Condition monitoring of electric motor ball bearings for the detection of grease contaminants

Grease used in the ball bearings of electric motors often get contaminated either from external particles or particles generated within these bearings. The effectiveness of vibration, stator current, acoustic emission and shock pulse measurements in detecting the presence of contaminant particles in bearing grease has been investigated. Silica and ferric oxide particles were used to contaminate grease. The levels of vibration, stator current, acoustic emission and shock pulse appreciably increased as contaminant level and contaminant size increased. Acoustic emission peak amplitude proved to be the best condition monitoring technique for the detection of grease contaminants in motor bearings. It is followed by shock pulse maximum value and carpet value in terms of effectiveness.