Stator Fault Diagnostics in Asymmetrical Six-Phase Induction Motor Drives with Model Predictive Control Applicable During Transient Speeds

Abrupt speed variations and motor start-ups have been pointed out as critical challenges in the framework of fault diagnostics in induction motor drives, namely inter-turn short circuit faults. Generally, abrupt accelerations influence the typical symptoms of the fault, and consequently, the fault detection becomes ambiguous, impacting prompt and effective decision-making. To overcome this issue, this study proposes an inter-turn short-circuit fault diagnostic technique for asymmetrical six-phase induction motor drives operating under both smooth and abrupt motor accelerations. A time–frequency domain spectrogram of the AC component extracted from the q-axis reference current signal serves as a reliable fault indicator. This technique stands out for the compromise between robustness and computational effort using only one control variable accessible in the model predictive control algorithm, thus discarding both voltage and current signals. Experimental tests involving various load torques and fault severities, in transient regimes, were performed to validate the proposed methodology’s effectiveness thoroughly.