AIR CYCLE MACHINE WITH BEARING FAILURE DETECTION

摘要

A bearing monitoring system is provided including one or more bearings within a flow passage and a working fluid passing over at least one surface of the bearings. A first thermocouple is located in the flow passage upstream relative to the one or more bearings and configured to measure a first temperature of the working fluid and a second thermocouple is located in the flow passage downstream relative to the one or more bearings and configured to measure a second temperature of the working fluid. The system further includes a control device in communication with the first thermocouple and the second thermocouple, and configured to compute a temperature gradient across the one or more bearings from the first temperature and the second temperature, compare the temperature gradient against a known value, and if the temperature gradient exceeds the known value, the control device is configured to provide an alert.

主权项

1. A method of monitoring bearings comprising:
passing a working fluid through a flow passage over a surface of one or more bearings; measuring a first temperature of the working fluid at a first position that is upstream relative to a segment of the one or more bearings; measuring a second temperature of the working fluid at a second position that is downstream relative to the segment of the one or more bearings; computing a temperature gradient from the first temperature and the second temperature; comparing the temperature gradient to a known value; and providing an alert if the temperature gradient exceeds the known value.