Electrical Signature Analysis (ESA) is the method of using the electric machine magnetic field as the transducer as measured through voltage and current. The method was originally developed by Oak Ridge National Labs in the late 1980s for the expressed purpose of fault detection of gear and bearing wear in driven equipment in addition to…
Power, magnetic and ground harmonics have a negative impact on the reliability of your electric motors both electrically and mechanically. We often focus just on the power harmonics when reviewing information on power quality, but rarely view the self-generated electric machine harmonics and the harmonic content present in grounds and neutrals. Over the past several…
What is the importance and differences between core loss testing and hot spot testing in electric machines through the repair process? How are they performed and what results do they provide? In this short article we will discuss the basics of core and hot spot testing and their impact on electric machine reliability. This white…
On December 1, 2022 I received my usual daily IEEE standards updates for voting which included IEEE P1017.4/D1, “Draft Recommended Practice for Testing and Rating of Electrical Submersible Polyphase Induction Motors.” This would be the complete new draft of such a standard developed by the Petroleum and Chemical Industry Committees of the IEEE Industry Applications…
It is established that neutral and ground harmonic content will load transformers and systems. Prior work has been limited as to the direct relationship of this additional loading on power consumption for a facility. Over the past 24 months applied research has been performed on the measured impact of neutral and ground harmonics and energy…
A reading of the new book on Electrical and Current Signature Analysis by MotorDoc LLC which is planned for release in the second half of October, 2022.
Volume 3 of the US Department of Energy’s “US industrial and Commercial Motor System Market Assessment” was released on July, 2022. The study reviews the energy performance improvement opportunities for the installed base of commercial and industrial motor systems in the United States. It is noted in the report that electric motors and related systems…
Media bias is not only found related to politics and public policy, but also how we perceive the reliability and maintenance community. From advertising dollars and marketing being presented as technical articles and information to the idea that ‘digital transformation’ solves everything, or that infrared is a complete electrical reliability program. As noted in my…
It is established that neutral and ground harmonic content will load transformers and systems. Prior work has been limited as to the direct relationship of this additional loading on power consumption for a facility. Over the past 24 months applied research has been performed on the measured impact of neutral and ground harmonics and energy…
A common question we receive is: ‘what is the impact of voltage unbalance on temperature?’ With incoming power to facilities having challenges in many parts of the United States (and elsewhere) from aging grid and the rapid application of power electronics, this becomes a significant issue. Voltage unbalance is the variation from the average voltage…
