Integration of Control Systems with Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) systems

摘要

The goal of this SBIR Phase I was to develop a design for a condition based maintenance (CBM) system applicable to some components of large diesel generator sets such as those powered by Catepillar series 3500 and 3600 engines. The SBIR effort was to integrate the CBM system with current or planned digital engine control (DEC) systems in the manner that would have the most positive effect on life cycle cost. Early in the project, the turbo compressor (TC) components were selected as most appropriate for the application based on several reviews of failure frequency and seriousness and of commercialization potential. The resulting design will extract data from the DEC as well as employing three or four small, smart, wireless sensors to supplement the DEC data. The wireless sensors will perform substantial data reduction at the sensor, sending the resulting information to a next level processor (the health processor) for additional processing and/or comparison with other inputs. Where the DEC offers sufficient processing capacity, it will serve as the health processor; if no DEC is installed, or insufficient capacity is available, a PC/ 104 based processor will be installed. The wireless sensors and the health processor will be capable of sending TC health information wirelessly to hand- held devices and to the ship's or facility's local area network. The resulting design will be prototyped in Phase II. Excellent commercial acceptance is anticipated.