The PeakVue machinery health diagnostic technology filters out traditional vibration signals to focus on impacting signals, which provide a much better indicator of overall asset health on any type of rolling element bearing machine.

In a new paper, Using PeakVue Plus Technology for Detecting Anti-Friction Bearing Faults, Emerson’s Stewart Bowers describes how PeakVue Plus analytics innovation to PeakVue automates the analysis of PeakVue analytics and presents the results in a user-friendly format.

Traditionally, determining:

…faults with PeakVue data requires analysis of a PeakVue waveform for severity indication along with spectral and autocorrelation analysis to separate periodic and non-periodic data. The amount and type of periodic data relative to the non-periodic data signifies the nature of potential fault(s) present.

These analysis steps required by an analyst to predict a bearing issue and severity include:

1. Determine maximum peak (MaxPk) in PeakVue waveform.
2. Perform autocorrelation on PeakVue waveform.
   1. Find largest peak in autocorrelation waveform after first 3% of waveform.
   2. Estimate the percent periodic energy by taking the square root of value found in 2a.
3. If Estimated percent periodic energy (Est%PE) is greater than or equal to 50%
   1. Mechanical bearing severity = (Est%PE)*(MaxPk)/(Fault level)
   2. Lubrication bearing severity = (100-Est%PE)*(MaxPk)/(Fault level)
4. If Estimated percent periodic energy is less than 50%
   1. Lubrication bearing severity = MaxPk/(Fault level)

Stewart shares an example of a roller element bearing defect with an associated lubrication issue on the tending side of a calendar roll. The analysis of the PeakVue waveform, associated spectrum and autocorrelation waveform indicates an outer race fault. He also notes that almost:

…any time a mechanical fault is present, lubrication issues are present. Lubrication is indicated in the autocorrelated waveform as non-periodic energy.

PeakVue Plus analytics incorporate these analysis steps and uses:

…periodicity and analytics to improve and/or simplify analysis of PeakVue measurements. PeakVue Plus calculates periodicity to differentiate between periodic mechanical events (such as bearing and gearbox faults) and random non-periodic events (such a lubrication issues). PeakVue Plus incorporates the evaluation of PeakVue periodicity data along with known shaft speed(s) to derive the nature and severity of machine problems. In its most basic form, it differentiates between mechanically induced impacting (e.g. bearing/gear) and random impacting (e.g. lubrication) on a machine.

From an ease of use standpoint:

PeakVue Plus presents the results of the analysis in an easy to understand format. One such format is to provide diagnostic gages; one indicating the presence and severity of a maintenance/bearing fault and one to indicate the presence and severity of a lubrication issue.

Read the paper for more on how PeakVue Plus simplifies the determination of mechanical and lubrication issues before they lead to expensive repairs and unplanned downtime. Visit the PeakVue Technology for Machinery Analysis section on Emerson.com for more on this machinery protecting technology.