Modeling and simulation analysis of electrostatic monitoring sensor for rolling bearing

Abstract Accurate measurement of the charge quantity of a charged particle in wear areas is crucial for the monitoring and diagnosis of early faults in rolling bearings. The electric field of the charged particle redistributes due to the influence of conductors in the electrostatic monitoring system for rolling bearings. Compared to complex theoretical mathematical modeling and calculations, the finite element model constructed by using MAXWELL can intuitively reflect the induction status on the probe’s sensing surface through parameter settings. Simulation analysis demonstrates that the probe and shielding layer of the wear-site electrostatic sensor, along with the bearing, jointly influence the electric field distribution of the charged particle, with electric field lines mainly concentrating toward the probe’s sensing surface. The closer the bearing is to the sensor, the more significant the suppression of sensing capability becomes.