15HE38E-Condition Monitoring of High Votage Power Apparatus Unit I - Indroduction
15HE38E-Condition Monitoring of High Votage Power Apparatus Unit I - Indroduction
Unit I - Indroduction
A CM system should be capable of monitoring the running machines with the existence
of electrical interference, predicting the need for maintenance before serious deterioration or
breakdown occurs, identifying and locating the defects in detail, and even estimating the life of
machines. Four main parts should be contained in a CM system to practice these functions. They
are as follows,
1) Sensor. Sensors can convert a physical quantity to an electrical signal. Quantities and
phenomenon will be monitored if they themselves or their detectable changes can reveal
incipient faults long before catastrophic failures occur. Selection of sensors will rely on the
monitoring method and come down to the knowledge on failure mechanisms of the machine.
Commonly, the sensors should be suitable for on-line measurement. Sensitivity, cheapness, and
no invasion are the key requirements and expectation to practice this task.
2) Data acquisition. A data acquisition unit will be built to realize amplification and pre-
processing of the output signals from sensors, for example, conversion from analogue to digital
and correction of sensor failures. Data communication technique and microcomputer may be
needed.
3) Fault detection. The main purpose is to find out if there is an incipient fault appearing in the
machine so that alarm can be given and further analysis can be exerted. There are two deferent
methods for fault detection, named model-referenced method and feature extraction. The former
detects faults by comparing the results of measurements with predictions of models that may be
mathematical simulation models or artificial intelligence based. For most feature extraction
methods, frequency and time-domain signal processing technologies will be used to obtain
signatures which can represent normal and faulty performance.
4) Diagnosis. The detected abnormal signals need be post processed to make out a prescription
as a clear indication to maintenance. It used to be done by experts or offline analysis and now
tends to be implemented online and automatically by computer combined with advanced
technologies. The prescriptions presented to the user are expected to include name and location
of each defect, status of the machine, advises for maintenance, and so on.
Condition monitoring techniques:
Vibration Analysis and diagnostics
Lubricant analysis
Acoustic emission (Airborne Ultrasound)
Infrared thermography
Ultrasound testing (Material Thickness/Flaw Testing)
Motor Condition Monitoring and Motor current signature analysis (MCSA)
Model-based voltage and current systems (MBVI systems)
Mechanical and electrical faults excite the machine structure in different ways, for example:
a. Mechanical faults, including self-weight defects, mechanical unbalance and shaft whirl,
excite transverse motion in the machine frame, detectable by transverse vibration sensors.
c. Electrical faults in stator or rotor windings excite torsional motion in the shaft detectable
in the torque signal but not necessarily by vibration sensors, unless it is coupled to the
transverse motion by asymmetries in the machine frame. Faults can be identified by more
than one technique. Vibration can be detected by accelerometers and velocimeters
mounted on bearings, or proximeters mounted adjacent to bearings. Accelerometers are
more appropriate to higher frequencies, whereas velocimeters and proximeters to lower
frequencies.