FPGA-based smart-sensor for fault detection in VSD-fed induction motors

Abstract

Nowadays, different industrial processes use induction motors fed through variable speed drives (VSD). In order to improve these processes, the industry demands the use of smart sensors to detect the faults, reduce the cost of maintenance, and decrease power consumption. In this work, broken rotor bars, unbalance and misalignment are automatically detected in induction motors fed by a VSD using the three current phases online, with a smart sensor. The proposed smart sensor is implemented in a field programmable gate array offering a low computational load methodology, low- cost, and portable solution for fault detection in induction motors VSD-fed. Results show a high effectiveness detection of the treated faults.