Noise in Electric Motors: A Comprehensive Review

Electric machines are important devices that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and are extensively used in a wide range of applications. Recent years have seen an increase in applications where electric motors are used. The frequent use of electric motors in noise-sensitive environments increases the requirements placed on electric motors intended for these applications, especially when compared to electric motors commonly used in industrial applications. This paper provides a comprehensive review of electric motor noise. Firstly, a brief introduction to noise is given. Then, the sources of electromagnetic noise and vibration in electric machines, including mechanical, aerodynamic and electromagnetic factors, are presented. Different methods such as analytical, numerical and semi-analytical for calculating electromagnetic force, natural frequencies and noise are also analyzed. Various methods for noise reduction are presented, including skewing, stator and rotor notching and slot opening width. Finally, noise measurement standards and procedures are described.This work received financial support from the Basque Government through the Bikaintek program (Grant no. 016-B2/2021)

Bibliography on Induction Motors Faults Detection and Diagnosis

International audienceThis paper provides a comprehensive list of books, workshops, conferences, and journal papers related to induction motors faults detection and diagnosis

High frequency losses in induction motors, part 2

The following subject areas are covered: high frequency losses in induction motors; stray losses in induction motors; and high frequency time harmonic losses in induction motors

Magnetic Flux Analysis for the Condition Monitoring of Electric Machines: A Review

[EN] Magnetic flux analysis is a condition monitoring technique that is drawing the interest of many researchers and motor manufacturers. The great enhancements and reduction in the costs and dimensions of the required sensors, the development of advanced signal processing techniques that are suitable for flux data analysis, along with other inherent advantages provided by this technology are relevant aspects that have allowed the proliferation of flux-based techniques. This paper reviews the most recent scientific contributions related to the development and application of flux-based methods for the monitoring of rotating electric machines. Particularly, aspects related to the main sensors used to acquire magnetic flux signals as well as the leading signal processing and classification techniques are commented. The discussion is focused on the diagnosis of different types of faults in the most common rotating electric machines used in industry, namely: squirrel cage induction machines (SCIM), wound rotor induction machines (WRIM), permanent magnet machines (PMM) and wound field synchronous machines (WFSM). A critical insight of the techniques developed in the area is provided and several open challenges are also discussed.This work was supported by the Spanish 'Ministerio de Ciencia Innovación y Universidades' and FEDER program in the framework of the "Proyectos de I+D de Generación de Conocimiento del Programa Estatal de Generación de Conocimiento y Fortalecimiento Científico y Tecnologico del Sistema de I+D+i, Subprograma Estatal de Generacion de Conocimiento" reference PGC2018-095747-B-I00 and by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología under CONACyT Scholarship with key code 2019-000037-02NACF. Paper no. TII-20-5308.Zamudio-Ramírez, I.; Osornio-Rios, RA.; Antonino-Daviu, J.; Razik, H.; Romero-Troncoso, RDJ. (2022). Magnetic Flux Analysis for the Condition Monitoring of Electric Machines: A Review. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics. 18(5):2895-2908. https://doi.org/10.1109/TII.2021.30705812895290818

Advanced Non-Overlapping Winding Induction Machines for Electrical Vehicle Applications

This thesis presents an investigation into advanced squirrel-cage induction machines (IMs), with a particular reference to the reduction of the total axial length without sacrificing the torque and efficiency characteristics and analysis of recently found non-sinusoidal bar current phenomenon, which occurs under some certain design and operating conditions, and affects the overall performance characteristics of the IMs. As a first step, the most convenient method is determined by utilizing a fractional-slot concentrated winding (FSCW) technique, which has advantages such as non-overlapping windings, high slot filling factor, and simple structure. After implementing this technique, it is found that due to the highly distorted magnetomotive forces (MMFs) created by the FSCWs, significant high rotor bar copper loss occurs. In order to reduce the MMF harmonics without increasing the size of the machine, a new technique titled “adapted non-overlapping winding” is developed. This technique consists of the combination of the auxiliary tooth and phase shifting techniques, resulting in a stator with concentrated windings of two-slot coil pitches but without overlapping the end-windings. Thanks to this method a large number of the MMF harmonics are cancelled. Thus, a low copper loss IM with significantly reduced total axial length is obtained. Influence of design parameters; such as stator slot, rotor slot, and pole numbers, number of turns, stack length, stator and rotor geometric parameters, etc. on the performance characteristics of the advanced IM is investigated and a comprehensive comparison of advanced and conventional IMs is presented. This thesis also covers an in-depth investigation on the non-sinusoidal bar current phenomenon. It is observed that the rotor bar current waveform, usually presumed to be sinusoidal, becomes non-sinusoidal in some operation and design conditions, such as high speed operation close to synchronous speed, or fairly high electrical loading operation, or in the IMs whose air-gap length is considerably small, etc. Influences of design and operating parameters and magnetic saturation on the rotor bar current waveform and the performance characteristics of squirrel-cage IMs are investigated. The levels of iron saturation, depending on the design and operating parameters, in different machine parts are examined and their influences are also investigated, whilst the dominant part causing the non-sinusoidal rotor bar current waveform is identified. It is revealed that the magnetic saturation, particularly in the rotor tooth, has a significant effect on the bar current waveform

Acoustic noise radiated by PWM-controlled induction machine drives

This paper investigates the acoustic noise radiated from two nominally identical induction motors when fed from sinusoidal, and asymmetric regular sampling subharmonic and space-vector pulsewidth modulation (PWM) converters. The theory for analyzing the noise spectrum is developed further to account for the interaction between the motor and the drive. It is shown that manufacturing tolerances can result in significant differences in the noise level emitted from nominally identical motors, and that mechanical resonances can result in extremely high noise emissions. Such resonances can be induced by stator and rotor slot air-gap field harmonics due to the fundamental component of current, and by the interaction between the airgap field harmonics produced by the fundamental and the PWM harmonic currents. The significance of the effect of PWM strategy on the noise is closely related to the mechanical resonance with vibration mode order zero, while the PWM strategy will be critical only if the dominant cause of the emitted noise is the interaction of the fundamental air-gap field and PWM harmonic

Condition monitoring of induction motors in the nuclear power station environment

The induction motor is a highly utilised electrical machine in industry, with the nuclear industry being no exception. A typical nuclear power station usually contains more than 1000 motors, where they are used in safety and non-safety application. The efficient and fault-free operation of this machine is critical to the safe and economical operation of any plant, including nuclear power stations. A comprehensive literature review was conducted that covered the functioning of the induction machine, its common faults and methods of detecting these faults. The Condition Based Maintenance framework was introduced in which condition monitoring of induction machines is an essential component. The main condition monitoring methods were explained with the main focus being on Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA) and the various methods associated with it. Three analysis methods were selected for further study, namely, Current Signature Analysis, Instantaneous Power Signature Analysis (IPSA) and Motor Square Current Signature Analysis (MSCSA). Essentially, the methodology used in this dissertation was to study the three common motor faults (bearings, stator and rotor cage) in isolation and compare the results to that of the healthy motor of the same type. The test loads as well as fault severity were varied where possible to investigate its effect on the fault detection scheme. The data was processed using an FFT based algorithm programed in MATLAB. The results of the study of the three spectral analysis techniques showed that no single technique is able to detect motor faults under all tested circumstances. The MCSA technique proved the most capable of the three techniques as it was able to detect faults under most conditions, but generally suffered poor results in inverter driven motor applications. The IPSA and MSCSA techniques performed selectively when compared to MCSA and were relatively successful when detecting the mechanical faults. The fact that the former techniques produce results at unique points in the spectrum would suggest that they are more suitable for verifying results. As part of a comprehensive condition monitoring scheme, as required by a large population of the motors on a nuclear power station, the three techniques presented in this study could readily be incorporated into the Condition Based Maintenance framework where the strengths of each could be exploited

An accurate inter-turn short circuit faults model dedicated to induction motors

Safety, disponibility and continuity of industrial systems are major issue in maintenance. In the last decades, these points are the important axes in the field of research. In fact, in many industrial processes research has picked up a fervent place and a particular importance in the area of fault diagnosis of electrical machines, in fact, a fault prognosis has become almost indispensable. The need of a mathematical model of three-phase induction machine, suitable for the simulation of machines behaviour under fault conditions, has received considerable attention. The paper presents a new practical and more precise model for induction motors after introducing inter turn short circuits faults. The proposed model is based on coupled magnetic circuit theory, capable to take into account any electrical asymmetry conditions. To verify the exactitude and the effectiveness of the model, simulation results for induction machine under interturn short circuit fault are presented. In spite of its simplicity, the proposed model is able to provide useful indications for diagnostic purposes. Experimental study is presented at the end of the paper to show that the proposed model predicts the induction machine behavior with a good accuracy

Advances in Electrical Machine, Power Electronic, and Drive Condition Monitoring and Fault Detection: State of the Art

© 2015 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permissíon from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertisíng or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.[EN] Recently, research concerning electrical machines and drives condition monitoring and fault diagnosis has experienced extraordinarily dynamic activity. The increasing importance of these energy conversion devices and their widespread use in uncountable applications have motivated significant research efforts. This paper presents an analysis of the state of the art in this field. The analyzed contributions were published in most relevant journals and magazines or presented in either specific conferences in the area or more broadly scoped events.Riera-Guasp, M.; Antonino-Daviu, J.; Capolino, G. (2015). Advances in Electrical Machine, Power Electronic, and Drive Condition Monitoring and Fault Detection: State of the Art. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics. 62(3):1746-1759. doi:10.1109/TIE.2014.2375853S1746175962