Thermal condition monitoring of large smart bearing through fiber optic sensors

The ‘Smart Manufacturing’ applied to steelmaking includes a continuous condition monitoring of the mill system, performed by bearings equipped with sensors. They are embedded inside the mill cage, and exposed to heat sources. Monitoring their temperature is mandatory. Fiber optics sensors can be exploited. Their behavior is here modeled, and then tested on some prototypes. The fiber optics technology looks suitable for this application, provided that a precise sensor calibration is performed. A technological assessment is required, to develop the industrial product.