Prediction of oil whirl initiation in journal bearings using multi-sensors data fusion

Abstract This paper presents a new monitoring system for early detection of oil whirl and oil whip based on multi-sensor data fusion. The standard vibration monitoring system uses two eddy current proximity probes at each bearing in a conventional X-Y configuration. In addition to the standard sensors, a load cell measurements are also taken from an embedded sensor in bearing housing just below the babbitt layer to permit real-time load fluctuations in the oil pressure area. The aim of this measurement is to monitor the change in oil-film pressure distribution due to oil whirl. A test rig including a rotor with a single journal bearing in one end was built. Numerical run-up simulations were used to predict the dynamic behavior of the rotor system. Experimental results have shown that the oil whirl instability can be detected much sooner using data fusion of a load cell and two proximity probe sensors.

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