Induction motor thermal aging caused by voltage distortion and imbalance: loss of useful life and its estimated cost

Author

De Abreu, Jose Policarpo G ; Emanuel, Alexander Eigeles

Author_Institution

Electr. & Comput. Eng. Dept., Worcester Polytech. Inst., MA, USA

Volume

38

Issue

1

fYear

2002

Firstpage

12

Lastpage

20

Abstract

This paper reports the effect of voltage distortion and imbalance (VDI) on the thermal aging of the insulation of low-voltage induction motors. The study is based on a detailed thermal modeling of actual motors in the 2-200-hp range. The dollar value of the useful life lost was estimated for different VDI conditions. Two important conclusions were reached. First, voltage subharmonics have a dramatic effect on motor thermal aging. Second, the overall cost of motor loss of life due to harmonic pollution and voltage imbalance, in the US today, is estimated to be in the range of 1-2 billion dollars per year

Keywords

ageing; costing; induction motors; power supply quality; power system harmonics; 2 to 200 hp; harmonic pollution; induction motor thermal aging; loss of useful life; low-voltage induction motors; motor loss of life cost; motor thermal aging; power quality economics; thermal modeling; voltage distortion; voltage imbalance; voltage subharmonics; Aging; Bars; Chemicals; Dielectrics and electrical insulation; Induction motors; Life estimation; Stators; Temperature; Torque; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Industry Applications, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-9994

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/28.980339

Filename

980339