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In this paper, we propose a new method for detecting bearing faults using vibration signals. The proposed method is based on support vector machines (SVMs), which treat the harmonics of fault-related frequencies from vibration signals as fault indices. Using SVMs, the cross-validations are used for a training process, and a two-stage classification process is used for detecting bearing faults and their status. The proposed approach is applied to outer-race bearing fault detection in threephase squirrel-cage induction motors. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively identify the bearing faults and their status, hence improving the accuracy of fault diagnosis.

This paper proposes a new diagnosis algorithm to detect broken rotor bars (BRBs) faults in induction motors. The proposed algorithm is composed of a frequency signal dimension order (FSDO) estimator and a fault decision module. The FSDO estimator finds a number of fault-related frequencies in the stator current signature. In the fault decision module, the fault diagnostic index from the FSDO estimator is used depending on the load conditions of the induction motors. Experimental results obtained in a 75 kW three-phase squirrel-cage induction motor show that the proposed diagnosis algorithm is capable of detecting BRB faults with an accuracy that is superior to a zoom multiple signal classification (ZMUSIC) and a zoom estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance techniques (ZESPRIT).

The classical multiple signal classification (MUSIC) method has been widely used in induction machine fault detection and diagnosis. This method can extract meaningful frequencies but cannot give accurate amplitude information of fault harmonics. In this paper, we propose a new frequency analysis of stator current to estimate fault-sensitive frequencies and their amplitudes for broken rotor bars (BRBs). The proposed method employs a frequency estimator, an amplitude estimator, and a fault decision module. The frequency estimator is implemented by a zoom technique and a high-resolution analysis technique known as the estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance techniques, which can extract frequencies accurately. For the amplitude estimator, a least squares estimator is derived to obtain amplitudes of fault harmonics, without frequency leakage. In the fault decision module, the fault diagnosis index from the amplitude estimator is used depending on the load conditions of the induction motors. The fault index and corresponding threshold are optimized by using the false alarm and detection probabilities. Experimental results obtained from induction motors show that the proposed diagnosis algorithm is capable of detecting BRB faults with an accuracy that is superior to the zoom-based MUSIC algorithm.

The diagnosis of motor failures using an on-line method has been the aim of many researchers and studies. Several spectral analysis techniques have been developed and are used to facilitate on-line diagnosis methods in industry. This paper discusses the first application of a motor flux spectral analysis to the identification of broken rotor bar (BRB) faults in induction motors using a multiple signal classification (MUSIC) technique as an on-line diagnosis method. The proposed method measures the leakage flux in the radial direction using a radial flux sensor which is designed as a search coil and is installed between stator slots. The MUSIC technique, which requires fewer number of data samples and has a higher detection accuracy than the traditional fast Fourier transform (FFT) method, then calculates the motor load condition and extracts any abnormal signals related to motor failures in order to identify BRB faults. Experimental results clearly demonstrate that the proposed method is a promising candidate for an on-line diagnosis method to detect motor failures.

In this paper, a method for detecting broken rotor bar and stator winding fault in a low voltage squirrel-case induction motor using an air-gap flux variation analysis is proposed to develop a simple and low cost diagnosis technique. To measure the leakage flux in radial direction, a radial flux sensor is designed as a search coil and installed between stator slots. The proposed method is able to identify two kinds of motor faults by calculating load condition of motors and monitoring abnormal signals those are related with motor faults. Experimental results obtained on 7.5kW three-phase squirrel-cage induction motors are discussed to verify the performance of the proposed method. Induction motors are widely used electrical machines, for their simplicity of construction and reliability. However, they are subject to failures those may be due to production processes or operating conditions. These unexpected failures cause severe damages in industrial processes. Motor reliability working group have announced that percentage failure in induction motors is typically: stator related (38%), rotor related (10%), bearing related (40%), and others (12%) (1). Recently, many researchers have studied diagnosis techniques to predict motor failures at their incipient stage and decide proper replacement time of induction motors. Most of them are focused on the failure prediction method using abnormal signals of failure patterns of motors from current and vibration signals (2)- (4). Although vibration and current analysis are the most powerful methods for diagnosing motor faults, their sensors are occasionally difficult to install where the environment of industrial field is in poor condition. In addition to this installation problem, there are many low priced low voltage induction motors in the field. Therefore, the diagnosis technique should be easy to install their sensors and low cost comparing to the price of motors. This paper proposes a method for detecting broken rotor bar and stator winding fault in a low voltage squirrel-cage induction motor using a radial flux sensor to develop a simple and low cost diagnosis technique. The sensor is designed as a search coil and installed between stator slots during motor production to measure the leakage flux in radial direction at the air-gap. The proposed method consists of a calculating load condition, finding abnormal signals and monitoring those signals related with motor faults to indentify two kinds of motor failures. To demonstrate the performance of the method, experimental results obtained on 7.5kW three-phase squirrel-cage induction motors are discussed.

This paper introduces an evaluation code, which can numerically express the noise possessing degree of signals. By using this code, the best kind and setting of noise suppressing techniques can be chosen automatically. This code is applied to three kinds of specific denoising techniques; those are simple noise removing method in the count versus phase distribution, fuzzy logic method based on noise type in magnitude versus phase plot, and lastly, the technique using grouping characteristics of PD pulses in 3D plot of magnitude versus phase versus cycle. The algorithm shows good performance in the various real PD signals measured from various high voltage apparatuses in Korea.