Distributed temperature sensing for special induction motor applied in harsh environment

This paper presents a study and development on the thermal mapping of a Three-phase Induction Motor for harsh environments application. These machines' exceptional performance and precise speed control make them essential equipment in multiple industrial processes, such as Artificial Lift, which integrates with a multistage centrifugal pump to elevate fluids from the reservoirs to the surface. Increased motor speeds for higher production requirements can result in temperature rise, damaging the stator winding. Employing the Raman Distributed Temperature Sensing System (RDTS), we generate a comprehensive heat distribution map of the motor. ANSYS Motor-CAD was applied for computational simulations to perform steady-state thermal analysis, giving an overview of heat transfer among internal components and thermal limits for the instrumented motor. This preliminary study presents a series of experimental tests to evaluate the advantages of fiber optic temperature sensing in harsh environments, emphasizing its significance in improving electrical machines' performance and reliability.