Battery Optimized for Long Term Storage and Intermittent Use

Bearing failures are among the most costly, troublesome forms of breakdowns on mission critical machines within the Navy. A failed bearing causes extended downtime and high repair costs, particularly when secondary machine damage occurs. Magnetic chipdetectors, simple vibration monitoring devices, and spectrographic oil analysis do not detect bearing distress until the bearing is in the later stages of failure. Recent advances in digital signal processing and sensor technology have improved on this,providing months-in-advance notice of a bearing failure, expressed in terms of Remaining Useful Life (RUL). A wireless sensor system is proposed that will take these advances to the next level and develop the statistical confidence accuracy required fortrouble-free life prognosis for the monitored bearings. This sensor will easily integrate into a shipboard condition-based maintenance (CBM) system and will ultimately be applicable to bearings in a range of shipboard machinery operating in an at-seaenvironment. The market for wireless sensor technology extends far beyond DoD applications to include power generation, transportation, petrochemical, food processing, and pulp and paper industries.