Maintenance of Motor Windings in Cement Plants

This paper codifies the usual and predictable causes of failures in electric motor windings as applied in the portland cement industry. It limits itself to the study of windings and associated components, and to the causes rather than the repair of failures. By the study of the causes it is hoped that the relating of cause to the known condition will spark programs of anticipatory preventive maintenance. This paper notes that proper prevention of trouble with a motor may well involve actions on equipment external to the motor proper, and points out certain causes of motor failure frequently overlooked when designing the drive and power package. It is written, in fact, from the point of view of the practical plant engineer and draws on the experience of the motor repair shop. Mention is made of the economics of repair versus replacement, and of predetermined procedures as being vital to effective preventive maintenance. The end goal is the elimination or reduction of downtime and lost production, and the reduction in the amount of incidental damage to the motor when failures do occur.