Modeling, simulation and analysis of induction motor rotor faults

Induction motors are used extensively in industrial applications due to their features such as robustness, reliability and easy control. Its wide and intensive usage area has brought the formation of various faults on the motor. Early detection of faults is very important for industry to maintain production continuity and prevent financial losses. In this study, it is aimed to detect the faults early that occur during the operation of the motors in the applications where the use of induction motors is intense, with the help of simulations. First of all, the faults encountered in induction motors were mentioned. Then, the broken rotor bar failure encountered in induction motors was created in the ANSYS @ Maxwell simulation program using the 2D Finite Elements method, and the results were obtained. Fluxgate sensors are placed in these models to obtain leakage flux results. The results obtained from the simulation studies carried out within the scope of the thesis were compared and evaluated by taking Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) in Matlab program. To analyze the motor condition, the stator current and leakage flux signals were taken into consideration. Differences between the leakage flux analysis method and the Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA), which is traditionally used for motor faults, are mentioned. As a result of the investigations, the superiority of leakage flux in fault analysis methods was emphasized. Keywords: Induction motor, Fourier transform, leakage flux, broken rotor bar, stator current