Detection of outer raceway bearing defects in small induction motors using stator current analysis

Abstract

We investigate the application of induction motor stator current spectral analysis (MCSA) for detection of rolling element bearing damage from the outer raceway. In this work, MCSA and vibration analysis are applied to induction motor to detect outer raceway defects in faulty bearings. Data acquisition, recording, and fast fourier transform (FFT) algorithms are done by using the LabVIEW programming language. Experimental results verify the relationship between vibration analysis and MCSA, and identify the presence of outer raceway bearing defects in induction machines. This work also indicates that detecting fault frequencies by motor currents is more difficult than detecting them by vibration analysis. The use of intensive resolution FFT is recommended in MCSA for detecting faults easily. Reinstalling a faulty bearing can alter the characteristic frequencies and it is difficult to compare results from different bearings or even from the same bearing in different installations.