Monitoring system for a movable component connected to a stationary component
A monitoring system for a mobile component, such as a rotating component, that is supported by a stationary component is described. The monitoring system includes an acoustic sensor positioned in the mobile component, a first amplifier positioned in the mobile component, a contactless communication unit including a first transceiver positioned in the mobile component and a second transceiver facing the first transceiver device and positioned in the stationary component, a first connection line connecting the sensor to the first amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter positioned in the movable component and configured to receive an analog signal from the first amplifier and convert the analog signal into a digital signal, and a processor positioned in the movable component and configured to receive the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter, process the digital signal, and output the processed digital signal.
1 . A monitoring system for a movable component connected to a stationary component, the monitoring system being connected to a processing unit and comprising:
an acoustic sensor positioned in the movable component;
a first amplifier positioned in the movable component;
a contactless communication unit comprising a first transceiver placed in the movable component and a second transceiver facing the first transceiver and placed in the stationary component;
a first connection line connecting the acoustic sensor to the first amplifier;
a second connection line connecting the first amplifier to the first transceiver;
an analog-to-digital converter positioned in the movable component and configured to receive an analog signal from the first amplifier and to convert the analog signal to a digital signal; and
a processor positioned in the movable component and configured to receive the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter, to process the digital signal, and to output the processed digital signal.
2 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the digital signal is processed in the time domain and in the frequency domain.
3 . The monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the digital signal is processed using a Fourier Transform.
4 . The monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the digital signal is processed using a Fast Fourier Transform.
5 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a second amplifier positioned in the movable component and connected in series to the first amplifier along the second connection line.
6 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply circuit comprising:
a first power supply positioned in the movable component and configured to provide electrical power to the first amplifier;
an air-coupled transformer comprising (i) a first coil positioned in the movable component and configured to provide electrical power to the first power supply, and (ii) a second coil positioned in the stationary component and configured to receive electrical power;
a second power supply positioned in the stationary component configured to provide electrical power to (i) the second coil and (ii) a third amplifier positioned in the stationary component or the second transceiver;
a third power supply coupled directly to the first coil;
a coupler configured to receive electrical power from the third power supply and to feed electrical power into the second connection line, the electrical power being in a frequency band differing from a frequency band of an analog signal generated by the acoustic sensor; and
a decoupler configured to receive electrical power from the second connection line and to provide electrical power to the first amplifier.
7 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a transmission line configured to provide a differential signal, the transmission line comprising:
the first amplifier that comprises two electrical input terminals and two electrical output terminals;
the first connection line that comprises two electrical leads, each of the two electrical leads of the first connection line connecting an electrical terminal of the acoustic sensor to a corresponding electrical input terminal of the first amplifier; and
the second connection line that comprises two electrical leads, each of the two electrical leads of the second connection line connecting an electrical output terminal of the first amplifier to the first transceiver.
8 . The monitoring system of claim 7 , further comprising a third amplifier positioned in the stationary component, the third amplifier comprising two electrical input terminals connected to the second transceiver and two electrical output terminals configured to be connected to an interface unit configured to distribute electrical power and transmit signals to and from the processing unit connected to the monitoring system.
9 . The monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein the transmission line starts from the acoustic sensor and ends at the processing unit connected to the monitoring system.
10 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second acoustic sensor positioned in the movable component;
a third amplifier positioned in the movable component;
a third connection line connecting the second acoustic sensor to the third amplifier; and
a multiplexer comprising a first electrical input terminal connected to the first amplifier, a second electrical input terminal connected to the third amplifier, and a single electrical output terminal connected to the first transceiver,
wherein the multiplexer is configured to alternatively send input signals received from the first amplifier and the third amplifier to the first transceiver.
11 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a balancing head.
12 . A method for obtaining a processed digital signal for the monitoring system of claim 1 and for transmitting the processed digital signal through the contactless communication unit of the monitoring system, the method comprising:
increasing resolution of the analog-to-digital converter using a Successive Approximation Register converter;
performing a high frequency acquisition of a base band signal generated by the acoustic sensor, the frequency being higher than 2 Mhz;
implementing highly parameterizable stochastic processing;
implementing automatic parameter setting modes to enable automatic parameterization of the processing based on the process being monitored; and
packaging the processed digital signal to transmit real-time information with higher priority and lower priority information on the same communication channel according to a communication protocol that defines a hierarchy of information according to latency.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising processing of multiple simultaneous measurements based on the same base band signal.
14 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to process the digital signal by sampling the digital signal at a frequency higher than 2 MHz.
15 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to process the digital signal by implementing highly parameterizable stochastic processing.
16 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to process the digital signal by demodulating the digital signal spectrum to perform a check relating to a distance between the movable component and the stationary component.
17 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to process the digital signal by demodulating the digital signal spectrum to perform a check relating to contact between the movable component and the stationary component.
18 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to process the digital signal by zeroing background noise.
19 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to output the processed digital signal according to a communication protocol that defines a hierarchy of information according to latency.