We often hear the terms preventive maintenance (PM) and predictive maintenance (PdM) of electric motors, but far less often do we give consideration to the tasks associated with these methods of maintaining motor operation and extending operating service life. This article addresses some of the more common activities associated with PM and PdM, with the focus on three-phase squirrel cage motors.

Preventive maintenance:

• Insulation resistance (IR) test
• Polarization index (PI) test
• Motor current signature analysis (MCSA)
• Mechanical activities such as lubrication, lubricant level checks, and lubricant analysis
• Visual inspection
• Thermal scanning
• Ultrasonic testing
• Cleaning
• Belt tensioning
• Bolt tightness checks

Predictive maintenance activities:

• Trending and assessing most activities associated with preventive maintenance
• Vibration analysis
• Checking and adjusting alignment

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Categories: Repair procedures & tips, Plant Services

Tags: Predictive maintenance Preventive maintenance

Print