Vibration Monitoring for Position Sensor Fault Diagnosis in Brushless DC Motor Drives

Dimitrios A. Papathanasopoulos, Konstantinos N. Giannousakis, Evangelos S. Dermatas and Epaminondas D. Mitronikas
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Dimitrios A. Papathanasopoulos: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Konstantinos N. Giannousakis: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Evangelos S. Dermatas: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Epaminondas D. Mitronikas: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-24

Abstract: A non-invasive technique for condition monitoring of brushless DC motor drives is proposed in this study for Hall-effect position sensor fault diagnosis. Position sensor faults affect rotor position feedback, resulting in faulty transitions, which in turn cause current fluctuations and mechanical oscillations, derating system performance and threatening life expectancy. The main concept of the proposed technique is to detect the faults using vibration signals, acquired by low-cost piezoelectric sensors. With this aim, the frequency spectrum of the piezoelectric sensor output signal is analyzed both under the healthy and faulty operating conditions to highlight the fault signature. Therefore, the second harmonic component of the vibration signal spectrum is evaluated as a reliable signature for the detection of misalignment faults, while the fourth harmonic component is investigated for the position sensor breakdown fault, considering both single and double sensor faults. As the fault signature is localized at these harmonic components, the Goertzel algorithm is promoted as an efficient tool for the harmonic analysis in a narrow frequency band. Simulation results of the system operation, under healthy and faulty conditions, are presented along with the experimental results, verifying the proposed technique performance in detecting the position sensor faults in a non-invasive manner.

Keywords: brushless motors; condition monitoring; fault diagnosis; frequency-domain analysis; goertzel algorithm; hall-effect devices; permanent magnet motors; piezoelectric transducers; variable speed drives; vibration analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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