Monitoring Energy Consumption Based on Predictive Maintenance Techniques

This study covers the new benefits of using predictive maintenance in industries. Reducing unplanned downtime, increasing productivity, and feeling safe and reliable are the most common benefits of predictive maintenance. Recently, it has been used as a tool for energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption. The objective of this article is to demonstrate that predictive maintenance techniques, including vibration analysis and infrared thermography, can monitor energy losses due to machine faults such as misalignment and unbalance. Vibration and thermal measurements were outlined and compared. The comparison was validated and investigated through laboratory test rig. Different modes of misalignment and unbalance were investigated. It was found that the measured temperature also indicate the presence of faults and can be used as energy monitoring tool at least as good as vibrations analysis technique. The methodology developed in this paper, which is based on the combination of the two techniques, aims to prove the use of infrared thermography in an energy efficiency program.