Description of The Studied Device and Phenomena

4.
Description of the Studied

Device and Phenomena
4.1. Induction Motors with Squirrel Cage Rotors
Versus Permanent Magnet Synchronous
Motors
Information about Induction Motors
Induction motor (IM) features:
• High reliability, low-price and small maintenance costs (especially in case of
squirrel cage IMs)
• Wide range of rated powers from less than 1 kW to several MWs
• Usually a slight variation of speed from no-load to full load for a constant supply
frequency
• Speed variation in wide range can be ensured by several methods
(frequency/voltage variation using inverters, voltage variation, variation of rotor
circuit resistance in case of wound-rotor IMs etc.)
• The efficiency and power factor worsen in case of machines with large number of
poles and low speed etc.
Utilization of induction motor:

• Centrifugal pumps, fans, machine tools, air conditioning equipment,
• Variable speed applications (electric traction of trains, metro, tramways, trolley-
busses, elevators),
• Cranes, conveyers, compressors, punching presses
• Etc.
Utilization of induction generator:
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• Wind turbines,
• Micro-hydro turbines,
• Etc.
Information about Synchronous Motors

Synchronous motor (SM) features:
• Constant speed from no-load to full load for a constant supply frequency;
• SMs are built for a wide range of rated powers (hundreds of Ws up to MWs);
• Unlike IMs, the synchronous motors do not have start torque when they are
directly connected to the grid; they require special start methods (special drive
systems, squirrel cage in the rotor, auxiliary start motors);
• SM/SG have the ability to deliver and control reactive power when working as
generator, motor or condenser by increasing the field current;
• SMs with large rated powers over 500 kW and low speeds (large number of
poles) are usually cheaper and more efficient that the IMs; small power SMs are
usually more expensive than IMs;
• Permanent magnet synchronous motors have higher efficiency than IMs or
electromagnetic excitation SMs.
Utilization of synchronous generator:

• Hydro-turbine driven generators, wind-turbine driven generators, steam-turbine
driven generators, alternators on auto-vehicles, engine driven generators (e.g.
Diesel electric generator sets, aircraft generators) etc.
Utilization of synchronous motor:

• Constant speed applications (compressors, fans, blowers, clocks, recording
systems, etc.)
• Variable speed applications (electric trains, automotive industry, other vehicles,
robotics, etc.)
• Permanent magnet machines replace IMs in many applications due to higher
efficiency and smaller weight
Utilization of synchronous condenser (unloaded and overexcited large motors):
44
• Reactive power control.
4.2.Description of the Induction Motor used in the

Simulations
The induction motor for which the broken bar fault is studied, Figure 4.1, has:
• 2-pole induction motor;
• 3-phase star connected;
• rated-load power, Pn = 7.5 kW;
• rated source voltage, Unf = 380 V (phase to null value);
• rated source frequency, f1n = 50 Hz.
Figure 4.1 Induction motor used for the study
This motor has the following main characteristics, Figures 4.2 and 4.3:
• The stator armature has 24 slots,
• The rotor armature has 20 slots.
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• The outer diameter of the stator magnetic core is 212 mm.
• The inner diameter of the stator is 120 mm.
• The outer diameter of the rotor is 119 mm; the air-gap thickness is 0.5 mm.
• The inner diameter of the rotor magnetic core is 40 mm.
• The length of the stator and rotor magnetic cores is 125 mm.
Figure 4.2 Cross-section of the stator and rotor armatures
46
Figure 4.3 Slot dimensions: a) stator slot; b) rotor slot
Figure 4.4 presents the stator winding. Each phase has 208 turns and 8 elementary
coils grouped by 4. The resistance of each phase is 1.54 Ω at 155 ˚C.
Figure 4.4 Stator winding
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4.3.Breakage of a Squirrel Cage Bar and Broken Bar
Faults
The squirrel cage of an induction motor consists of rotor bars and end rings. If one or
more of the bars is partially cracked, or completely broken, then the motor is said to
have broken bar fault. Figure 4.5 shows rotor and parts of broken rotor bar.[7]
The breakage of a squirrel cage bar is described by a crack in the bar that evolves in
time.
Figure 4.5 Photograph of rotor and parts of broken rotor bar [6]
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There are several reasons for which rotor faults may occur in an induction motor.
It has been observed that in squirrel-cage induction motor rotor asymmetry occurs
mainly due to manufacturing defects, such as during the brazing process nonuniform
metallurgical stresses may occur in cage assembly which led to failure during rotation
of the rotor. Also, heavy end rings of rotor result in large centrifugal forces which
may cause extra stresses on the rotor bars. Because of any of the reasons rotor bar
may get damaged which results in asymmetrical distribution of rotor currents. Also,
for such asymmetry or for long run of the motor if any of the rotor bar gets cracked
overheating will occur in the cracked region which may lead to breaking of the bar.
Now if one of the bars breaks, the adjacent bars will carry higher currents that will
determine larger thermal and mechanical stresses on these bars. If the rotor
continues to rotate in this condition, the adjacent bars may also get cracked —thus
damage may spread, leading to fracture of multiple bars of the rotor. This cracking
may occur at various locations of the rotor cage, such as: bars, end rings, joints of
bars and end rings. Joints of bars and end rings are regions with higher probabilities
of cracking. Moreover, probability of cage cracking increases if the motor start-up
time is long and, also if the motor is subjected to frequent starts and stops. [7]
The main causes of rotor broken bars of an induction motor that can be mentioned,
Pointwise are as follows:
• manufacturing defects
• thermal stresses
• mechanical stress caused by bearing faults
• frequent starts of the motor at rated voltage
• due to fatigue of metal of the rotor bar.
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4.

Description of the Studied

Utilization of induction motor:

Utilization of induction generator:

Information about Synchronous Motors

Utilization of synchronous generator:

Utilization of synchronous motor:

Utilization of synchronous condenser (unloaded and overexcited large motors):

4.2.Description of the Induction Motor used in the

Figure 4.1 Induction motor used for the study

Figure 4.2 Cross-section of the stator and rotor armatures

Figure 4.4 Stator winding

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