Ultrasound and Vibration analysis: two key elements of predictive maintenance

Ultrasound or vibration?

Ultrasound provides the earliest warning of failure and is also very easy to use, since it relies on trending decibel levels. Vibration analysis is extremely complete and will provide a deep overview of the issue and root cause.

Here are some situations where, in general, ultrasound can be used instead of vibration analysis:

Slow Speed Bearings: Since they rotate very slowly, it is difficult for vibration sensors to pick up significant changes. But high-end ultrasonic devices allow us to record the sound of the bearing and check it in a spectrum analysis software. We can easily find peaks in the sound spectrum amplitude which indicate a fault in the bearing.

Lubrication: Because ultrasound is based on friction levels, it is perfect for bearing lubrication. Is the bearing lacking lubrication? Then the friction levels will increase, and we can see it in the dB levels. Did the bearing receive too much lubricant? Then we will notice the friction levels increasing. This way we can avoid under- and over-lubrication issues.

Versatility: While vibration analysis is very powerful, it can only be used in mechanical equipment. But ultrasound has a wide range of applications, especially for energy savings efforts. Ultrasound can also be used for leak detection, steam traps inspection and even for electrical inspections.