Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Menu Search Arrow Right Arrow Left Arrow Down Arrow Up Home Arrow Next Arrow Previous RSS Icon Calendar Icon Warning Icon

Filter the results

  • Enter one or more words to find resources containing any of the words entered
  • Enter words or phrases between " " to find exact match

Resource Library

Article

Partial discharge data collection on VFD motors

  • December 2015
  • Number of views: 10143
  • Article rating: 2.0

Ian Culbert (deceased)
Iris Power-Qualitrol

Editor’s Note:  The following article was written by Ian Culbert, an engineer with Iris Power - Qualitrol in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It was submitted for publication by John Letal of Iris Power - Qualitrol and member of EASA’s Technical Services Committee. Sadly, Mr. Culbert passed away recently. We appreciate his contributions to the industry. 

Introduction
Due to their ever decreasing costs, variable frequency drives (VFDs) are becoming more popular for energy conservation and the reduction in inrush currents during motor starting. The most widely used type of drive today is a voltage-source, with pulse width modulated (VS-PWM) inverter, since it tends to be less expensive than other possible topologies.

In the past decade, medium and high voltage motors rated 2.4 kV to 13.8 kV fed by VS-PWM drives have become more common. Currently motors rated up to 100 MW are being designed. Motors supplied from such drives have seen premature stator winding failures since the voltage impulses from the drive can lead to rapid insulation system aging. In most cases, as the aging progresses, the partial discharge (PD) activity increases. Thus, there is a desire for on-line PD detection for such motors. 

Unfortunately measurements with conventional electrical PD detectors tend to be masked by 1000-3000 V impulses created by multi-stage VS-PWM drives. The rise time of the voltage impulses from the multi-stage VS-PWM drives tend to be 500 ns or longer. This article describes the technical issues in on-line PD detection on motors fed by VS-PWM drives, and gives an example of one system that detected the PD successfully.

LOGIN TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD THE ARTICLE



Print


PREVIOUS ITEM
Comments are only visible to subscribers.

Getting The Most From Your Electric Motors

Getting The Most From Your Electric Motors - coverThis 40-page booklet provides great advice for obtaining the longest, most efficient and cost-effective operation from general and definite purpose electric motors.

This booklet covers topics such as:

  • Installation, startup and baseline information
  • Operational monitoring and maintenance
  • Motor and baseline installation data
  • How to read a motor nameplate
  • Motor storage recommendations

LEARN MORE AND DOWNLOAD MÁS INFORMACIÓN Y DESCARGAR BUY PRINTED COPIES

READ MORE ABOUT THE FEATURES AND BENEFITS

EASA/AEMT Rewind Study

EASA Rewind Study cover

The Effect of Repair/Rewinding on Premium Efficiency/IE3 Motors
Tests prove Premium Efficiency/IE3 Motors can be rewound without degrading efficiency.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL RESULTS

ANSI/EASA AR100-2020

ANSI/EASA AR100-2015 cover

Recommended Practice for the Repair of Rotating Electrical Apparatus
This is a must-have guide to the repair of rotating electrical machines. Its purpose is to establish recommended practices in each step of the rotating electrical apparatus rewinding and rebuilding processes.

DOWNLOAD - ENGLISH

DESCARGAR - ESPAÑOL

EASA Technical Manual

EASA Technical Manual cover

Revised May 2024
The EASA Technical Manual is the association's definitive and most complete publication. It's available FREE to members in an online format. Members can also download PDFs of the entire manual or individual sections.

VIEW & DOWNLOAD