Prediction of remaining useful lifetime for bearings

Abstract

There is provided mechanisms for predicting remaining useful lifetime of a bearing of an electric podded azimuth thruster. A method is performed by a controller. The method comprises obtaining operational conditions of the bearing. The method comprises predicting the remaining useful lifetime of the bearing using the operational conditions. The lifetime of the bearing is divided in three separatephases. The remaining useful lifetime of the bearing is predicted differently in the three separate phases.

Description

technical field [0001] Embodiments presented herein relate to methods, controllers, computer programs and computer program products for predicting the remaining useful life of a bearing. Background technique [0002] In general, electric podded azimuth thrusters are marine propulsion units consisting of a fixed-pitch propeller mounted on a large steerable gondola ("the gondola") that also contains a motor to drive the propeller electric motor. Thus, a podded azimuth thruster combines the actions of rudder, thruster and propeller into one rotary propulsion unit. In a podded azimuth thruster unit, the electric motor is mounted inside the propulsion unit and the propeller is directly connected to the motor shaft. By avoiding the use of conventional propeller shafts, the propeller can be positioned further below the stern in clear water, providing greater hydrodynamic and mechanical efficiency. Further, it increases the flexibility of the general layout of the ship's power st...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Such monitoring can be cumbersome and therefore it may be difficult to accurately predict the remaining useful life (RUL) of podded azimuth thruster bearings

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