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Troubleshooting | Power-MI

Aug 21, 2023 3:45 PM

https://power-mi.com/content/troubleshooting
AC induction motors

Troubleshooting
By Alfonso Fernandez

Introduction to maintenance

Vibration analysis fundamentals

Vibration sensors and measurement devices

Vibration standards

Imbalance and phase measurement

Low frequency fault diagnosis

Plain bearings

Gears

Rolling element bearings

AC induction motors

Introduction

Components and frequencies of interest

 Troubleshooting

Resonance

Stator eccentricity, stator support

weakness or winding shorts
Stator problems generate high vibration at twice the line frequency (2x FL). The
eccentricity of the stator produces an uneven stationary air gap between the rotor
and the stator which causes a very directional vibration. The differences in the air gap
should not exceed 5% for induction motors and 10% for synchronous motors. Loose
foot and bent base plates (deformed) can produce an eccentric stator. Loose iron is
due to weakness of the stator support.

Short-circuited stator windings can cause localized and uneven heating that can
distort the stator itself. This produces a thermally induced vibration that can increase
significantly over time, causing stator distortion and static air gap problems.

Figure 10.3: Stator eccentricity, stator support weakness or winding

shorts

Eccentric rotor
Eccentric rotors produce a rotating variable air gap between the rotor and the stator
inducing a pulsating vibration, usually located between 2x FL and the nearest
operating operating speed harmonic. Frequently it is necessary to "zoom in" the
spectrum to separate 2x FL from the operating speed harmonic. Eccentric rotors
produce 2x FL vibration surrounded by the side bands of the pole pass frequency (FP)
as well as FP side bands around the operating speed. FP appears at low frequency
since common FP values range from approximately 20 to 120 CPM (0.3 ~ 2.0 Hz).

Figure 10.4: Eccentric rotor

Broken rotor bars or short-circuiting

end rings, or shorted rotor
laminations
Broken or cracked rotor bars or short-circuiting end rings; bad joints between rotor
bars and the short-circuiting end rings; or shorted rotor laminations will produce high
vibration at the 1x RPM operating speed with pole pass frequency (FP) sidebands. In
addition, these problems will frequently generate FP side bands around the second,
third, fourth and fifth harmonic of the operating speed. Opened rotor bars are
indicated by sidebands at twice the lineLearn
frequencySign
(2x FL) Try
around the rotor bar pass
 Product English
frequency
IN THIS (RBPF)
PAGE: and/or its harmonics. Frequently, it will cause high levels at 2x
RBPF Stator
with only a small amplitude at 1x RBPF. The electrically induced arc between
Power-MI
the broken rotor bars and the end rings will often in
eccentricity, show high
it levels at 2x RBPF (with
2x FL stator
sidebands); but little or no amplitude increase at 1x RBPF.
support
free
weakness or
winding
shorts
 Eccentric
rotor
Broken rotor
bars or short-
circuiting end
rings, or
shorted rotor
laminations
Phase
problems
(loose
connector)

Figure 10.5: Broken rotor bars or short-circuiting end rings, or

shorted rotor laminations

Phase problems (loose connector)

Phase problems due to loose or broken connectors can cause excessive vibration at
twice the line frequency (2x FL), which will have side bands around it spaced at 1/3 of
the line frequency (1/3 FL). Levels in 2x FL may grow significantly if left uncorrected.
However, there may be cases in which the only symptom is an amplitude increase in
2x FL. This is especially a problem if the faulty connector only makes sporadic
contact. Connectors with bad contact or broken should be repaired to avoid
catastrophic failure.
Figure 10.6: Phase problems

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