Performance and Safety Improvement of Induction Motors Based on Testing and Evaluation Standards

Abstract

The induction motor, which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, has been recognized as the cornerstone of industrialization. The rotor of an induction motor can be either a squirrel cage rotor or a wound-type rotor, both existing as magnetless topologies. Three-phase squirrel cage induction motors are frequently utilized in industrial drives because they are dependable, have high starting torque, are self-starting and affordable. Single-phase induction motors, on the other hand, are commonly used for small loads such as domestic appliances in form of modest fans, pumps and electric power tools. In South Africa, there have been reports of fires and explosions resulting in live and property loss because of induction motors that have not been thoroughly tested or are incorrectly labelled in terms of ratings, electrical safety and performance. The goal of this study is targeted at preventing end-user injuries and failures caused by non-compliant induction motors, by evaluating locally manufactured/imported induction motors based on tests and evaluation from standards (IEC and SANS). The study is conducted using experimental procedures at the Explosion Prevention Technology and Rotating Machines (EPT and RM) laboratory, South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), South Africa. The main finding from the study shows differences in the nameplate characteristics of various induction motors which could have detrimental effects such as production and operational downtime in their end-use industries, at later stages.