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Bearing Currents

The document discusses the effects of bearing currents in electric motors, particularly those operated by Variable Frequency Drives (VFD). It highlights the sources of bearing currents, including capacitive EDM current and high frequency circulating currents, and provides best practices for mitigating potential damage, such as using AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Rings. Additionally, it outlines the differences in bearing current behavior for motors operating on line voltage versus those driven by VFDs.

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Ahmed Boussoffara
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22 views6 pages

Bearing Currents

The document discusses the effects of bearing currents in electric motors, particularly those operated by Variable Frequency Drives (VFD). It highlights the sources of bearing currents, including capacitive EDM current and high frequency circulating currents, and provides best practices for mitigating potential damage, such as using AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Rings. Additionally, it outlines the differences in bearing current behavior for motors operating on line voltage versus those driven by VFDs.

Uploaded by

Ahmed Boussoffara
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Bearing Currents

Electric Motors Operating on Line Voltage

 Electric induction motors are designed for operation on 3 phase sine wave power - either 50 or 60
Hz.
 The input power is balanced in frequency, phase (120 degree phase shift) and in amplitude.
 Common mode voltage - the sum of the 3 phases always equals zero volts when properly balanced

NOTE: Bearing protection generally not needed except for large frame motors.

Electric Motors Operated by Variable Frequency Drives (VFD)

 When operated by VFD, the power to the motor is a series of positive and negative pulses instead of
a smooth sine wave.
 The input voltage is never blanced because the voltage is either 0 volts, positive, or negative with
rapid switching between pulses in all three phases.
 The common mode voltage is usually a "square wave" or "6 step" voltage wave form

There are two primary sources of bearing currents in VFD driven AC


motors:

Capacitive EDM Current: Discharge of shaft voltage capacitively produced by the pulse width
switching waveform of the VFD's voltage output. The output voltage is coupled to the shaft by parasitic
capacitance, and the shaft voltage can discharge through the motor bearings or those of attached
equipment, causing electrical discharge machining (EDM).
 Any VFD-fed motor, from fractional HP to thousands of HP, may have bearing currents from this
source.
 Voltages can discharge through the motor bearings resulting in EDM pitting and eventual failure.

Best Practice: Ground the motor shaft with the AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Ring to provide a path of
least resistance to ground, and divert discharge current away from the motor's bearing.

Ref: NEMA MG1 Part 31.4.4.3

An Electric Motor works like a Capacitor


 The pulses to the motor from the VFD create a rapidly changing common mode voltage at the motor
terminals. This rapidly changing common mode voltage creates a capacitively coupled voltage on
the motor shaft.
 Shaft voltages are measurable with an AEGIS® Shaft Voltage Tester™ or other digital oscilloscope
equipped with an AEGIS® Shaft Voltage Probe Tip.
 Discharge of these shaft voltages is called Capacitive EDM Current.
Voltage Arcs through the Bearing:

 Discharge currents arc through the bearing, and EDM creates thousands of pits in the bearing race
 Bearings are roughened, resulting in increased friction and noise
 Eventually, the rolling elements can cause fluting damage to the bearing races
 Bearing lubrication deteriorates, loses its viscosity, and the bearing fails
 Potential for costly unplanned downtime

High Frequency Circulating Currents


High frequency circulating currents may be induced by magnetic flux imbalance, from the stator
windings, around the motor shaft. These currents circulate along the shaft, through the bearing, then
along the frame to the other bearing, and back to the shaft.

o Occur in AC motors above 100HP (75 kW) and DC motors over


10HP (7.5 kW)
o High frequency circulating currents are always accompanied by capacitive EDM current

Best Practice: High frequency circulating currents should be interrupted by insulating one bearing
(usually the non-drive end). Since these currents are always accompanied by capacitive EDM
currents, an AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Ring should be installed at the other end (usually drive end) to
prevent EDM from capacitive currents.

50/60 Circulating Currents from Line Voltage in Motors over 500 Frame:

Sinusoidal voltage sources can cause low frequency circulating currents in large machines due to
motors' not-perfectly-symmetical design. 50/60Hz operation can result in circulating currents due to
motor magnetic asymmetries.
 Usually present in very large machines only
 Circulate through the motor bearings, shaft to frame

Best Practice: Interrupting the circulating current is the best approach to mitigating potential bearing
damage.

Ref: NEMA MG1 Part 31.4.4.3

AC Induction Motors
VFD OPERATION NO VFD -
50/60/ Hz line operation

Motors up to and Motors over 100hp to 500 Motors over 500hp Motors over 500 Frame
including 100hp hp (Medium Voltage- over 600 (Medium Voltage)
(Low Voltage) (Low Voltage - up to 600 VAC)
volts AC)

Capacitive EDM Capacitive EDM Current Capacitive EDM Current 50/60 Hz Circulating Current
Current High Frequency Circulating High Frequency Circulating
Current Current
Low Frequency Circulating
Current

AEGIS® SGR AEGIS® SGR AEGIS® PRO AEGIS® PRO


(may not be needed)
Install Install AEGIS® SGR Install AEGIS® PRO Ring Install AEGIS® PRO Ring
AEGIS® SGR on opposite side of bearing opposite side of bearing opposite side of bearing
DE or NDE insulation; usually DE insulation; usually DE insulation: usually DE

n/a Isolate one bearing, usually Isolate one bearing, usually Isolate one bearing, usually
the NDE to break the the NDE to break the the NDE to break the
circulating current path. circulating current path. circulating current path

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