Case Study: Coal power plant avoids bearing failure and shutdown with GE Digital's SmartSignal solution

Coal Mill Pinion Shaft Bearing Problem Detected At A Coal Power Plant

Coal Power Plant experienced a rapidly rising mill drive end pinion shaft bearing temperature on January 31st, climbing above 80°C (176°F) versus the normal 50–60°C (122–140°F) range. GE Digital’s SmartSignal solution and its Industrial Performance & Reliability Center (IPRC) Rapid Response Team detected the anomaly and issued a high‑priority notification to the site.

Following GE Digital’s alert, the plant performed an initial online cleaning and then a thorough offline cleaning to remove coal buildup from a leak; the bearing temperature returned to expected values (back into the 50–60°C range). By catching the issue early, GE Digital’s analytics helped avoid bearing damage or a potential coal fire, preventing a mill shutdown and loss of production.