Condition monitoring of shafts in harsh environments
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB - Rise Acreo AB, Kista |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 500 000 |
| Project duration | October 2018 - March 2019 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Strategic innovation programme for process industrial IT and automation – PiiA |
Purpose and goal
The goal of this project was fulfilled, which was to investigate an optical fiber sensor solution that, when combined with digitalization techniques, can monitor shaft unbalances in harsh environments. The proposed solution fulfils SKF requirements on spatial resolution, speed, resistance to contaminants, dimensions, among others.
Expected results and effects
The project resulted on an optical fiber based low coherent reflectometer capable to measure unbalances ranging from 5 µm to 2.5 mm. As far as we could test, the system is robust to contaminants and can acquire data at a rate faster than 1 kHz. The system can be miniaturized to be portable and digital data handling methods can also be applied to integrate with SKF process control units. SKF was satisfied with this solution and a full scale project proposal was applied to SIP PiiA in order to further develop this sensor to a more mature level with SKF as product owner.
Planned approach and implementation
Firstly, a literature and market study was performed, identifying the most promising solutions. Later, we tried in the laboratory a commercial sensor based on reflectometry and we implemented a chromatic sensor and a low coherent interferometer, all based on optical fibers. The interferometer proved to be the most suitable solution for this application and experimental tests were done to verify its maximum range, resolution, speed and hysteresis. The results validated the method as suitable for improving SKF process industry and a full-scale proposal was submitted to Vinnova.