Detection and Diagnosis of Motor Stator Faults using Electric Signals from Variable Speed Drives

Motor current signature analysis has been investigated widely for diagnosing faults of induction motors. However, most of these studies are based on open loop drives. This paper examines the performance of diagnosing motor stator faults under both open and closed loop operation modes. It examines the effectiveness of conventional diagnosis features in both motor current and voltage signals using spectrum analysis. Evaluation results show that the stator fault causes an increase in the sideband amplitude of motor current signature only when the motor is under the open loop control. However, the increase in sidebands can be observed in both the current and voltage signals under the sensorless control mode, showing that it is more promising in diagnosing the stator faults under the sensorless control operation

Observer-based Fault Detection and Diagnosis for Mechanical Transmission Systems with Sensorless Variable Speed Drives

Observer based approaches are commonly embedded in sensorless variable speed drives for the purpose of speed control. It estimates system variables to produce errors or residual signals in conjunction with corresponding measurements. The residual signals then are relied to tune control parameters to maintain operational performance even if there are considerable disturbances such as noises and component faults. Obviously, this control strategy outcomes robust control performances. However, it may produce adverse consequences to the system when faults progress to high severity. To prevent the occurrences of such consequences, this research proposes the utilisation of residual signals as detection features to raise alerts for incipient faults. Based on a gear transmission system with a sensorless variable speed drive (VSD), observers for speed, flux and torque are developed for examining their residuals under two mechanical faults: tooth breakage with different degrees of severities and shortage of lubricant at different levels are investigated. It shows that power residual signals can be based on to indicate different faults, showing that the observer based approaches are effective for monitoring VSD based mechanical systems. Moreover, it also shows that these two types fault can be separated based on the dynamic components in the voltage signals

The Detection of Shaft Misalignments using Motor Current Signals from a Sensorless Variable Speed Drive

Shaft misalignments are common problems in rotating machines which cause additional dynamic and static loads, and vibrations in the system, leading to early damages and energy loss. It has been shown previously that it is possible to use motor current signature analysis to detect and diagnose this fault in motor drives. However, with a variable speed drive (VSD) system, it becomes dif-ficult to detect faults as the drive compensates for the small changes from fault ef-fects and increased noise in the measured data. In this paper, motor current signa-tures including dynamic and static data have been investigated for misalignment diagnosis in a VSD system. The study has made a systemic comparison of differ-ent control parameters between two common operation modes: open loop and sen-sorless control. Results show that fault detection features on the motor current from the sensorless mode can be the same as those of the open loop mode, however, the detection and diagnosis is significantly more difficult. In contrast, because of the additional frictional load, features from static data show results of early detection and diagnosis of different degrees of misalignment is as good as that from conventional vibration methods

On the reliability of electrical drives for safety-critical applications

The aim of this work is to present some issues related to fault tolerant electric drives,which are able to overcome different types of faults occurring in the sensors, in thepower converter and in the electrical machine, without compromising the overallfunctionality of the system. These features are of utmost importance in safety-criticalapplications. In this paper, the reliability of both commercial and innovative driveconfigurations, which use redundant hardware and suitable control algorithms, will beinvestigated for the most common types of fault: besides standard three phase motordrives, also multiphase topologies, open-end winding solutions, multi-machineconfigurations will be analyzed, applied to various electric motor technologies. Thecomplexity of hardware and control strategies will also be compared in this paper, sincethis has a tremendous impact on the investment costs

Detection and Diagnosis of Compound Faults in Induction Motors Using Electric Signals from Variable Speed Drives

As a primer driver, induction motors are the most electric energy consuming component in industry. The exposure of the motor to stator winding asymmetry, combined with broken rotor bar fault significantly increases the temperature and reduces the efficiency and life of the motor. Accurate and timely diagnosis of these faults will help to maintain motors operating under optimal statues and avoid excessive energy consumption and severe damage to systems. This paper examines the performance of diagnosing the effect of asymmetry stator winding on broken rotor bar faults under closed loop operation modes. It examines the effectiveness of conventional diagnosis features in both motor current and voltage signals using spectrum and modulation signal bispectrum analysis (MSBA). Evaluation results show that the combined faults cause an additional increase in the sideband amplitude and this increase in sideband can be observed in both the current and voltage signals under the sensorless control mode. MSB analysis has a good noise reduction capability and produces a more accurate and reliable diagnosis in that it gives more correct indication of the fault severity and location for all operating conditions

Modulation signal bispectrum analysis of electric signals for the detection and diagnosis of compound faults in induction motors with sensorless drives

As a prime driver, induction motor is the most electric energy consuming component in industry. The exposure of the motor to stator winding asymmetry, combined with broken rotor bar fault significantly increases the temperature and reduces the efficiency and life of the motor. Accurate and timely diagnosis of these faults will help to maintain motors operating under optimal status and avoid excessive energy consumption and severe damages to systems. This paper examines the performance of diagnosing the effect of asymmetry stator winding on broken rotor bar (BRB) faults under closed loop operation modes. It examines the effectiveness of conventional diagnostic features in both motor current and voltage signals using spectrum and modulation signal bispectrum analysis (MSBA). Evaluation results show that the combined faults cause an additional increase in the sideband amplitude and this increase in sideband can be observed in both the current and voltage signals under the sensorless control mode. MSB analysis has a good noise reduction capability and produces a more accurate and reliable diagnosis in that it gives a more correct indication of the fault severity and its location for all operating conditions

The investigation of motor current signals from a centrifugal pump for fault diagnosis

In this paper, motor current signals from electrical control systems, rather than installing additional measurement systems, are characterised for the fault diagnosis of centrifugal pumps. Modulation signal bispectrum (MSB) analysis is applied to reveal the weak nonlinear characteristics of current signals when the pump with different impeller faults operates under a wide range of flow conditions. Experimental results show that two static features including the amplitude at supply frequency and the frequency value of bar-passing frequency can be based on to diagnose impeller defects on exit vane tips and inlet vane tips. In addition, the dynamic parameter of sidebands at vane-passing frequency can also be a good indicator for differentiating between the faults