Different measurement techniques for detection of bearing faults in industrial actuators — comparative study

摘要

Continuous and smooth operations of industrial actuators are very essential for the operation of automated plants. Detection of bearing faults, operated through Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)in the high-power actuators used in industrial process control operation is very challenging, due to dynamical alteration of load, speed, and external interferences. Proposed work, investigates suitable measurement technique for detection of such bearing failures. In the paper, a comparative study between vibration signal measured through piezoelectric sensor, acoustic signal measured through microphone, and motor current signature analysis for detection of bearing fault have been presented. In the work, natural and artificially created bearing faults in three phase induction motor based actuator have been considered, which is used to operate an industrial scale model process plant used for pneumatic conveying and drying. The experimental results show the superiority of vibration signal measured through piezoelectric based sensor.