Electrical Signature Analysis

ON-LINE CONDITION MONITORING
OF MOTORS USING
ELECTRICAL SIGNATURE ANALYSIS
Diagnostic Technologies India Pvt. Ltd.

WHAT IS ELECTRICAL
SIGNATURE ANALYSIS?
Electrical Signature Analysis is the procedure of

capturing a motor’s current & voltage signals
and analyzing them to detect various faults

ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRICAL
SIGNATURE ANALYSIS
On-line, no stoppage required
Remote monitoring, no need to approach the motor
Accurate detection of electrical & mechanical problems
Works with induction, synchronous & DC motors & generators

as well as VFDs
Proven technology, been around for 20 years

Over 1000 motors analyzed in India alone

What faults can electrical signature
analysis detect?
Rotor bar damage Dynamic eccentricity
Misalignment/ unbalance Stator mechanical faults
Foundation looseness Stator electrical faults
Static eccentricity Defective bearings

What is an electrical signature?
TIME DOMAIN FREQUENCY DOMAIN
Representation of the current & voltage in the frequency domain, where f = 1/t

How does a healthy motor’s
signature appear?
Low frequency spectrum (0-200 Hz) High frequency spectrum (0-5000 Hz)

Why are there so many peaks
in the signature?
Power supply is not a pure sine wave, hence harmonics are

present in both voltage & current
Motor & load problems also generate harmonics, which show

up in the current spectrum only

How does signature analysis work?
The frequency spectrum enables us to see all the harmonic

components of V & I
All electrical & mechanical faults change the flux distribution inside
the motor & hence generate harmonics in the current
Superimposing the current & voltage spectra enables us to distinguish

between the supply harmonics & the fault harmonics
The harmonics generated by each fault will be different
Thus, studying the distribution of these fault harmonics enables

identification of the fault

What are the low & high frequency
spectra used for?
Low frequency High frequency
Rotor bar degradation Static eccentricity
Misalignment Dynamic eccentricity
Mechanical unbalance Stator mechanical faults
Foundation looseness Stator electrical faults
Bearing degradation

How are the current & voltage
signals captured?
Clamp-on probes are placed around the supply cable for LT

motors and around the measuring or protection CT secondary
for HT motors
Voltage leads are attached to the supply terminals for LT motors

& at the bus PT secondary for HT motors
All testing is thus done at the MCC or the motor control panel.
No need to approach the motor!

ROTOR BAR DEGRADATION
The pole pass frequency (PPF = slip x no. of poles) appears as a sideband in current
Increase in the rotor impedance due to high resistance joints or broken bars leads to an
increase in the PPF amplitude
Difference in amplitudes of the line frequency & the PPF is an indication of the condition
of the rotor

ROTOR BAR DAMAGE SEVERITY LEVELS
Severity FL / FL / FP FP / FL Rotor Condition Recommended

level FP (Ratio) (Ratio %) Assessment corrective action
(dB)
1 >60 >1000 <0.10 Excellent None
2 54-60 501-1000 0.10-0.20 Good None
3 48-54 251-501 0.20-0.40 Moderate Trend data
4 42-48 126-251 0.40-0.79 Rotor bar crack may be Increase trending

developing problems with frequency
high resistance joints
5 36-42 63-126 0.79-1.58 One or two rotor bars likely Perform vibration test
cracked or broken to confirm source &
severity
6 30-36 32-63 1.58-3.16 Multiple cracked or broken Repair ASAP

rotor bars
7 <30 <32 >3.16 Multiple cracked or broken Repair or replace
rotor bars & end-rings ASAP

MISALIGNMENT / UNBALANCE
The motor running speed (RS) is always visible as a peak in the Demodulated
spectrum
A high amplitude of the RS peak indicates misalignment or unbalance
The RHS spectrum is of a misaligned 380 KW, 6.6 KV motor at Indian Aluminium,
Hirakud

FOUNDATION LOOSENESS
In case of foundation looseness, a significant peak appears at ½ the running speed

of the motor
The LHS spectrum shows a 650 KW, 3.3 KV motor at RCF, Thal that had severe vibration
The RHS spectrum shows the same motor’s spectrum after the foundation was tightened

ECCENTRICITY
ROTOR CENTRE STATOR
Normal Static Dynamic

motor eccentricity eccentricity
Soft foot Worn-out bearing housing
Cocked bearing Worn-out bearing race
Improper air-gap
adjustment
Eccentricity is the phenomenon of an uneven stator-rotor air-gap

STATIC ECCENTRICITY
Typical spectra of a 1250 KW, 6.6 KV motor with static eccentricity (MSEB, Bhusaval)
Static eccentricity = RB x RS ± nFL

DYNAMIC ECCENTRICITY
Typical spectra of a 93 KW, 415 V motor with dynamic eccentricity (Godrej, Ankleshwar)
Dynamic eccentricity = RB x RS ± nFL ± RS

STATOR MECHANICAL FAULTS
Typical spectra of a 410 KW, 6.6 KV motor with core damage (Essar Steel)

STATOR ELECTRICAL FAULTS
Typical spectra of an 1100 KW, 6.6 KV motor with degraded interturn insulation (IPCL, Baroda)

DEFECTIVE BEARINGS
Typical spectrum of an 250 KW, 6.6 KV motor with a defective bearing (IPCL, Baroda)

ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS
GENERATORS
Stator core degradation
Stator winding degradation
Rotor winding shorts
DC MOTORS
Armature faults
Commutator faults
Faults in the firing circuitry
VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES

Power analysis
Harmonic distortion
Faults in the firing circuitry

ELECTRICAL SIGNATURE ANALYSIS
SUMMARY
On-line, non-intrusive method
Detects all kinds of faults
Automated diagnostic package available
Existing service users include NPCIL, IPCL, Grasim, L & T,

Reliance, Tatas, etc.
DO NOT CONFUSE IT WITH ITS POOR COUSIN

CURRENT SIGNATURE ANALYSIS!!!!

EMPATH
Electric Motor Performance Analyzing & Trending
Hardware

A FEW WORDS ABOUT US
Integrated Predictive Maintenance Condition Monitoring Instrumentation

Services Electrical Signature Analyzers
Electrical Signature Analysis Vibration Analyzers
Vibration Analysis Acoustic Emission Analyzers
Acoustic Emission Analysis Motor Circuit Analyzers
Tan Delta & Capacitance Analysis Commutator Profilers
DC Absorption Analysis Vibration training software
Interturn Surge Analysis Valve Analyzers
Site Overhaul & Repair Services

Motors & Generators upto 248 MVA
DC motors upto 6000 HP
Transformers upto 50 MVA

CONTACT US

207, Gauri Complex,
Above Bank of Baroda,
Vasai (East), Dist. Thane – 401 210
Tel: 0250 – 392162
Fax: 0250 – 392146

E-mail: diatech@vsnl.com

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ON-LINE CONDITION MONITORING

Diagnostic Technologies India Pvt. Ltd.