Patent ID: 7146292

Claim:
A method of evaluating aging of a component, characterized in that it includes the steps of: a) performing at repeated instants of time (i) during the useful life of the component, the steps of: measuring values of the elapsed time in operation of the component (t m,i ), at least one entity (I m,i ) indicative of the aging of the component, and the temperature (T m,i ) of the component, processing the values as measured as a function of a reference temperature (T ref ) to produce reference values (t ref,i ; I m,i ) for said elapsed time in operation of the component (t m,i ) and said at least one entity (I m,i ) indicative of the aging of the component, wherein said reference values (t ref,i ; I m,i ) are normalized values representative of virtual operation of said component at said reference temperature (T ref ); b) generating, starting from said reference values (t ref,i ; I m,i ) for said elapsed time in operation of the component (t m,i ) and said at least one entity (I m,i ) indicative of the aging of the component, an updated prediction model (A i (t) n i ) for said at least one entity over time, c) predicting, by means of said updated prediction model (A i (t) n i ), a predicted value (I fit ) of said at least one entity at a given time, d) performing a comparison involving said predicted value (I fit ) and at least one aging threshold, and e) issuing an aging warning signal if said comparison indicates deviation of said predicted value (I fit ) beyond an acceptable range.