Sensor integrating plain bearings: design of an energy-autonomous, temperature-based condition monitoring system

Abstract Plain bearings are increasingly being used under mixed friction, resulting in a higher risk of wear-induced failure. Therefore, the relevance condition monitoring is increasing, which can enable early detection wear inducing conditions. The presented work focuses on development an energy-autonomous, temperature-based system for plain . components to be integrated directly into machine element and operating data transmitted wirelessly. fundamental approach pursued, in-operando calculation lubrication gap height via standardized Gümbel-curve based temperature map bearing. If undercuts critical threshold, bearing will operate friction. Thus, representing potentially wear-causing point. energy required harvested thermoelectrically within thermo-generators, use gradients during operation. In this work, simulative evaluation harvestable presented. usable difference determined varying positioning harvester. results obtained allow subsequent manufacture first Sensor integrating Machine Element (SiME)-prototype. context feasible setup regarding types number sensors as well microcontroller processing measured defined with respect energy. Furthermore, principle determination introduced, applied different points compared results.