Experimental Analysis of the Effects of Rotor End Ring Fin Failure on Thermal, Vibration and Performance of Three-Phase Squirrel Cage Induction Motor

Induction motors have a robust structure. However, they may encounter internal and external failures. These faults can lead to deterioration of motor performance and even to the stopping of the process. In addition, various faults that may occur in the motor cause the motor temperature to increase and result in a reduction in the lifespan of the motor. The aim of this study is to investigate the faults occurring in the cooling fins in the rotor end ring of a three-phase squirrel cage induction motor and the effects of these faults on motor performance, motor vibration and motor temperature. No-load operation, short circuit operation and loaded operation tests were performed on the healthy motor and the motor with defective rotor fins, during which both vibration and thermal images were obtained from both motors. The results showed that the shaving of the rotor fins caused an extra vibration in the motor. The absence of rotor fins, which also served as cooling, caused the thermal temperatures of the motor to increase and the motor performance to deteriorate.