Application of a Model-Based Method to the Online Detection of Rotating Rectifier Faults in Brushless Synchronous Machines

Abstract

Converters are one of the most sensible components of any power conversion system when it comes to electrical faults. Moreover, if these converters are used in a rotating system, as is the case with rotating rectifiers used in brushless synchronous machines, apart from also being exposed to mechanical effects and thus having a greater likelihood of failure, no access is available directly, causing a lack of available measurements for condition monitoring. This paper applies a model-based method to the online detection of open-diode faults, shorted-diode faults and exciter open-phase faults in the rotating rectifiers of brushless synchronous machines. The applied method relies on the comparison between the measured and the theoretical exciter field currents, the latter computed through a healthy machine model from the machine actual output values. The proposed protection strategy stands out for its computational simplicity and its non-invasiveness, which makes its industrial application straightforward without the need of any further equipment or adaptation. Its applicability has been verified through a double approach, on the one hand, through computer simulations, and, on the other hand, through experimental tests, achieving satisfactory results. The research conducted proves that with the proposed method, given reasonable measurement and model estimation typical errors of less than 5%, positive differences between the measured and the theoretical exciter field currents of more than 13%, 200% and 30% for open-diode faults, shorted-diode faults and exciter open-phase faults, respectively, are detectable with at least a 95% confidence interval.