Vold-Kalman Filter Order Tracking in Vibration Monitoring of Electrical Machines

This paper presents a simplified simulation model of electrical rotating machinery and an experimental test rig for applying the Vold-Kalman filter order tracking technique (VKF-OT). The effectiveness and advantages of VKF-OT for condition monitoring are demonstrated on both the simulation model and the experimental test rig through time domain analysis, using crest factor and kurtosis. The choice of the Vold-Kalman filter bandwidth is considered in the context of the simulation model, based on two different damping ratios. Several observations are made regarding the choice of Vold-Kalman filter bandwidth for the different damping ratios. Three different filter bandwidths are subsequently considered in a study of the experimental data, to confirm the conclusions made during the simulation study.