LECTURE 8

SYNCHRONOUS MACHINES: FAULTS & FAILURES

The following are the most common failures in industrial synchronous
machines:
• Bearings - due to general wear and contamination
• Rotor fields - due to high temperatures, these would often burn up
from the inside out
• Amortisseur windings - due to amount of energy absorbed, the
winding bars would often crack
• Stator windings - general wear and contamination

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Common Test Methods for evaluating the condition of
synchronous machines:
• Insulation resistance testing: applying DC voltages between
the stator windings and ground. It picks up faults between the
stator windings and the stator frame. It can also be performed
through the slip rings on a brush type machine.
• Polarization Index: It is a 10-minute to 1-minute ratio of
insulation resistance. It is used to gauge the condition of the
insulation between the stator windings and frame. It can also
be performed through the slip rings on a brush type machine.

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High Potential testing: It is a DC high potential testing which is
performed at a value of twice the motor nameplate voltage plus 1000
volts, times the square root of 3.
Surge Comparison testing: It evaluates the turn to turn condition of the
stator winding.
Partial Discharge testing: It measures the radio frequencies from
discharges in voids within the insulation system of the motor windings.
Voltage Drop Test: An AC voltage is applied to the rotor windings and the
voltage drop is measured with a voltmeter across each coil. If there is a
short, the voltage drop will vary more than 3%.

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REFERENCES
• Dr. Howard W. Penrose: ‘Synchronous Machine Testing with
All-Test Instrumentation’
• Chapter 37, Theraja B. L and Theraja A. K. Electrical
Technology.
• Chapter 7, Bhag S. Guru and Huseyin R. Hiziroglu (2001).
Electric Machinery and Transformers. (3rd Edition) New York,
Oxford, Oxford University Press.
• Any other useful printed or internet based credible source