Side load detection and protection system for rotatable equipment

A side load detection and protection system for use with rotatable systems subject to undesired side loading, the rotatable system having a rotation mechanism driven by a pressurized media flowing along a flow path, the side load monitoring system comprising:

• a first pressure sensor operable to generate a first load signal corresponding to a first magnitude of the media pressure at a first location within the flow path;
• a second pressure sensor operable to generate a second load signal corresponding to a second magnitude of the media pressure at a second location within the flow path;
• and
• a controller operable to calculate the amount of side load as a function of the difference between the first load signal the second load signal, and to determine whether the side load exceeds a pre-established limiting side load value, and, if so, to communicate a warning.

A method of determining whether excessive side load is acting upon a rotatable system, the rotatable system having a rotation mechanism driven by a pressurized media flowing along a flow path, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a first load signal corresponding to a first magnitude of the media pressure at a first location within the flow path;
• (b) generating a second load signal corresponding to a second magnitude of the media pressure at a second location within the flow path;
• (c) establishing a limiting side load value;
• (d) determining the amount of side load as a function of the difference between the first load signal and the second load signal;
• and
• (e) comparing the amount of side load to the established limiting side load value to produce a comparison result, the comparison result being indicative of whether excessive side load is acting upon the rotatable system.