Bearing arrangement power loss assessment

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to assessment of a bearing arrangement (1), and to: simulate (201) at least a portion of the bearing arrangement in operation, the simulation comprising a three-dimensional simulated temperature distribution (2) indicative of set expected power losses of one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants of the bearing arrangement; obtain (202) during operation of the bearing arrangement, a three-dimensional actual temperature distribution (3) induced by the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants; determine (204) temperature discrepancies between the simulated temperature distribution and the actual temperature distribution for at least one of the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants; and tune (205) the set expected power losses of the simulation such that temperatures of the simulated temperature distribution at least partly match temperatures of the actual temperature distribution for the at least one of the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants.

Description

[0001] SKF ref: 202400259

[0002] 1

[0003] BEARING ARRANGEMENT POWER LOSS ASSESSMENT

[0004] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0005] The present disclosure relates to assessment of a bearing arrangement, such as power losses thereof.

[0006] BACKGROUND

[0007] As commonly known, bearings such as rolling bearings are machine elements utilized to reduce friction between moving parts of an arrangement, for instance a device, system or machine. By enabling rotational and / or linear movement, speed and / or efficiency of said arrangement may be enhanced. That is, when parts such as two metal parts for instance inside a machine come into contact, a significant amount of friction may be produced which in turn may lead to wear and tear - by the use of bearings, such friction may be reduced and movement facilitated by having surfaces rolling over each other.

[0008] Even with the use of bearings, however, power losses for instance emanating from friction losses are not necessarily neglectable. Assessing such losses of bearing-including arrangements - for instance of stationary industrial machines - may be useful and / or of interest, for instance to put together and / or optimize a constellation of one or more bearings along with accompanying seals and lubricants for implementation. Such an assessment may, however, prove to be challenging, not the least since upon for instance measuring and / or determining a total power loss of a bearing-including arrangement, small power losses and / or power losses of individual bearing(s), seal(s) and / or lubricants(s), may be small and / or not visible, and / or for instance covered by other power losses.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is therefore an object of embodiments herein to provide an approach for in an improved and / or alternative manner assess a bearing arrangement, such as power losses thereof.

[0011] The object above may be achieved by the subject-matter disclosed herein. Embodiments are set forth in the appended claims, in the following description and in the drawings.SKF ref: 202400259

[0012] 2

[0013] The disclosed subject-matter relates to a computer system comprising processing circuitry configured to assess a bearing arrangement. The processing circuitry is further configured to simulate at least a portion of the bearing arrangement in operation, the simulation comprising a three-dimensional simulated temperature distribution indicative of set expected power losses of one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants of the bearing arrangement. Moreover, the processing circuitry is configured to obtain during operation of the bearing arrangement, a three-dimensional actual temperature distribution induced by the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine temperature discrepancies between the simulated temperature distribution and the actual temperature distribution for at least one of the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants. Furthermore, the processing circuitry is configured to tune the set expected power losses of the simulation such that temperatures of the simulated temperature distribution at least partly match temperatures of the actual temperature distribution for the at least one of the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants.

[0014] The disclosed subject-matter further relates to a computer-implemented method for assessment of a bearing arrangement. The method comprises, by processing circuitry of a computer system, simulating at least a portion of the bearing arrangement in operation, the simulation comprising a three-dimensional simulated temperature distribution indicative of set expected power losses of one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants of the bearing arrangement. The method further comprises, by the processing circuitry, obtaining during operation of the bearing arrangement, a three-dimensional actual temperature distribution induced by the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants. Moreover, the method comprises, by the processing circuitry, determining temperature discrepancies between the simulated temperature distribution and the actual temperature distribution for at least one of the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants.

[0015] Furthermore, the method comprises, by the processing circuitry, tuning the set expected power losses of the simulation such that temperatures of the simulated temperature distribution at least partly match temperatures of the actual temperature distribution for the at least one of the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants.SKF ref: 202400259

[0016] 3

[0017] Moreover, the disclosed subject-matter relates to a computer program product comprising program code for performing, when executed by the processing circuitry, the steps of the computer system described herein.

[0018] Furthermore, the disclosed subject-mater relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform the steps of the computer system described herein.

[0019] Thereby, there is introduced an approach according to which there is supported assessment of - for instance friction and / or power losses of - a bearing arrangement such as in operation, for instance comprised in and / or represented by an on-site stationary industrial machine. That is, since the processing circuitry of the bearing arrangement is configured to simulate at least a portion of the bearing arrangement in operation, the simulation comprising a three-dimensional simulated temperature distribution indicative of set expected power losses of one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants of the bearing arrangement, there is - for instance by means of a digital 3D thermal and / or friction simulation model and / or tool such as known SimPro Expert -modelled fully or partly said bearing arrangement wherein the model comprises a 3D thermal distribution and / or gradient corresponding to pre-set expected, assumed, estimated and / or pre-calculated power losses - approximated to reflect the actual power losses - of at least a first bearing, sealing and / or lubricant of said bearing arrangement in operation. Thereby, there is provided a simulated version of at least a portion, part and / or section of the bearing arrangement, with a fictive temperature distribution being an estimation of an expected true temperature distribution induced by power losses.

[0020] Furthermore, that is, since the processing circuitry further is configured to obtain during operation of the bearing arrangement, a three-dimensional actual temperature distribution induced by the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants, there is with said bearing arrangement in operation - for instance with support from at least a first thermal camera-derived, received and / or obtained a 3D actual thermal distribution and / or gradient caused by said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants, such as by friction thereof.

[0021] Thereby, true temperature indications pertinent the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants may be gathered, for instance by means of thermographic image(s). Moreover, that is, since the processing circuitry further determines temperature discrepancies between the simulated temperature distribution and the actual temperature distribution forSKF ref: 202400259

[0022] 4

[0023] at least one of said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants, there are identified, acknowledged and / or calculated for one or more of the bearings, seals and / or lubricants, temperatures and / or temperature indications that do not correlate between the simulated and actual temperature distributions. Thereby, deviations between the simulated temperature distribution and the actual temperature distribution may be established, and accordingly assumed and / or approximated set expected power losses in the simulation version of the bearing arrangement misaligned with reality, be identified. Furthermore, that is, since the processing circuitry further is configured to tune the set expected power losses of the simulation such that temperatures of the simulated temperature distribution at least partly match temperatures of the actual temperature distribution for the at least one of said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants, there is, given that tuned power losses render corresponding tuning to the simulated temperature distribution, updated, adjusted and / or tuned - for instance parameters of - the pre-set power losses - and potentially further parameters such as convection and / or cooling parameters - of the simulated version of the bearing arrangement, such that a portion or essentially all temperatures of the simulated temperature distribution fully, essentially fully or to a predeterminable extent correlate with, coincide with, reflect and / or match temperatures of the actual temperature distribution. In other words, set power losses - and subsequently temperature distribution - assumed in the simulation, may be updated and verified against the actual temperature distribution. Accordingly, in that the simulated temperature distribution may be made to - to greater extent - match the actual temperature distribution, assumed and / or approximated set expected power losses in the simulation version of the bearing arrangement misaligned with reality, may be tuned to better and / or in an improved manner reflect reality.

[0024] For that reason, there is provided an approach for in an improved and / or alternative manner assess a bearing arrangement, such as power losses thereof.

[0025] The technical features and corresponding advantages of the above-mentioned roller bearing will be discussed in further detail in the following.

[0026] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The various aspects of the non-limiting embodiments, including particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:SKF ref: 202400259

[0028] 5

[0029] Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplifying bearing arrangement for assessment according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 2 is an exemplary flow chart of a computer-implemented method for assessing a bearing arrangement according to embodiments of the disclosure; and

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary computer system for implementing examples disclosed herein, according to an example.

[0032] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the disclosure are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout. Dashed lines of some boxes in the figures indicate that these units or actions are optional and not mandatory.

[0034] In the following, according to embodiments herein which relate to assessment of a bearing arrangement, there will be disclosed an approach according to which there is supported assessment of - for instance power and / or friction losses of - a bearing arrangement such as in operation, for instance comprised in and / or represented by an onsite stationary industrial machine.

[0035] Referring now to the figures and Fig. 1 in particular, there is depicted on the upper lefthand side an exemplifying bearing arrangement 1 for assessment according to embodiments of the disclosure. The bearing arrangement 1 - which optionally may comprise a rolling bearing - may be represented by any feasible bearing arrangement, for instance being comprised in and / or represented by a bearing-including application, machine, system or device, for instance stationary, and further for instance located at an industrial site. The bearing arrangement may comprise any feasible number or constellation of any feasible sort of bearings along with accompanying seals and lubricants. In Fig. 1, the bearing arrangement 1 is represented by a machine onsite an industrial site, comprising a bearing housing. In operation, power losses render temperatures to rise at locations of - and / or near - the bearing(s), seal(s) and / orSKF ref: 202400259

[0036] 6

[0037] lubricant(s). Power losses may throughout the disclosure, according to an example, refer to friction losses.

[0038] Below the bearing arrangement 1 in Fig. 1, there is further depicted an exemplifying simulated three-dimensional temperature distribution 2, comprised in a simulation of at least a portion of the bearing arrangement 1 in operation. The simulation presents a simulated version of at least a portion of the bearing arrangement 1 , with parameters -such as power and / or friction parameters, convection parameters, cooling parameters, etc. - set to essentially or at least to some or a predeterminable extent mirror the actual bearing arrangement 1 in operation. The simulation may be and / or have been provided in any feasible manner, such as by a simulation tool - for instance known in the art such as known SimPro Expert - supporting simulation of bearing arrangements including expected power losses of bearings, seals and / or lubricants, which in this context commonly may be referred to as heat sources. The expected power losses are in the simulation associated with and / or tied to corresponding - for instance expected -temperatures and / or temperature increases at the bearing(s), seal(s) and / or lubricant(s) of the bearing arrangement 1, with a respective level of power loss being associated with and / or tied to a corresponding level of temperature and / or temperature increase. The expected power losses and corresponding temperatures and / or temperature increases, which may be set in the simulation tool, may be and / or have been determined in any feasible manner, such as based on any combination of calculations, laws of physics, machine learning and / or artificial intelligence.

[0039] With support from an exemplifying temperature scale 21, there is illustrated how temperatures of the simulated temperature distribution 2 varies across the shown simulated section of the bearing arrangement 1 - which section corresponds with the shown section of the actual bearing arrangement 1 on the top left-hand side of Fig. 1 -and how - although challenging to read out from Fig. 1 due to its lack of color - locations at and near the bearing(s), seal(s) and / or lubricant(s) of the simulated temperature distribution 2 take on various degrees of deviation in for instance color, tone and / or shade - such as for instance red, orange and / or yellow colors, tones and / or shades - to indicate various degrees of expected temperatures rendered from power losses of the bearing arrangement 1 in operation. As may be gleaned from exemplifying Fig. 1, there is in an exemplifying manner indicated with a first tone 22 a first - relatively warm -temperature 23 and indicated with a second tone 24 a second - even warmer -SKF ref: 202400259

[0040] 7

[0041] temperature 25 near the center of the simulated bearing arrangement, and similarly, in an exemplifying manner indicated with a third tone 26 a third - relatively warm -temperature 27 and indicated with a fourth tone 28 a fourth - even warmer -temperature 29 near the upper right corner of the simulated bearing arrangement.

[0042] Further depicted in exemplifying Fig. 1, on the right-hand side thereof, is an exemplifying three-dimensional actual temperature distribution 3 induced by - for instance power losses such as friction of - bearing(s), seal(s) and / or lubricant(s) of the bearing arrangement 1 during operation. The actual temperature distribution 3 may be and / or have been obtained and / or determined in any feasible manner, such as derived from one or more thermographic images of at least a portion of the bearing arrangement 1.

[0043] Optionally, the actual temperature distribution 3 may at least partly be derived from at least two - for instance two-dimensional - differing thermographic images of the bearing arrangement 1, from at least two differing angles. Multiple differing thermographic images from multiple differing angles, may lead to an improved and / or more accurate actual temperature distribution 3. The thermographic images may for instance be and / or have been taken with support from - and / or be and / or have been derived from - an optional thermal camera 4 - such as an infrared camera - as shown in an exemplifying manner to the left in Fig. 1. According to other examples, the actual temperature distribution 3 may be and / or have been obtained and / or derived with support from one or more sensors supporting determination of temperature, for instance distributed in any feasible manner across and / or throughout at least a portion of the bearing arrangement 1.

[0044] There is in an exemplifying manner illustrated in a thermographic image to the right in Fig.

[0045] 1 , how temperatures of the actual temperature distribution 3 may vary across the shown section of the bearing arrangement 1 - which section corresponds with the shown section on the top left-hand side of Fig. 1 - and how - although challenging to read out from Fig. 1 due to its lack of color - locations at and near the bearing(s), seal(s) and / or lubricant(s) of the actual temperature distribution 3 may take on various degrees of deviation in for instance color, tone and / or shade - such as for instance red, orange and / or yellow colors, tones and / or shades - to indicate various degree of obtained, determined and / or derived temperatures rendered from power losses of the bearing arrangement 1 in operation. As may be gleaned from exemplifying Fig. 1, there is in an exemplifying manner indicated with a fifth tone 32 a fifth - relatively warm - temperature 33 and indicated with a sixth tone 34 a sixth - even warmer - temperature 35 near the center of the actual bearingSKF ref: 202400259

[0046] 8

[0047] arrangement 1, and similarly, in an exemplifying manner indicated with a seventh tone 36 a seventh - relatively warm - temperature 37 and indicated with an eight tone 38 an eight - even warmer - temperature 39 near the upper right corner of the actual bearing arrangement 1.

[0048] FIG. 2 is an exemplary flow chart of a computer-implemented method for assessing a bearing arrangement 1 according to embodiments of the disclosure. As previously discussed, thereby there is introduced an approach according to which there is supported assessment of - for instance friction and / or power losses of - a bearing arrangement 1 such as in operation, for instance comprised in and / or represented by an on-site stationary industrial machine.

[0049] The exemplifying method, which may be continuously repeated, comprises one or more of the following actions discussed with support from Fig. 1. Moreover, the actions may be taken in any suitable order and / or one or more actions may be performed simultaneously and / or in alternate order where applicable. For instance, Actions 201 and 202 may be performed in alternate order and / or simultaneously. The actions described may be performed by the - in Fig. 3 illustrated - computer system 300 and / or the processing circuitry 302 therein.

[0050] Action 201

[0051] The method comprises simulating 201 at least a portion of the bearing arrangement 1 in operation, the simulation comprising a three-dimensional simulated temperature distribution 2 indicative of set expected power losses of one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants of the bearing arrangement 1. As previously discussed, thereby there is - for instance by means of a digital 3D thermal and / or friction simulation model and / or tool such as known SimPro Expert - modelled fully or partly said bearing arrangement 1 wherein the model comprises a 3D thermal distribution and / or gradient 2 corresponding to pre-set expected, assumed, estimated and / or pre-calculated power losses -approximated to reflect the actual power losses - of at least a first bearing, sealing and / or lubricant of said bearing arrangement 1 in operation. Thereby, there is provided a simulated version of at least a portion, part and / or section of the bearing arrangement, with a temperature distribution 2 being an estimation of an expected true temperature distribution induced by power losses.SKF ref: 202400259

[0052] 9

[0053] Action 202

[0054] The method further comprises obtaining 202 during operation of the bearing arrangement 1, a three-dimensional actual temperature distribution 3 induced by the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants. As previously discussed, thereby, there is with the bearing arrangement 1 in operation - for instance with support from at least a first thermal camera - derived, received and / or obtained a 3D actual thermal distribution and / or gradient 3 caused by said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants, such as by friction thereof. Thereby, true temperature indications 3 pertinent the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants may be gathered, for instance by means of thermographic images.

[0055] Optional Action 203

[0056] The method may further optionally comprise to output 203 data of the simulated thermal distribution 2 and the actual temperature distribution 3, which output data enables temperature comparisons. Thereby, there is provided the ability of comparison between temperatures of the simulated and actual temperature distributions 2, 3 - such as manual comparison e.g. by an operator - with the simulated and actual temperature distributions 2, 3 for instance presented visually e.g. in a combined illustration and / or view, and / or for instance in separate illustrations and / or views - for instance as depicted in an exemplifying manner in the lower portion and on the right-hand side in Fig. 1 - and further for instance on one or more displays.

[0057] Action 204

[0058] The method further comprises determining 204 temperature discrepancies between the simulated temperature distribution 2 and the actual temperature distribution 3 for at least one of the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants. As previously discussed, thereby, there are identified, acknowledged and / or calculated for one or more of the bearings, seals and / or lubricants, temperatures and / or temperature indications that do not correlate between the simulated and actual temperature distributions 2, 3. Thereby, deviations between the simulated temperature distribution 2 and the actual temperature distribution 3 may be established, and accordingly assumed and / or approximated set expected power losses in the simulation version of the bearing arrangement misaligned with reality, be identified.SKF ref: 202400259

[0059] 10

[0060] In exemplifying Fig. 1, determining temperature discrepancies may be represented by comparison of for instance the first tone 22 of the first temperature 23 of the simulated temperature distribution 2 with the corresponding fifth tone 32 of the fifth temperature 33 of the actual temperature distribution 3, and / or comparison of for instance the second tone 24 of the second temperature 25 of the simulated temperature distribution 2 with the corresponding sixth tone 34 of the sixth temperature 35 of the actual temperature distribution 3, and / or comparison of for instance the third tone 26 of the third temperature 27 of the simulated temperature distribution 2 with the corresponding seventh tone 36 of the seventh temperature 37 of the actual temperature distribution 3, and / or comparison of for instance the fourth tone 28 of the fourth temperature 29 of the simulated temperature distribution 2 with the corresponding eighth tone 38 of the eighth temperature 39 of the actual temperature distribution 3.

[0061] Optionally, determining 204 temperature discrepancies may comprise obtaining the temperature discrepancies from assessment of the simulated temperature distribution 2 in view of the actual temperature distribution 3. Thereby, discrepancies may be determined, calculated and / or deduced from data comparison, such as with support from and / or based on image processing, data point comparison, etc.

[0062] Further optionally, should Action 204 follow upon optional Action 203, then determining 204 temperature discrepancies may comprise obtaining the temperature discrepancies from input data indicative of the temperature discrepancies. Thereby, determination of temperature discrepancies between the simulated and actual temperature distributions 2, 3 may be based on an / or derived from manually provided input and / or input data.

[0063] Obtaining input data from manually provided input may, according to an example, equate to obtaining and / or receiving input fed into the simulation, such as into the exemplified thermal and / or friction simulation model and / or tool.

[0064] Action 205

[0065] The method further comprises tuning 205 the set expected power losses of the simulation such that temperatures of the simulated temperature distribution 2 at least partly match temperatures of the actual temperature distribution 3 for the at least one of the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants. As previously discussed, thereby, given that tuned power losses render corresponding tuning to the simulated temperature distribution 2, there is updated, adjusted and / or tuned - for instance parameters of - the pre-set powerSKF ref: 202400259

[0066] 11

[0067] losses - and potentially further parameters such as convection and / or cooling parameters - of the simulated version of the bearing arrangement, such that a portion or essentially all temperatures of the simulated temperature distribution 2 fully, essentially fully or to a predeterminable extent correlate with, coincide with, reflect and / or match temperatures of the actual temperature distribution 3. In other words, set power losses - and subsequently temperature distribution - assumed in the simulation, may be updated and verified against the actual temperature distribution 3. Accordingly, in that the simulated temperature distribution 2 may be made to - to greater extent - match the actual temperature distribution 3, assumed and / or approximated set expected power losses in the simulation version of the bearing arrangement misaligned with reality, may be tuned to better and / or in an improved manner reflect reality.

[0068] In exemplifying Fig. 1, tuning the set expected power losses of the simulation may be represented by tuning power losses of the bearing(s), seal(s) and / or lubricant(s) - and potentially further for instance convection parameters and / or cooling parameters etc. -associated with, rendering and / or located in vicinity of for instance the first tone 22 of the first temperature 23 of the simulated temperature distribution 2, such that said first tone 22 correlates with, coincides with, reflects and / or matches the corresponding fifth tone 32 of the fifth temperature 33 of the actual temperature distribution 3. Additionally or alternatively, tuning the set expected power losses of the simulation may be represented by tuning power losses of the bearing, seal and / or lubricant - and potentially further for instance convection parameters and / or cooling parameters etc. - associated with, rendering and / or located in vicinity of for instance the second tone 24 of the second temperature 25 of the simulated temperature distribution 2, such that said second tone 24correlates with, coincides with, reflects and / or matches the corresponding sixth tone 34 of the sixth temperature 35 of the actual temperature distribution 3. In a similar manner, additionally or alternatively, tuning the set expected power losses of the simulation may be represented by tuning power losses of the bearing, seal and / or lubricant - and potentially further for instance convection parameters and / or cooling parameters etc. -associated with, rendering and / or located in vicinity of for instance the third tone 26 of the third temperature 27 of the simulated temperature distribution 2, such that said third tone 26correlates with, coincides with, reflects and / or matches the corresponding seventh tone 36 of the seventh temperature 37 of the actual temperature distribution 3. Similarly, additionally or alternatively, tuning the set expected power losses of the simulation may be represented by tuning power losses of the bearing, seal and / or lubricant - andSKF ref: 202400259

[0069] 12

[0070] potentially further for instance convection parameters and / or cooling parameters etc. -associated with, rendering and / or located in vicinity of for instance the fourth tone 28 of the fourth temperature 29 of the simulated temperature distribution 2, such that said fourth tone 28correlates with, coincides with, reflects and / or matches the corresponding eighth tone 38 of the eighth temperature 39 of the actual temperature distribution 3.

[0071] Optional Action 206

[0072] The method may optionally further comprise determining 206 actual power losses of the at least one of the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants of the bearing arrangement 1, from the tuned power losses of the simulation. Thereby, by assessing, deriving and / or reading out values of - and / or based on - power losses of the simulated version of the bearing arrangement, which - at least partly - have been updated to reflect temperatures resembling and / or being equal to corresponding actual temperatures, then actual power losses associated with respective bearing(s), sealing(s) and / or lubricant(s), may be determined and / or derived. The lower the discrepancy between temperatures of the simulated and actual temperature distribution 2, 3, the more accurate may determination of the actual power losses be.

[0073] Optional Action 207

[0074] The method may optionally further comprise simulating 207 at least a portion of the bearing arrangement 1 in operation, with the at least one of the one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants exchanged to another version and / or type based on the tuned power losses and / or the actual power losses. Thereby, by for instance exchanging one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants in the simulated version of the bearing arrangement to variant(s) with other characteristics, and subsequently - in the simulation - assessing and / or analysing the updated variant(s) and potentially power losses associated therewith, then variant(s) of bearings, seals and / or lubricants potentially better suited for the bearing arrangement 1 - such as rendering lowered power losses - may be identified. Accordingly, with the introduced concept, a bearing arrangement 1 - such as comprised in and / or represented by an on-site stationary industrial machine - may then be optimized.

[0075] In exemplifying Fig. 1, simulating the bearing arrangement 1 with bearing(s), seal(s) and / or lubricant(s) exchanged to another version and / or type, may be represented by one or more simulations being run with bearing(s), seal(s) and / or lubricant(s) associated with,SKF ref: 202400259

[0076] 13

[0077] rendering and / or located in vicinity of for instance the first tone 22 of the first temperature 23, the second tone 24 of the second temperature 25, the third tone 25 of the third temperature 26 and / or the fourth tone 27 of the fourth temperature 29, being switched to other variant(s).

[0078] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary computer system for implementing examples disclosed herein, according to an example. The computer system 300 is adapted to execute instructions from a computer-readable medium to perform these and / or any of the functions or processing described herein. While only a single device is illustrated, the computer system 300 may include any collection of devices that individually or jointly execute a set or multiple sets of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. Accordingly, any reference in the disclosure and / or claims to a computer system, includes reference to one or more such devices to individually or jointly execute a set or multiple sets of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. Further, such devices may communicate with each other or other devices by various system architectures, such as directly or via a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, etc. The computer system 300 may comprise at least one computing device or electronic device capable of including firmware, hardware, and / or executing software instructions to implement the functionality described herein. The computer system 300 may include processing circuitry 302 such as processing circuitry including one or more processor devices or control units, a memory, and a system bus. The computer system 300 may include at least one computing device having the processing circuitry 302. The system bus provides an interface for system components including, but not limited to, the memory and the processing circuitry 302. The processing circuitry 302 may include any number of hardware components for conducting data or signal processing or for executing computer code stored in memory. The processing circuitry 302 may, for example, include a general-purpose processor, an application specific processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a circuit containing processing components, a group of distributed processing components, a group of distributed computers configured for processing, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. The processing circuitry 302 may further include computer executable code that controls operation of the programmable device. Any distributed or local memory device may be utilized with theSKF ref: 202400259

[0079] 14

[0080] systems and methods of this description. The memory may be communicably connected to the processing circuitry 302, for instance via a circuit or any other wired, wireless, or network connection and may include computer code for executing one or more processes described herein. The computer system 300 may further include or be coupled to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. All or a portion of the examples disclosed herein may be implemented as a computer program stored on a transitory or non-transitory computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium, for instance single medium or multiple media, to cause the processing circuitry 302 to carry out actions described herein. In some examples, the storage device may be a computer program product, for instance readable storage medium, storing the computer program thereon, where at least a portion of a computer program may be loadable, for instance into a processor, for implementing the functionality of the examples described herein when executed by the processing circuitry 302. The computer system 300 may include an input device interface configured to receive input and selections to be communicated to the computer system 300 when executing instructions, such as from a keyboard, mouse, touch-sensitive surface, etc. Such input devices may be connected to the processing circuitry 302 through the input device interface coupled to the system bus but can be connected through other interfaces. The computer system 300 may include an output device interface configured to forward output, such as to a display. The computer system 300 may include a communications interface suitable for communicating with a network as appropriate or desired.

[0081] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. It should furthermore be noted that the drawings not necessarily are to scale and the dimensions of certain features may have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Emphasis is instead placed upon illustrating the principle of the embodiments herein. Additionally, in the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

Claims

SKF ref: 20240025915CLAIMS1. A computer system (300) comprising processing circuitry (302) configured to assess a bearing arrangement (1), wherein the processing circuitry (302) is further configured to:simulate (201) at least a portion of said bearing arrangement (1) in operation, the simulation comprising a three-dimensional simulated temperature distribution (2) indicative of set expected power losses of one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants of said bearing arrangement (1);obtain (202) during operation of said bearing arrangement (1), a three- dimensional actual temperature distribution (3) induced by said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants;determine (204) temperature discrepancies between said simulated temperature distribution (2) and said actual temperature distribution (3) for at least one of said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants; andtune (205) the set expected power losses of the simulation such that temperatures of the simulated temperature distribution at least partly match temperatures of said actual temperature distribution (3) for said at least one of said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants.

2. The computer system (300) of claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry (302) is further configured to:determine (206) actual power losses of the at least one of said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants of said bearing arrangement (1), from the tuned power losses of the simulation.

3. The computer system (300) of claim 1 or 2, wherein said processing circuitry (302) is further configured to:simulate (207) at least a portion of said bearing arrangement (1) in operation, with the at least one of said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants exchanged to another version and / or type based on said tuned power losses and / or said actual power losses.

4. The computer system (300) of any one of claims 1-3, wherein said actual temperature distribution (3) is at least partly derived from at least two differingSKF ref: 20240025916thermographic images of said bearing arrangement (1), from at least two differing angles.

5. The computer system (300) of any one of claims 1-4, wherein said processing circuitry (302) is further configured to:output (203) data of said simulated thermal distribution (2) and said actual temperature distribution (3), which output data enables temperature comparisons;wherein said determining (204) temperature discrepancies comprises obtaining said temperature discrepancies from input data indicative of said temperature discrepancies.

6. The computer system (300) of any one of claims 1-4, wherein said determining (204) temperature discrepancies comprises obtaining said temperature discrepancies from assessment of said simulated temperature distribution (2) in view of said actual temperature distribution (3).

7. The computer system (300) of any one of claims 1-6, wherein said bearing arrangement (1) comprises a rolling bearing.

8. A computer-implemented method for assessment of a bearing arrangement (1), comprising:by processing circuitry (302) of a computer system (300), simulating (201) at least a portion of said bearing arrangement (1) in operation, the simulation comprising a three-dimensional simulated temperature distribution (2) indicative of set expected power losses of one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants of said bearing arrangement (1);by said processing circuitry (302), obtaining (202) during operation of said bearing arrangement (1), a three-dimensional actual temperature distribution (3) induced by said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants;by said processing circuitry (302), determining (204) temperature discrepancies between said simulated temperature distribution (2) and said actual temperature distribution (3) for at least one of said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants; andby said processing circuitry (302), tuning (205) the set expected power losses of the simulation such that temperatures of the simulated temperatureSKF ref: 20240025917distribution at least partly match temperatures of said actual temperature distribution (3) for said at least one of said one or more bearings, seals and / or lubricants.

9. A computer program product comprising program code for performing, when executed by the processing circuitry (302), the method of claim 8.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by the processing circuitry (302), cause the processing circuitry to perform the method of claim 8.

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