阅读说明：本技术 轴承监测/分析系统 (Bearing monitoring/analyzing system ) 是由 周杰 巴里·布莱尔 于 2018-05-22 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种轴承监测/分析系统可包括邻近流体膜轴承、其部件和/或其毗邻结构而定位的声发射传感器,使得声发射传感器可收集来自轴承的信号,其中分析信号可允许使用者获得关于流体膜轴承的信息。(A bearing monitoring/analysis system may include an acoustic emission sensor positioned adjacent to a fluid film bearing, components thereof, and/or adjacent structures thereof such that the acoustic emission sensor may collect signals from the bearing, wherein analyzing the signals may allow a user to obtain information about the fluid film bearing.)

1. A bearing monitoring/analysis system comprising:

a. a fluid film bearing;

b. an acoustic emission sensor positioned adjacent to the bearing, wherein the acoustic emission sensor is configured to collect data from the fluid film bearing.

2. The bearing monitoring/analysis system of claim 1, further comprising a second acoustic emission sensor, wherein the second acoustic emission sensor is configured to collect data from the fluid film bearing.

3. The bearing monitoring/analysis system of claim 2 wherein the first acoustic emission sensor is further defined as engaging a radial surface of the fluid film bearing.

4. The bearing monitoring/analysis system of claim 3, wherein the second acoustic emission sensor is further defined as engaging an axial surface of the fluid film bearing.

5. The bearing monitoring/analysis system of claim 4, wherein the second acoustic emission sensor is further defined as being positioned at an approximately one hundred eighty (180) degree angle with respect to the first acoustic emission sensor.

6. The bearing monitoring/analysis system of claim 1 wherein said first acoustic emission sensor is further defined as an R15a general purpose AE sensor.

7. The bearing monitoring/analysis system of claim 1 wherein the fluid film bearing is further defined as a tilting pad journal bearing.

8. The bearing monitoring/analysis system of claim 1 wherein the fluid film bearing is further defined as a flexible hinge tilt pad journal bearing.

9. The bearing monitoring/analysis system of claim 1 wherein the fluid film bearing is further defined as a tilt pad thrust bearing.

10. The bearing monitoring/analysis system of claim 1 wherein the fluid film bearing is further defined as a planar journal bearing.

11. The bearing monitoring/analysis system of claim 1 wherein the fluid film bearing is further defined as a conical frustum thrust surface bearing.

12. A method for mechanical component monitoring/analysis, comprising:

a. positioning an acoustic emission sensor in proximity to a mechanical component, wherein the mechanical component comprises a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the first surface and the second surface move relative to each other during operation of the mechanical component;

b. collecting signals by the acoustic emission sensor;

c. analyzing the signal;

d. identifying a state of the mechanical component; and is

e. An action is suggested based on the state.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the mechanical component is further defined as a valve.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said mechanical component is further defined as a rotary seal.

15. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said mechanical component is further defined as a fluid film bearing.

16. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the acoustic emission sensor is further defined as being engaged with an equipment housing, wherein the equipment housing is engaged with the mechanical component.

17. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the condition is further defined as a damaged pad of the fluid film bearing.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the fluid film bearing is further defined as a tilt pad thrust bearing.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the sensor is further defined as engaging a pad of the tilt pad thrust bearing.

20. A method for bearing monitoring/analysis, comprising the steps of:

a. positioning an acoustic emission sensor on the housing adjacent the fluid film bearing;

b. collecting signals by the acoustic emission sensor;

c. analyzing the signal;

d. identifying a condition of the fluid film bearing from analysis of the signal; and the number of the first and second electrodes,

e. an action is suggested based on the state.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to rotary equipment and more particularly to monitoring/analysis systems and methods for non-invasive damage detection of fluid film bearings and other rotary equipment.

Background

Non-invasive methods for detecting damage to and/or evaluating the performance of a bearing are highly desirable because such methods may allow personnel to gather critical information about the bearing while the equipment is still running. Avoiding expensive maintenance events and/or expensive outages to inspect or repair bearings can result in thousands of dollars per year savings at a single facility.

With respect to fluid film bearings designed for infinite life, fluid film bearings experience surface wear due to such causes as start-up/shut-down, impact loading, misalignment, edge loading, debris, erosion, corrosion, and the like. During regular or irregular maintenance, the liners, projections and surfaces (bearing surfaces) must be visually inspected for wear. If customer critical applications and fluid film bearing wear of mechanical equipment can be detected non-invasively during operation, equipment reliability and uptime can be increased, maintenance cycle times can be extended, and unexpected situations such as unplanned outages, production losses, increased maintenance times and workloads can be avoided.

Acoustic emission is an elastic wave that is generated as a result of the rapid release of energy from a source within a material under the impetus of an externally applied stimulus. The acoustic emission signal may correspond to an elastic wave or signal in the range of 5 to 1000kHz, and the frequency range may be above the vibration analysis range and below the ultrasonic testing range.

Acoustic emission monitoring and analysis has been applied in different fields to detect failures of certain types of equipment. For example, U.S. patent nos. 4,884,449; WO 2015178821; and WO2013159840 all disclose the use of acoustic emissions for detecting a failure of a rolling element bearing. However, acoustic emission monitoring and analysis still needs to be applied to fluid film bearings, which is a very different field from that of rolling element bearings due to the continuous presence of fluid between the rotating and stationary elements of fluid film bearings.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the methods and systems.

FIG. 1 provides a schematic diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a bearing monitoring/analysis system;

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a bearing monitoring/analysis system;

FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a bearing monitoring/analysis system;

FIG. 3A provides a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a bearing monitoring/analysis system;

FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a bearing monitoring/analysis system;

FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a bearing monitoring/analysis system;

FIG. 6 provides a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a bearing monitoring/analysis system.

List of elements in the detailed description