Leveraging Variable Frequency Drive Data for Nondestructive Testing and Predictive Maintenance in Industrial Systems

Nondestructive testing (NDT) has a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and safety of industrial systems. However, traditional methods typically rely on external sensors, which can lead to increased costs and added complexity. The current study examined an alternative approach using variable-fre...

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Main Author: Carl Lee Tolbert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:NDT
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2813-477X/3/2/7
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author Carl Lee Tolbert
author_facet Carl Lee Tolbert
author_sort Carl Lee Tolbert
collection DOAJ
description Nondestructive testing (NDT) has a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and safety of industrial systems. However, traditional methods typically rely on external sensors, which can lead to increased costs and added complexity. The current study examined an alternative approach using variable-frequency drive (VFD) data for real-time fault detection and predictive maintenance. Most VFDs continuously monitor essential parameters such as motor speed, torque, efficiency, and power consumption, facilitating sensorless condition monitoring that helps detect early-stage motor and apparatus faults without additional hardware. To improve diagnostic capabilities, calculated metrics such as apparent power, efficiency, torque, and energy consumption can deliver more profound insights into system performance, assisting in identifying potential failure patterns. A Python-based data acquisition and visualization system was developed and implemented as an example of a potential solution, enabling centralized monitoring, anomaly detection, and historical data analysis. Future advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning could further refine automated fault detection by utilizing historical VFD data to predict system failures accurately. By integrating VFD-based diagnostics into NDT, industries can develop scalable, cost-effective, intelligent testing and maintenance solutions that improve reliability and asset management in modern systems.
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spelling doaj-art-e6275daa4deb405b87a805837100bbd72025-08-20T03:16:24ZengMDPI AGNDT2813-477X2025-03-0132710.3390/ndt3020007Leveraging Variable Frequency Drive Data for Nondestructive Testing and Predictive Maintenance in Industrial SystemsCarl Lee Tolbert0Institute for Globally Distributed Open Research and Education (IGDORE), USANondestructive testing (NDT) has a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and safety of industrial systems. However, traditional methods typically rely on external sensors, which can lead to increased costs and added complexity. The current study examined an alternative approach using variable-frequency drive (VFD) data for real-time fault detection and predictive maintenance. Most VFDs continuously monitor essential parameters such as motor speed, torque, efficiency, and power consumption, facilitating sensorless condition monitoring that helps detect early-stage motor and apparatus faults without additional hardware. To improve diagnostic capabilities, calculated metrics such as apparent power, efficiency, torque, and energy consumption can deliver more profound insights into system performance, assisting in identifying potential failure patterns. A Python-based data acquisition and visualization system was developed and implemented as an example of a potential solution, enabling centralized monitoring, anomaly detection, and historical data analysis. Future advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning could further refine automated fault detection by utilizing historical VFD data to predict system failures accurately. By integrating VFD-based diagnostics into NDT, industries can develop scalable, cost-effective, intelligent testing and maintenance solutions that improve reliability and asset management in modern systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-477X/3/2/7nondestructive testingvariable frequency drivepredictive maintenanceindustrial monitoringPythonreliability engineering
spellingShingle Carl Lee Tolbert
Leveraging Variable Frequency Drive Data for Nondestructive Testing and Predictive Maintenance in Industrial Systems
NDT
nondestructive testing
variable frequency drive
predictive maintenance
industrial monitoring
Python
reliability engineering
title Leveraging Variable Frequency Drive Data for Nondestructive Testing and Predictive Maintenance in Industrial Systems
title_full Leveraging Variable Frequency Drive Data for Nondestructive Testing and Predictive Maintenance in Industrial Systems
title_fullStr Leveraging Variable Frequency Drive Data for Nondestructive Testing and Predictive Maintenance in Industrial Systems
title_full_unstemmed Leveraging Variable Frequency Drive Data for Nondestructive Testing and Predictive Maintenance in Industrial Systems
title_short Leveraging Variable Frequency Drive Data for Nondestructive Testing and Predictive Maintenance in Industrial Systems
title_sort leveraging variable frequency drive data for nondestructive testing and predictive maintenance in industrial systems
topic nondestructive testing
variable frequency drive
predictive maintenance
industrial monitoring
Python
reliability engineering
url https://www.mdpi.com/2813-477X/3/2/7
work_keys_str_mv AT carlleetolbert leveragingvariablefrequencydrivedatafornondestructivetestingandpredictivemaintenanceinindustrialsystems