Fault Diagnosis of Broken Rotor Bars in Induction Motors Using Finite Element Analysis

This paper intends to portray a method for analyzing the performance of induction motors and the detection of broken rotor bar fault using finite element (FE) analysis. Two types of broken rotor bar faults and the effects of the faults on induction motors characteristics in terms of flux density distributions, current, and torque is studied. Moreover, several different methods such as measuring the induced voltage in search coils, comparison of current harmonics in healthy motors and broken rotor bar motors, motor current signature analysis (MCSA) are used for early detection. Using finite element software, the motor broken bar mechanical fault is fully simulated in conditions matching that of real circumstances. An advantage of this method is its simplicity since due to using a finite element software, fault detection with high accuracy is possible without extensive and complex calculations. As a result, fault components are easily detectable in the study of the stator current frequency spectrum. Ultimately, by comparing the behavior and function of the motor in healthy and faulty conditions a pattern can be constructed for early detection of faults.