Detecting rotor faults in permanent magnet synchronous machines

This paper investigates the experimental implementation and detection of rotor faults in permanent magnet synchronous machines. Methods are shown of how to experimentally introduce static and dynamic eccentricities and broken magnet cases. A magnet strength estimation that does not require the measurement of the rotor position or speed is developed. The detection of these and other rotor faults by measuring only the stator currents and voltages are shown experimentally. The paper concludes with a description of a condition-monitoring scheme for detection of rotor faults.