A Flux-Based Differential Technique for Turn-to-Turn Fault Detection and Defective Region Identification in Line-Connected and Inverter-Fed Induction Motors

A new air-gap flux-based technique is proposed in this paper for turn-to-turn fault (TTF) detection and defective region identification, which is implemented in line-connected and inverter-fed induction motors. Some search coils (SCs) are used to measure the magnetic flux in various air-gap regions of the mentioned motor. The induced voltages in the SCs reveal the configuration of the rotational magnetic field (RMF) along the stator inner circumference to assess the symmetricity level of the flux distribution at each time instant. The RMF asymmetric distribution can be detected by comparing the induced voltages in various dual SCs (which under healthy conditions must sense identical magnetic flux) to detect TTFs and identify the faulty region as well. The proposed method is verified through finite element simulations and also by carrying out several experimental tests. Despite the fact that the proposed method is an invasive diagnostic technique, significant sensitivity and robustness in the face of unbalanced voltage sources and/or loading level are compelling evidence to use it for TTF detection at an incipient stage. The capability of the proposed technique to identify the faulty phase and the related region in the stator is another advantage of this invasive method, which cannot be ignored.