Condition classification of small reciprocating compressor for refrigerators using artificial neural networks and support vector machines

The need to increase machine reliability and decrease production loss due to faulty products in highly automated line requires accurate and reliable fault classification technique. Wavelet transform and statistical method are used to extract salient features from raw noise and vibration signals. The wavelet transform decomposes the raw time-waveform signals into two respective parts in the time space and frequency domain. With wavelet transform prominent features can be obtained easily than from time-waveform analysis. This paper focuses on the development of an advanced signal classifier for small reciprocating refrigerator compressors using noise and vibration signals. Three classifiers, self-organising feature map, learning vector quantisation and support vector machine (SVM) are applied in training and testing for feature extraction and the classification accuracies of the techniques are compared to determine the optimum fault classifier. The classification technique selected for detecting faulty reciprocating refrigerator compressors involves artificial neural networks and SVMs. The results confirm that the classification technique can differentiate faulty compressors from healthy ones and with high flexibility and reliability.