Load sensing bearings with fibre optic sensors

SKF has released the world’s first commercial load sensing bearing based on its proprietary fibre optic sensing technology. It is designed to streamline the creation of rotating products such as pumps, using angular contact ball bearings. In it SKF enables real-time measurement of bearing loads using fibre optic sensing.

The bearings, which are interchangeable with conventional bearings, offer several benefits to designers and test engineers, including, optimised design, lower development costs, shorter design cycle and the ability to digitalise the design and verification process. OEMs and end-users can use the tool when testing and installing new equipment, to check that the correct load and lubrication requirements have been defined and are not exceeded in the real installation.

“Understanding bearing loads is essential in the design of rotating equipment such as pumps,” explained Lars Kahlman, Senior Applications Expert at SKF’s Drives Competence Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. “During the last years SKF has through extensive testing campaigns and simulations developed algorithms that makes the technology really accurate and robust. Our Load Sensing Bearing gives access to data that has been very difficult to access so far because it takes accurate strain measurements directly within the bearing.”

The new sensing bearings are safe to use in hazardous environments as signal data is transferred at high-speeds by low power in optical fibres rather than as electrical signals, making the system immune to electromagnetic fields. It also enables robust remote monitoring where wireless technology cannot be used as the optical fibres can transmit signals over very long distances.