Applicability Analysis of Indices-Based Fault Detection Technique of Six-Phase Induction Motor

The multiphase induction motor is considered to be the promising alternative to the conventional three-phase induction motor, especially in safety-critical applications because of its inherent fault-tolerant feature. Therefore, the attention of many researchers has been paid to develop different techniques for detecting various fault types of multiphase induction motors, to securely switch the control mode of the multiphase drive system to its post-fault operation mode. Therefore, several fault detection methods have been researched and adapted; one of these methods is the indices-based fault detection technique. This technique was firstly introduced to detect open-phase fault of multiphase induction motors. The main advantage of this technique is that its mathematical formulation is straightforward and can easily be understood and implemented. In this paper, the study of the indices-based fault detection technique has been extended to test its applicability in detecting some other stator and rotor fault types of multiphase induction motors, namely, open-phase, open-switch, bad connection and broken rotor bar faults. Experimental and simulation validations of this technique are also introduced using a 1 kW prototype symmetrical six-phase induction motor.