Motor Whisperer : On the Art of Dialogue with Electric Machinery

Abstract: Electric machines communicate with the outside world via their thermal, structural, and stray magnetic field. These signatures provide key information regarding the health, rhythm of operation, and aging of these electromechanical converters. Although over the past two decades operational demand (work environment), power electronic-based supply (diet), and manufacturing practices (genetics) of motors has undergone significant changes; little attention has been paid to monitoring of health/aging of these key enablers of the electrification reform. Integrated motor drives in which power converter is installed in close proximity of the end windings offers unparalleled opportunity for listening to stray magnetic field, thermal behavior, and structural response of the electric machine. This seminar will shed light on opportunities in real-time processing of multi-physics information to establish a bilateral dialogue with the machine with an ultimate goal of just-in-time maintenance, adjustable control, and detection of the remaining useful lifetime. Examples from adjustable speed induction and switched reluctance machines will be provided to offer a realistic set of opportunities, future trends, and challenges to the audience.