Concepts in Reliability Keeping it Simple and Random Thoughts

As I just mentioned to a friend – I seem to be waxing philosophical this past weekend as I complete reading “Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla, Biography of a Genius,” by Marc J Seifer. I would not have tripped over this and several other excellent texts had I not started returning to…

Evaluating Missing Wedges and Coil Movement with ESA IEEE Paper

Two significant issues in wind power asynchronous generators are magnetic wedge loss and coil movement resulting in winding faults.  Most of the time the failures occur unexpectedly or require borescope or visual inspections of the generator stators.  In this paper we will identify how both conditions can be detected during operation through Electrical Signature Analysis. …

Before and After Motion Amplification Testing of Fan Application

Initial testing of an ID fan performed in 2018 with corrections made and retesting performed with EMPATH analysis, GTI Predictive vibration analysis and RDI motion amplification. While values were not extreme in the pre-test, the resulting vibration destroyed fan bearings and other poor conditions which prevented the operation of the fan system. Testing was performed…

Time to Failure Estimation with ESA Series Part 1 Electric Motor Theory

As we start into ESA theories and application, we will have to spend a little time on electric motor theory.  As we will start out with a basic system, AC motors are the simplest in terms of operation and components, we will start out with AC induction motors.  Using this base knowledge, we can later…

EMPATH Electrical Signature Analysis for the Wind Industry for Generator and Powertrain

Free Seminar April 20, 2020 from noon to 1pm CST We will discuss the art of EMPATH data collection and analysis of wind turbine generators, gearbox, main bearings and blades from the voltage and current. We will discuss how the data is collected and the approach to analysis. This will be exclusive for wind companies…

How to Analyze a Belted Fan with EMPATH and Electrical Signature Analysis

Free Live Seminar for April 17, 2020 from noon to 1pm CST In this presentation we will work step-by-step how to analyze an electric motor, sheaves, belts and fan including related bearings using real field data. The demonstration will be with the EMPATH system but applies to other current and electrical signature analysis. GoToWebinar to…

Wind Powertrain with EMPATH

Kevin Alewine of Shermco and I presented at the American Wind Energy Association Operations and Maintenance Conference (AWEA O&M). The EMPATH data on just under 400 generators and powertrain resulted in 772 findings on a specific manufacturer’s generators. The general industry findings for these generators are: The findings from the EMPATH evaluations: The generator findings…

Evaluation of Stator and Rotor Interturn Stress with Electrical Signature Analysis in Variable Frequency Drive and Wind Generator Applications

Abstract— Electrical Signature Analysis is the application and analysis of Voltage and Current data collected on electrical machinery systems.  The measurements are converted to amplitude modulated Fast Fourier Transforms that can be evaluated for power, machine and powertrain conditions.  Electrical and mechanical conditions are determined through their effects on the airgap magnetic field.  One of…