Method of extending the lifetime of a rolling element bearing

A non-transitory storage medium encoded with computer code which when executed by processing circuitry of a control system causes the control system to perform the following steps:

• a) defining a first set of control parameter values,
• b) estimating a first value of remaining useful life, RUL, of the rolling-element bearing, based on a signal that provides a measure of vibrations of the rolling-element bearing obtained when the electrical machine is controlled by the first set of control parameter values,
• c) changing at least one control parameter value in the first set of control parameter values to thereby obtain a second set of control parameter values,
• d) estimating a second value of RUL of the rolling-element bearing based on the signal, obtained when the electrical machine is controlled by the second set of control parameter values,
• e) comparing the first value of RUL with the second value of RUL,
• f) in case the second value of RUL is longer than the first value of RUL, replacing the control parameter values in the first set of control parameter values with those of the second set of control parameter values, and replacing the first value of RUL with the second value of RUL, and
• g) repeating steps c)-f) during operation of the electrical machine.

A control system for extending the lifetime of a rolling-element bearing of an electrical machine, the control system comprising:

• a storage medium comprising a computer code, and
• processing circuitry,
• wherein when the processing circuitry executes the computer code, the control system is configured to:
• a) define a first set of control parameter values,
• b) estimate a first value of remaining useful life, RUL, of the rolling-element bearing, based on a signal that provides a measure of vibrations of the rolling-element bearing obtained when the electrical machine is controlled by the first set of control parameter values,
• c) change at least one control parameter value in the first set of control parameter values to thereby obtain a second set of control parameter values,
• d) estimate a second value of RUL of the rolling-element bearing based on the signal, obtained when the electrical machine is controlled by the second set of control parameter values,
• e) compare the first value of RUL with the second value of RUL,
• f) in case the second value of RUL is longer than the first value of RUL, replace the control parameter values in the first set of control parameter values with those of the second set of control parameter values, and replace the first value of RUL with the second value of RUL, and
• g) repeat steps c)-f) during operation of the electrical machine.