Real-time detection of stator resistance unbalances in three phase drives

Abstract: An estimated 30% of the faults in Induction Machine (IM) are related to its stator. These faults are mostly in the form of an Inter-Turn Short Circuit (ITSC) fault i.e., when two winding inside the stator of IM are shorted due to insulation failure. However, ITSC fault can be avoided by detecting them in advance and then scheduling the maintenance of the IM. This thesis studies two methods for detecting this incipient ITSC fault in a three-phase IM and then estimating the stator resistance unbalance due to the ITSC fault. The first method is based on the asymmetry caused in the IM by the ITSC fault. As a result of this asymmetry, the negative sequence components of the stator voltages and the stator currents are generated inside the IM. A healthy IM also have these negative sequence components due to the manufacturing process and the supply voltage unbalances. The characteristics and the compensation methods of these negative sequence components in a healthy IM are discussed. The results show that after compensating the negative sequence components in a healthy machine, they can be used for detecting an ITSC fault and then to calculate the fault quantities as well as the stator resistance unbalances. The second method for detecting an ITSC fault is based on analysing the stator resistance unbalances. A three-phase drive is used to inject DC voltage in the stationary reference frame. The DC current generated by this DC voltage is measured and then by applying Ohm’s law stator phase resistances are calculated. In a healthy IM, the phase resistances are balanced. However, in case of ITSC fault in any of the phases, the phase resistance of that phase deviates from those of the other two phases which can be utilized for detecting ITSC fault.