Air-gap eccentricity fault detection, isolation, and estimation for synchronous generators based on eigenvalues analysis.

Air-gap eccentricity fault causes rotor–stator rub and consequently damage to Synchronous Generators (SGs). In this paper, a fault diagnosis approach to diagnose the eccentricity fault for SGs is presented. In this approach, the state matrix eigenvalues based on the subspace identification are estimated, and those are used for fault diagnosis. Two dq models of SGs in faulty and healthy conditions are employed to present the theoretical foundation of the method. As the main advantage, the introduced fault diagnosis method is working properly for either linear or nonlinear loads of SGs. The stator and field currents and voltages, and rotor rotational speed are required signals in the introduced approach. The method is validated using experimental data of SGs in Iran-Safir (ER24) diesel–electric locomotives. [Display omitted] • Air-gap eccentricity fault diagnosis in synchronous generators. • Fault diagnosis using the estimated eigenvalues of the state-space model of the synchronous generators based on the subspace identification. • The introduced fault diagnosis method works properly for linear and nonlinear loads. • The introduced fault diagnosis has been validated using experimental data of synchronous generators in Iran-Safir (ER24) diesel–electric locomotives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]