Field Demonstration of a Real-time Non-intrusive Monitoring System for Condition-based Maintenance

Abstract

The performance of important electrical loads on mission critical systems like warships or off-shore platforms is often tracked by dedicated monitoring equipment. Individual monitoring of each load is expensive and risky. Expense occurs because of the need for individual sensors and sensor wiring for every load of interest. Reliability is compromised because detected failures or fault conditions might legitimately be due to load failure, but might also be due to errors or failure in the sensor network or recording instruments. The power distribution network on a warship could be pressed into “dual-use” service, providing not only power distribution but also a diagnostic monitoring capability based on observations of the way in which loads draw power from the distribution service. This paper describes field tests of a prototype system that monitors multiple loads using existing electrical wiring. Initial results are presented from a device that monitors a small collection of motors and two other devices that monitor an entire engine room.