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Early Bearing Fault Detection Prevents Damage in Gas Turbine Starter Motor

By:

SKYLER

The Challenge

At a peaker plant with four GE 7E gas turbines, 800 HP starter motors engage Voith torque converters. These systems run on irregular, demand-driven schedules—ramping from cold to full power in under 30 minutes. Route-based vibration monitoring wasn’t possible.

With no predictability, critical components like torque converters remained unmonitored and exposed to risk.

bearing-fault-early-stage

The Skyler Solution

Two months after installing Skyler’s auto-triggered vibration sensors, one motor showed a rise in peak-to-peak acceleration. Spectral data revealed an asynchronous harmonic at 183.4 Hz, matching the Ball Pass Outer Race Frequency-clear signs of early bearing damage. Skyler issued a report recommending immediate regreasing.

Operators regreased the affected motor and proactively serviced the remaining three.
After lubrication, the acceleration levels returned to normal. Permanent bearing damage was avoided, and the bearing’s life was extended significantly.

bearing-fault-early-stage-Chart-1

Decrease in the Acceleration Pk-Pk trends was observed after regreasing.

bearing-fault-early-stage-Chart-2

Decreased impacting clearly visible in the acceleration time wave after the bearing regreasing (blue before, yellow after)

The Result?

This early warning enabled fast, low-cost intervention.
Bearing replacement and potential failure were avoided. All units remained online and
operational thanks to precise detection and quick action.

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