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Case Studies

Case Study: Rotor Bar Fault in AC Induction

Download Full Case Study: Rotor Bar Fault in AC Induction

Summary

Red Wolf Reliability (formerly Pioneer Engineering) Company was working with a client in the coal-fired power plant industry to identify a malfunction in one of their AC induction motors. This AC induction motor was fitted with journal bearings and was the driver for a Primary Air Fan. The client had proximity probes and case mounted accelerometers installed on the AC induction motor. At first, the proximity probes seemed to indicate a rotor bar fault, while the accelerometers gave the impression of some kind of impact event happening. After analyzing the data and correctly identifying the malfunction as a rotor bar fault, Red Wolf Reliability wanted to help their client get better data on their assets and capture data on their unprotected equipment to help them run their plant with more efficiency. Red Wolr Reliability recommended that their client test the Insight Force Detection System (FDS) on the AC induction motor with the known rotor bar fault in conjunction with the proximity probes and accelerometers to see that they could have better data and less installation costs if they had used the Insight FDS. This customer saw the superior data and non-invasive installation and have 40 more Insight FDS installed throughout their plant.

Introduction

A 1500 HP AC induction motor is the driver for a Primary Air Fan at a coal-fired power plant. The motor rotor is supported with two journal bearings. The fan, shown in Figure 1, is critical to operations and is scheduled to run continuously.

Figure 1 - Primary Air Fan

The fan and motor are fitted with proximity probes, the current state-of-the-art for condition monitoring of journal bearings. It was desired to compare data acquired from the proximity probes, case mounted accelerometers, and the new Insight FDS sensors. All data sets were collected on the outboard bearing.

Comparison Data

The data captured was from the proximity probes, case mounted accelerometers, and Insight FDS with the same settings and time comparison.

Time Domain Data

Figure 2 gives the time domain data collected using the proximity probe. The proximity probe clearly shows the indicative pole frequency amplitude modulation but is missing the running speed frequency harmonic. This could be a result of not removing the slow roll compensation vector and leaving the running speed peak extremely dominant.

Figure 2 - Proximity Probe Time Domain Data

Figure 2 - Proximity Probe Time Domain Data

Figure 3 is time domain data collected from the same location at the same settings but using a case mounted accelerometer. Reviewing this data set would not give the impression of a rotor fault, but rather some kind of impact event happening. Clearly, in this case, the accelerometer is not effective at measuring the malfunction. This is because measuring the absolute vibration of the housing in not indicative of the vibration of the rotor when supported with journal bearings.

Figure 3 - Accelerometer Time Domain Data

Figure 3 - Accelerometer Time Domain Data

Figure 4 depicts the time domain collected with the FDS sensor. Two distinct patterns exist, the pole frequency amplitude modulation associated with a rotor fault, and a strong running speed harmonic. Since the FDS measures microstrain on the bearing, this means the bearing is loaded at both the running speed frequency and its harmonic. This is a textbook example of a rotor bar fault and would not have required outside analysis to diagnose the malfunction.

Figure 4 - Insight FDS Time Domain Data

Figure 4 - Insight FDS Time Domain Data

FFT Spectrum

Figure 5 shows an FFT spectrum collected from the proximity probes. The resolution is fairly coarse and the frequency range is moderate. It shows the dominant running speed frequency peak but is missing the harmonic.

Figure 5 - Prox Probe Spectrum

Figure 5 - Prox Probe Spectrum, 1000 Hz Fmax, 1 Hz RES, 4 Avg, Hanning

Figure 6 is an FFT spectrum collected with the accelerometer.The raised noise floor and lack of dominant frequencies is indicative again of poor performance for detecting this rotor fault through the journal bearing.

Figure 6 - Accelerometer Spectrum

Figure 6 - Accelerometer Spectrum, 1000 Hz Fmax, 1 Hz RES, 4 Avg, Hanning

Figure 7 shows an FFT spectrum collected from the Insight FDS. It depicts the dominant frequencies, running speed and its 1st harmonic.

Figure 7 - Insight FDS Spectrum

Figure 7 - Insight FDS Spectrum, 1000 Hz Fmax, 1 Hz RES, 4 Avg, Hanning

High Resolution FFT Spectrum

Figure 8 shows the high resolution FFT spectrum using the proximity probes. There are pole frequency sidebands, but less families than present with the FDS, and the 1st harmonic is still weak.

Figure 8 - Proximity Probe Spectrum

The high resolution FFT spectrum from the accelerometer shown in Figure 9 is dominated by the higher order harmonics making the analysis of the rotor fault confusing.

Figure 9 - Accelerometer Spectrum

Figure 9 - Accelerometer Spectrum, 200 Hz Fmaz, 0.1 Hz RES, 4 Avg, Hanning

Figure 10 is a high resolution FFT spectrum using the FDS. The classic pole frequency sidebands as well as the descending harmonics are nearly a textbook case of an AC Induction Motor Rotor Fault.

Figure 10 - Insight FDS Spectrum

Figure 10 - Insight FDS Spectrum, 200 Hz Fmaz, 0.1 Hz RES, 4 Avg, Hanning

Conclusion

In this case, the case mounted accelerometer proved nearly ineffective at presenting the known rotor fault in the motor.

The proximity probe did show evidence of the rotor fault, but not as definitively as the Insight FDS sensor.

The Insight FDS sensor clearly detects the rotor fault using both the time and frequency domains.

Given that the accelerometer data is nearly useless, and the proximity probe data requires an extremely invasive installation, as well as a vector compensation in order to be accurate, the Insight FDS is a first choice since its installation is non-invasive and less expensive than proximity probes.

As a result, the customer replaced the motor at the next shutdown. Additionally, they placed an order for 40 Insight FDS to be installed in the plant on ID fans, FD fans, PA fans and Boiler Feed Pump motors.

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