Misalignment fault detection in induction motor 425

Figure 1 Experimental set-up used, (a) full view of the system arrangement (b) current probe
(c) flexible coupling (d) journal bearing with proximity probes for the horizontal and
vertical direction (e) precision laser alignment kit (see online version for colours)

The entire experimental setup comprises of four major subsystems: machine fault
simulator, Oros NV gate data acquisition system, various sensors and a computer, as
shown in Figure 1. Machine fault simulator with a 3-phase, 0.75 HP induction motor was
used for experiment. The induction motor with a wiring enclosure are attached on the left
side of the machine fault simulator and that wiring enclosure of the motor support permits
access to the power supply and motor supply leads. These wirings can be pulled out from
the enclosure sufficiently to install current probe sensors on the stator wiring that
supports MCSA. Figure 1(b) shows the wiring enclosure attached with current probe.
426 A.K. Verma et al.

The rotor shaft of machine fault simulator is supported by fluid film journal bearing.
The length of the shaft between two journal bearings is 0.72390 metre and the shaft
diameter is of 0.0127 metre. The lubrication oil used here is ISO 13 mineral oil and the
pressure of oil is 12 psi. The displacement sensor used here are proximity probes which is
mounted on the bearing housings to measure the vibration of shaft with respect to bearing
housing. Displacement sensors are mounted on bearing housing in the horizontal and
vertical directions as shown in Figure 1(d). The bearing support1 is provided with screw
holes to accommodate two proximity sensors separated by 90°. In this paper, authors
investigate the alignment of shaft using precision laser alignment kit. This instrument has
three sections. One is transmitter, second is receiver and third is a controlling section as
shown in Figure 1(e). The complete specification of all the components used in the
experimental setup is given in Table 1.
Table 1 Specifications of the components used in experimental setup

Sensors Manufacturer Model/serial no. Sensitivity/specification

Proximity probe Spectraquest 9530308CH1, CH2 2.8718 V/mm
Current probe Fluke I200s 100 mV/A
Laser alignment kit Optalign smart ALI 12.200 -------------
Fluid film bearing Spectraquest C006/S Diameter = 0.0127 m
Shaft Spectraquest ---------- Diameter = 0.0127 m
Length = 0.7239 m
Induction motor Marathon electric HVN 56T334F53033 0.75 HP, 50 Hz, 2,850 RPM

3 Experimental procedure

The experiments were conducted with the experimental setup as shown in Figure 1.
Precision laser alignment kit is used to check the alignment of shaft. Once, the shaft of
the machine is aligned then it is misaligned by 10 mils or 0.01 inches or 0.000254 metre
for parallel, angular and both parallel and angular misalignment condition respectively.
The schematic of aligned system is shown in the Figure 2(a). The Figure 2(b) to
Figure 2(d) represents the schematic of misaligned system between the driver and driven
shaft, namely: parallel, angular and combination of parallel and angular misalignments
respectively. In this paper Y represents the amount of parallel misalignment, i.e., both
ends of the driven shaft is given an offset of amount Y. The Y amount of angular
misalignment means that only the free end of the driven shaft is given an offset of amount
Y whereas the coupled end of the driven shaft is unchanged. The Y amount of both
parallel and angular misalignment represents that, the coupled end is given an offset of
amount Y while the free end is given an offset of amount 2Y in the same direction as that
of coupled end. In all the cases of misalignment the base plate is moved leftwards in
horizontal plane when seen from the motor side.