety-critical plant. By monitoring these parameters in real time, the system can detect anomalies before they escalate into mechanical failures or safety hazards.

• Enhanced predictive maintenance: predictive maintenance is one of the most cost-effective ways of supporting API 670 and other safety standards. Equipped with advanced analytics, your turbine supervisory system can predict the likelihood of component wear and failure, so that instead of reacting to breakdowns, you can schedule maintenance proactively, keeping all systems within their safe operating parameters.

• Improved alert and shutdown capabilities: API 670 defines clear requirements for machinery protection systems, including how alert and danger setpoints should be configured and how trip signals must be generated during critical conditions. A turbine supervisory system supports this by providing configurable alarms based on parameters such as vibration, position, or overspeed. For example, if the turbine exceeds its designated speed threshold, the system can issue a trip signal to the control or shutdown system, enabling a safe and controlled shutdown and reducing the risk of serious mechanical damage.

What next?

Get in touch with Sensonics today to discover how our advanced turbine supervisory system can help you comply with API 670 and other important international standards, improving safety and saving you time during audits. Send us a message by clicking here, or feel free to call us directly on +44(0) 1442 876833.