Thermography (Infrared Inspection) for bearings
Thermography (Infrared Inspection) is one of the most effective ways to monitor bearings: it catches developing faults — inadequate or contaminated lubrication, spalling and pitting of races and rolling elements, fatigue cracking — early, so repairs are planned rather than forced by a breakdown.
Why thermography (infrared inspection) suits bearings
Bearings fail in a predictable sequence, and that sequence is visible in data long before the bearing seizes. Because a failed bearing usually takes the machine — and sometimes the shaft — with it, catching the early stages is one of the clearest wins in all of predictive maintenance.
How thermography (infrared inspection) works
An infrared camera images the heat radiated from surfaces, turning temperature differences into a picture. Because most developing mechanical and electrical faults generate abnormal heat, a thermal survey finds them without shutting equipment down — a hot connection, an overheating bearing, a stripe of missing insulation. It is widely used both for condition monitoring and for energy audits, where it quickly shows where heat is escaping.
Faults it catches on bearings
- Inadequate or contaminated lubrication
- Spalling and pitting of races and rolling elements
- Fatigue cracking
- Electrical fluting (from VFD-driven motors)
- Overload and misalignment damage
What the data shows
A localised hot spot on an electrical connection flags a loose or corroded joint; a hot bearing housing flags developing bearing failure or poor lubrication; a cold steam trap flags one failed closed; a warm patch on a vessel flags missing or wet insulation.
Thermography (Infrared Inspection) on bearings: implementation
Implementation on bearings: Start by establishing a baseline — what thermography (infrared inspection) looks like on a healthy bearings. This typically takes 2–4 weeks of normal operation. Once baseline is established, any divergence from the norm signals a developing fault. Most plants find that a threshold alert (warn if exceeding baseline +X%) is simpler to manage than complex signal-processing algorithms.
Fault progression: The faults caught by thermography (infrared inspection) on bearings typically develop over days or weeks, not hours. This means you have a window to schedule repairs during planned downtime, avoid emergency callouts, and reduce parts inventory for emergency spares. That window is the value of the technique — it transforms random failures into managed maintenance.
Integration with maintenance: Condition monitoring data works best alongside a predictive or preventive maintenance schedule. Use thermography (infrared inspection) to trigger or validate the need for an intervention, rather than relying solely on calendar-based overhaul. This data-driven approach often reduces maintenance cost by 10–20% while improving reliability.
Related
Predictive maintenance for bearings · Thermography (Infrared Inspection) overview · Thermography (Infrared Inspection)