Maintenance of Electrical

Motors and Associated

Apparatus
Electric motors, particularly those using alternating current, have become
highly sophisticated devices that are now the workhorses of our
industrialized society. Induction motors serve by far the majority of
petrochemical process applications. Motors operating at or above 4,000
volts, or sized at 1,000 horsepower or more, are usually custom built for a
specific application. Figure 1 shows a representative distribution of electric
motors in North American plants by voltages and horsepower ranges, for
total plant loads of (a) 5 megawatts and more, and (b) less than 5 megawatts.

Types of Motors
The choice of an induction motor versus a synchronous alternating or a
direct current motor is often made on the basis of cost, but other
considerations also play a role. For example, spare parts availability, repair
capabilities, and similar factors usually favor the induction motor.
Synchronous motors offer “non-slip” performance and power factor
adjustments by over- or under-exciting the field.

Usage of motor types, mainly driven by economic considerations, is as

follows:

1
Figure 1. Distribution of electric motors by voltages and horsepower
ranges.

2
Induction or squirrel cage motors have many standard design features such
as oversized bearings, balanced rotors and a greater number of leads to give
versatility in starting methods as well as various rotor designs to match
torque and efficiency to particular applications. The induction motor is the
most commonly used prime mover in the petrochemical process industry
because it is simple, low cost, easily maintainable, efficient, and available in
standard sizes. Recent developments in variable frequency controllers will
further enhance the use of the squirrel cage motor where variable speed
drives are required.

The main components of a squirrel cage induction motor are the two
bearings, the rotor, a stationary winding and a case. Figure 2 shows a
sectional view of a typical three-phase squirrel cage motor.

Figure 2. Sectional view of a typical squirrel cage (induction) motor.