Differential evolution applied to line-connected induction motors stator fault identification

Abstract

The three-phase induction motor is the main machine used for electromechanical energy conversion, due to its consolidated construction characteristics. As a consequence of its great importance and industrial application, researches in the fault identification area are constantly conducted to reduce the maintenance rate and the losses, during the productive process, caused by undesirable downtime. In this sense, this work proposes an alternative methodology, based on the differential evolution algorithm, to identify stator short-circuit fault in induction motors connected directly to the electrical grid, using voltage and current signals in time domain. The differential evolution algorithm is used to estimate the electrical parameters of the induction motor, based on the model of the equivalent electrical circuit. Stator fault is identified by calculating the variation of the estimated magnetizing inductance of the motor under no fault condition. The proposed method is validated through experimental tests on 1 HP and 2 HP motors under conditions of load torque variation and unbalanced voltages.