Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) algorithm is introduded as the core of the Hilbert-huang transform (HHT), and implementation process of EMD is analyzed. Then data compression denoising algorithm based on EMD is proposed, simulation and experimental signals are used for verification of the effect of EMD. In the same data sources, the comparison of data compression denoising approaches based on the EMD, db2 wavelet and db8 wavelet are conducted. In addition, physical experiment of the same analysis and comparisons are conducted on a running motor in a Chongqing electrical plant. Simulation and experimental results show that data compression denoising algorithm based on EMD can achieve the same denoising effect, or even better than based on db2 wavelet, db8 wavelet. The former is more perfect than the latter in the real signal processing, and denoising based on EMD is not loss of the original signal energy.