System and method for monitoring bearing health in a journal assembly

A journal assembly for a pulverizer mill, the journal assembly comprising:

• a rotatable housing coupled to a grinding roller;
• a shaft that rotatably supports the rotatable housing via one or more bearings;
• a split spacer disposed on the shaft;
• one or more vibration sensors configured to detect vibrations emitted by the one or more bearings and to electronically communicate with a controller;
• a speed sensor configured to measure the rotational speed of the one or more bearings and to electronically communicate with the controller;
• and
• wherein the split spacer includes two portions that define a cavity configured to abut the shaft so as to allow the one or more vibration sensors to be disposed inside the split spacer and next to the one or more bearings.

A split spacer for a journal assembly, the split spacer comprising:

• a first portion;
• and
• a second portion configured to mate with the first portion;
• and
• wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion includes one or more fasteners, such that when the split spacer is disposed on a shaft of the journal assembly and the first portion is mated to the second portion, the split spacer forms a cavity configured to abut the shaft so as to allow one or more vibration sensors to be fastened, via the one or more fasteners, inside of the cavity and next to the one or more bearings.

A method for monitoring the health of one or more bearings of a journal assembly, the method comprising:

• detecting, via one or more vibration sensors in communication with a controller, vibrations emitted by the one or more bearings,
• measuring, via a speed sensor in electronic communication with the controller, the rotational speed of the one or more bearings;
• calculating, via the controller, a health status of the one or more bearings;
• and
• wherein a split spacer is disposed on a shaft that supports the one or more bearings and includes two portions that define a cavity that abuts the shaft such that the one or more vibration sensors are disposed inside the split spacer and next to the one or more bearings.