Propeller Fault Diagnosis Using Wireless on Rotor Sensing Technology

Propellers, as the primary propulsion components of marine vessels, require real-time fault monitoring since their failure can lead to severe efficiency losses or catastrophic accidents. This study proposes a wireless triaxial on rotor sensing (ORS) system for propeller fault diagnosis, where the synchronized rotating ORS module extracts motor speed from the linear relationship between static centrifugal acceleration components and rotational velocity, enabling accurate determination of propeller fault frequencies. Experimental simulations of blade entanglement under varying speeds and loads demonstrate that the propeller fault frequency modulates with motor rotational frequency in Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) spectra, exhibiting significantly amplified sidebands that enable fault detection through sideband analysis. Compared to conventional on-hull sensing (OHS), the ORS system achieves superior signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), offering enhanced reliability for real-time marine propulsion diagnostics. The results validate the ORS-based method as an effective solution for propeller condition monitoring under dynamic operating conditions.