Abstract

This paper deals with monitoring condition of electrical failures in variable speed of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives by stator current signature analysis. The objective of this study is to develop a detection method for the open phase fault in PMSM drives. The main idea consists in minimizing the number of sensors allowing the open stator phase fault of the system to study. The harmonics produced by current spectral analysis fault-related components are studied. The current waveform patterns for various modes of open phase winding are investigated. Simulation and experimental results are presented using a 1.1 kW, 6 poles three-phase PMSM. Comparison of simulation and experimental results show that the method is able to detect the open-phase fault in PMSM drive.

Introduction

Nowadays, due to its high efficiency, high ratio of torque to weight, high power factor, faster response and rugged construction, PMSM is the most widely used for high performance variable speed in many industry applications [1]. They have increasingly been used in electrical vehicles, aircraft, nuclear power stations, submarines, robotic applications, medical and industrial servo drives. In some of these applications, continuous operation is necessary and thus a break down of the PMSM drive is unacceptable.

Early detection of abnormalities in the PMSM will help to avoid expensive failures. Indeed, the detection, location, and analysis of faults play a very important role in good operation of the electrical machines and they are essentials for major concerns such as the efficiency and the performance of applications involving PMSM.