Novel frequency-domain-based technique to detect stator interturn faults in induction machines using stator-induced voltages after switch-off

Abstract

Traditionally, for medium- and high-voltage motors and generators, condition-based monitoring of stator faults is performed by measuring partial discharge activities. For low-voltage machines, negative-sequence impedance or currents are measured for the same. Such diagnostic schemes should be carefully implemented as supply voltage unbalance, manufacturing-related asymmetry, etc., also produce negative-sequence voltages. A few approaches based on motor current signature analysis have already been proposed to detect stator interturn faults. However, little or no physical insight was provided to explain the occurrence of certain harmonics in the line current or the influence of voltage unbalance on these harmonics. Also, in at least one of these papers, a large portion of the stator winding was shorted to emulate the faults. The method proposed in this paper monitors certain rotor-slot-related harmonics at the terminal voltage of the machine, once it is switched off. In the absence of supply voltage, issues such as voltage unbalance, time harmonics do not influence the measurements except as initial conditions, which is a very desirable feature when the machine is fed from an adjustable-speed drive. Satisfactory simulation and experimental results have been obtained with only about 1.5% (5/324) of the total number of turns shorted.